Enfield Methodist Church
According to the Grafton County Gazetteer, 1709-1886: "The Methodist Episcopal Church, located in the northeastern part of the town, was organized in 1837. Their church building was erected in 1858 - a wooden structure capable of seating 350 persons and valued, including grounds, at $3000."
Thus began the organization of the present day United Methodist Church. Our earliest membership book records the names of Malinda Colby and Eliza and Theophilus Goodhue as the first members in 1835 - two years before the formal organization of the church. However, history states there was a society of Methodists as early as 1800. The New Hampshire Conference lists Enfield as one of the towns in the Hanover Circuit. Others making up the district were Canaan, Dorchester, Hanover, Springfield and part of Grantham.
In 1801, Claremont became a part of the Hanover circuit. Enfield is recorded as contributing $1.00 to the circuit. Although this sum seems too meager to mention, in those days coins were scarce, and it probably represented the average sacrifice. In 1858, 24 men subscribed a pledge of $965 to build a house of worship. At a second meeting a month later, 34 men subscribed another pledge of $2,318.25 for pews!
During the Civil War, few church records were kept. The church roll shows members were steadily added and the Ladies' Aid Society was reorganized. The remaining 1800's showed purchases of a church bell, a furnace to replace the old stoves, a choir gallery, and acquisition of a parsonage. A new pulpit set given by a presiding elder.
Our earliest Quarterly Conference records begin in 1879. The records mention various church activities and the amount of the financial pledge to our Enfield parish by the Enfield Center unit. New concerns arose in 1890 - the importance of church records and should women be eligible as lay delegates to the electoral and general conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church? On July 5, 1896, the West Canaan Chapel was formerly organized. This began its separated, yet united, connection with the Enfield parish.
During the 1930s, the parsonage was repaired and remodeled by the Ladies' Aid Society. The Trustees completely remodeled the front of the church, changing its architecture from that of a New England meeting house to its present sanctuary form.
The original parsonage was sold and the present one was purchased in 1948. The vestry building was purchased in 1955 and renovated in 1996. We have a very active Men's Group, two sub-groups of the United Methodist Women, a flourishing Sunday School including nursery and cradle roll, Junior Choir, Adult Choir, and Vacation Bible School.
In 1985 a motion to merge the Canaan, Enfield and West Canaan churches was defeated.
The church is noted for its Ham and Bean Suppers from April to October (July's supper is Chicken Biscuits). These suppers not only serve as a fund raiser, but a time of fellowship as well.
The fellowship workers host craft and bake sales four to five times a year. These sales are open to anyone in the community interested in crafts and baking.
In 1997, new blue robes were made for the adult choir.