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In 1858, the first Methodist minister, Rev. A. L. York, was appointed to Oriskany Falls. At the time, there were 11 members in the church. For three years, the services were held in the stone Congregational Church. For the six years after that, the society met in the school house. In June of 1867, the bishop formally separated Augusta Center from Oriskany Falls, the society elected trustees, and incorporated as The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Oriskany Falls, Oneida County, New York. The incorporation documents were signed by Eli Hicks and Edward Britt on August 21, 1867. Soon after, the corner lot where the church now stands was bought for $1700, and the small building on it was used for services for 5 years. In 1870, during the pastorate of J. C. Darling, the small building was moved across the street, the present building was erected and dedicated on July 2, 1872, at a cost of about $5000. Within three years, the remaining debt was only $1000 on the church property.

The bell was installed in the tower in 1876 at a cost of $400. In 1884, Pastor A. A. Pierce raised enough money to pay off the remaining debt, and paint and shingle the church building. At the end of 1884, Pastor Pierce wrote, "The Society has a church worth $5000, and all free from debt, the first time in thirteen years".

About 1889, a house was purchased on North Main St., for use as a parsonage, for $1500. $500 was paid that year, and the Society carried the $1000 as debt. This was completely paid in fifteen years.

In 1897, new stained glass windows were installed in the sanctuary. In 1905, electric lights were installed in the church. Pastor L. A. Griggs, the first pastor to stay five years, had the pipe organ installed in the church in 1908, at a cost of $1200. At that time, the choir loft was moved to its current location on the same side as the pipe organ. In 1912, the hardwood floors were laid. Because of its central location, the Methodist Church was chosen for the town clock in 1913. This was paid for by the Neighborhood Club and "kindly disposed and benevolently inclined citizens".

In 1920, a new parsonage was purchased on Main St., as the parsonage at the time was too small for the minister and his family. This was bought from C. F. Carter for $4800. At the time, this was one of the finest parsonages in the conference. The week after this was bought, the opportunity presented to sell the old parsonage for $1700. This had been the parsonage for 31 years. With this money, the debt of the new parsonage was reduced to $2700 the next year. In 1922, the value of the church was $9000, and the parsonage, $5000.

The early church in Oriskany Falls had a number of organizations. The Ladies' Aid Society was started in 1860. The Epworth League in 1892, the Junior Epworth League in 1894, the Webster Brotherhood in 1910, the Women's Foreign Missionary Society in 1894, and the Women's Home Missionary Society in 1900, not to mention Sunday School from the beginning..

From 1858 to 1875, the Church gave for all benevolences a total of $533;1875 to 1897, it was $1036; 1897 to 1917, it was $6827; and from 1917 to 1922, it $11,439. That makes a total of 19,835 for the first 64 years of this church's existence. The total paid for building and improvements for the first fifty years was $18,360. The first 64 years worth of pastor's salaries paid totaled $35,054. The first 12 years, the pastor's salary was $300. The next eleven years (1870 - 1881) the salary went up to $400. The next 18 years (1881-1899) it was steady around $500. The next 23 years (1889 - 1922), the salary gradually increased till it reached $1500 and a parsonage. In 1922, current expenses ran $15 per member and benevolence ran $16 per member.