SHORT HISTORY

                                          OF THE SCHUYLERVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

                                                                                      1820-2004

          Even before our church building was constructed Methodist preachers visited this Schuylerville area.  

   In 1783 John Dempster, who was the final missionary sent from England by John Wesley to spread    

   Methodism in the new world, preached here. In 1791 Freeborn Garretson, who was the evangelist

   whose mission was to spread Methodism northward from Troy along the Hudson River, preached here. 

   And in 1809 renowned Bishop Francis Asbury preached nearby. These worship services and meetings

   were held in private homes and in barns and in school buildings and were organized by the laity with an    

   occasional visit by a circuit riding preacher. Schuylerville Methodists had circuit riders

   from 1825 until 1842.
          A strong need was felt, however, for a church building. At that time there were no Methodist     

   church buildings north of Lansingburgh along a 10-mile-breadth of the Hudson River.     

   In 1820 a Schuylerville Methodist Society was formed and incorporated. Money was raised     

   by subscription and in 1827 the church building was built at a cost of $1600. Over the years the   

   building has been periodically added onto, repaired, remodeled and refurbished.

          In 1864 the bell and bell tower were added. In 1889 electricity was installed and also a

   furnace to replace the stove that had heated the building. AND in 1889 our historic

   tracker pipe organ was bought and installed. The pipe organ originated in England and

   incorporated some parts from 1756. It was shipped to Boston where it served 175 years

   in two different churches, then was brought here to Schuylerville where it's been for

   nearly 115 years. An electric motor runs the pump that provides the wind, but at one time

   the wind for the pipes was provided by a strong boy working a hand pump.

          Other improvements to the building over the years have included the stained glass

   windows which were added around the turn of the century, and also running water and

   the present oak pews. Then a few years later hardwood floors and slate roof.

   The interior of the sanctuary has seen many changes. At one time galleries graced

   the north, east and south walls and the front of the room featured a circular altar rail

   and a single elevated pulpit. Outdoors stood a shed for horses.

          In the 1800s a Methodist church existed in Victory Mills, and from 1853 through 1869

   Schuylerville was yoked to Victory Mills. We have been yoked to the Quaker Springs

   church as the Schuylerville/Quaker Springs Charge since 1935.

          Within the church we've had many organizations. 
   In very early times every member was assigned to be in a "class" which met regularly

   for study, prayer, discussion and guidance.

          The first Sabbath School was organized the same year the church was built in

   1827 with 35 children enrolled. Sunday School has continued to the present.

   We also had released time week-day religious education church school classes from

   the 1940s until the early 1970s.

          We've had several groups for young adults and youths in addition to Sunday School.

   Epworth League (organized in 1892) and Junior Epworth League; also Methodist Youth Fellowship,  

   Intermediate Youth Fellowship, and Junior Methodist Youth Fellowship.

          We've had many women's groups, beginning with Womens Missionary Society (1832),

    then later Helpers' Union, Womens Foreign Missionary Society, Ladies Aid, Methodist

   Guild, Womens Society for Christian Service (WSCS), United Methodist Women (UMW),

   Prayer and Share Group, After Lunch Bunch and Womens Circle.

          The men of the church haven't felt the need to be as formally organized. In 1914

   The Methodist Brotherhood existed, then in the early 1950s Christian Mens Fellowship

   (an ecumenical group of men) and for a short time in the early 1960s Methodist Men.

          Over the years we've suffered calamities too. In 1950 a hurricane ripped off the

   roof the parsonage. In 1958 the church caught fire, resulting in serious damage to the

   roof and extensive smoke and water damage to the sanctuary. In 1979 the Sunday School

   wing of the church suffered extensive water damage after the 50-year-old furnace

   malfunctioned and the water pipes froze and burst.

           And we've continually had to scrounge for money!
   As a church we also had good times. We enjoy great fellowship as we worship

   together and work together. We genuinely care for one another. We've had parties and

   trips and even a bowling league.

          Methodists have always been active in the arts. Traditionally we've been known

   for our love of music. >From the time of the Wesleys and their hymns up to the

   present time Methodists have included music and singing in their worship

   and fellowship activities. We are known as the denomination that "sings its Christian faith." 
   We've always had and still have an outstanding choir and now we have a first rate bell choir.

   We've had liturgical dance troupes and we've also put on many plays and pageants-at

   one time we had a stage in the service room.

          All in all we've had an exciting past, an exciting present, and all indications promise

    an exciting future. Maxine Larmon
 

                                                                               Space for this website has been provided courtesy of 
                                                                The General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church