| Our Church was founded in 1850 as the Flatlands Methodist Episcopal Church, located on Flatlands Avenue at the corner of East 40th Street. After 75 years it changed its name and location. The Kings Highway Methodist Episcopal (renamed "Methodist" in 1939 and "United Methodist" in 1964, when the denomonation perticaped in name-changing mergers) was founded in 1925. It was a time when Flatlands was being transformed from a farming community into a populous area of 30,000 people. Under the tutelage of St. Mark's ME Church, a lot was purchased on Kings Highway Memoral Boulevard and in 1926 a building was erected. The Rev. Norman Vincent Peale was the Pastor for those first couple of years. Within the first year the Sunday School attendance increased from 40 to 250. It was a time of phenomenal growth, with every avaiable inch of space in the new building taken up by people in the community. While the building was being erected, people worshiped in a huge circus tent erected on the lawn. Some of our oldest members remember that. From the beginning Kings Highway UMC has been known as a "Friendly Church". Its spirit of cordiality and friendiliness pervaded our entire organization. As the population of the area began to mushroom, the church grew and was able to serve the needs of the new community. Activities for children such as Sunday School, scouting, youth fellowship, and basketball attracted many families to the church. But after World War II as families moved to the suburbs, a changing role for the church was unfolding. While still offering those activitieas, we began to reach out to our community in new ways. We developed a friendly relationship with the Madison Jewish Center's congregation, and participated ecumenically with St. Thomas Aquinas R. C. Church and Flatlands Dutch Reformed Church. Our nursery school started in 1970, to provide young children 3 & 4 years old with the socialization and developmental tasks needed at that age. In 1980, a Korean pastor was assigned to develop a new Korean congregation. Always our concern has been that we be a friendly Church open to all people. At the present time our worship is enriched by our Korean congregation and our West Indian and other ethnic traditions. We believe our Lord Jesus Christ calls us to be an inclusive Church, ministering to all who come seeking the Spirit of Christ in their lives. |
| Home Welcome | All Are Invited |
| 9:30 A. M. Sunday Church School (school year) 11:00 A. M. Worship Service | Watch Night Service - 11:00 P. M. |