Church History

A Brief History Of Shelburne United Methodist Church

In 1798 Joseph Mitchell was sent to Vergennes as the head of a large preaching circuit, which included Shelburne. After just two years of Mitchell’s work, Vermont could boast six circuits and a membership of just under eleven hundred, despite our pioneer conditions. It is possible he preached in Shelburne, although there is no record of it before the year 1800, when an appointment was established here by Henry Ryan.

The Society was formed and continued for a time in the east part of the town. Among the charter members were Nathaniel Gage, James and John Simonds and Phineas Hall.

Perhaps as early as 1825 the movement for a Methodist place of worship began to take shape in the minds of the congregation, but nine years elapsed before the brick church was finished and dedicated, at the cost of about $2,000. The building was erected on what is now the property of the Catholic Church.

On March 28, 1870 Brother Edgerton met with a group of men and women to discus the prospects of building or repairing the old building. After years of hearty debate, contracts in the amount of $3,300 for the construction and $4,300 for the stone, which was quarried in New York State and brought across the lake in the winter 1871. Following, nearly two years were lost in a spat of bickering over the construction details. The final contracts were let in 1873 in the amount of $24,491.26. The building was finally dedicated on February 18, 1874 by Bishops Janes.

The organ was purchased in 1914 for $2,100 with the help of a $1,000 donation from Andrew Carnegie. Also that year, electricity was installed in the church and the parsonage.

Many other interesting details of the congregation’s life are contained in several small booklets of history prepared for on several anniversary occasions and available to view at the church.


	Church History

	A Brief History Of Shelburne United Methodist Church In 1798 Joseph Mitchell was sent to Vergennes as the head of a large preaching circuit, which included Shelburne. After just two years of Mitchell’s work, Vermont could boast six circuits and a membership of just under eleven hundred, despite our pioneer conditions. It is possible he preached in Shelburne, although there is no record of it before the year 1800, when an appointment was established here by Henry Ryan. The Society was formed and continued for a time in the east part of the town. Among the charter members were Nathaniel Gage, James and John Simonds and Phineas Hall. Perhaps as early as 1825 the movement for a Methodist place of worship began to take shape in the minds of the congregation, but nine years elapsed before the brick church was finished and dedicated, at the cost of about $2,000. The building was erected on what is now the property of the Catholic Church. On March 28, 1870 Brother Edgerton met with a group of men and women to discus the prospects of building or repairing the old building. After years of hearty debate, contracts in the amount of $3,300 for the construction and $4,300 for the stone, which was quarried in New York State and brought across the lake in the winter 1871. Following, nearly two years were lost in a spat of bickering over the construction details. The final contracts were let in 1873 in the amount of $24,491.26. The building was finally dedicated on February 18, 1874 by Bishops Janes. The organ was purchased in 1914 for $2,100 with the help of a $1,000 donation from Andrew Carnegie. Also that year, electricity was installed in the church and the parsonage. Many other interesting details of the congregation’s life are contained in several small booklets of history prepared for on several anniversary occasions and available to view at the church.