puffer



	The present Puffer United Methodist Church carries on a work of ministry and proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this community that dates back almost 200 years.
	The first stirrings of the Methodist movement in the Morristown/Morrisville area date to 1812 or 1813. In 1839 a Methodist Church was constructed in Morristown near the present site of the Mountain View Cemetery. This church was part of a regular preaching circuit in connection with the Hyde Park and North Hyde Park Methodist congregations.



	In 1872, the center for worship and ministry was moved from Morristown Corners into Morrisville on Upper Main Street. For two years, services were held in the Christian Baptist Church building (long the Advent Christian Church, and presently the Grace Brethren Church) which the Methodists purchased while a more permanent church building was planned. In 1874, the Christian Baptist church building was sold back to its original owners, and in November of that year, the Methodist Episcopal Church occupied its new church on the site of the present building.
	In January of 1888 discussions were held citing the need for a new church building to accomodate the expanding congregation's needs. The new building was in place, occupied, and paid for eleven months later!



	The congregation has continued a strong presence in Morrisville throughout its history. Various expansions and improvements continued to be made, the most notable being a modern education wing added in 1961, and a new sanctuary in 1970 to replace the 1888 structure. Major renovations continue to keep these "new" (30 and 40 year-old buildings...!) ready to house ministry in Morrisville.



	Today our church is proud to be a center of many community activities, and a resource utilized by many groups in the central Lamoille Valley community for services to our neighbors. But we remain most proud of carrying forward our stewardship of proclaiming, acquainting, teaching, and sharing with people about the love of Jesus Christ.