Teaneck
United Methodist Church

A Brief History

The origin of the name "Teaneck" is not precisely known. One theory gives it a Dutch heritage, claiming the name means "willow neck" -- a neck of land where willows grow. Another theory claims a Native American heritage, with the first syllable coming from "te" or "teke" meaning woodland, and the second syllable, "eck," meaning place. Regardless of its origin, "Teaneck" was used to identify this piece of land as early as 1728, when it was mentioned in the will of John Loots. This has nothing to do with the history of the church, per se. But it is nice to know.

At the turn of the twentieth century, most of Teaneck was still farmland. It had a rural air to it, was sparsely populated, and was still considered "the country" by New Yorkers.

The Lower Teaneck Sunday School Association, located in the southern section of town, was formed in 1901 and led to the organizing of the Teaneck Methodist Episcopal Church in 1915. The Association had a short life as an exclusively educational institution, giving way to a larger, worshipping community of faith. Worship services were held as early as 1911 in a chapel built at the corner of Teaneck Road and Fenimore Street.

Clergy from neighboring towns and various denominations were invited to preach at the services. And there were members of the Association who favored affiliating with the Dutch Reformed Church, while others favored Methodism. For four years various ministers preached. Finally, a favorite emerged from among the guest ministers, the Rev. V.A. Wood, minister of the Ridgefield Park Methodist Episcopal Church. As there already existed some nearby Reformed Churches, the entire congregation decided to go with Rev. Wood and Methodism.

On May 2, 1915, the Teaneck Methodist Episcopal Church was organized, using the chapel of the Lower Teaneck Sunday School Association. In August of that same year, the Sunday School voted to change its name to the Teaneck Methodist Episcopal Sunday School. A local newspaper article, written in March of 1917, dubbed the church: "Teaneck's 'Little Brown Church in the Vale.'"

A new church and larger facility became the goal of the Methodist Episcopal Church almost from the beginning. The original chapel was located adjacent to the home of Rachel DeGraw, who had married into the family of William DeGraw (who helped bring the trolley line through Teaneck on the street that bears his name). Rachel, considered a friend of the congregation, donated a parcel of land at the corner of Fort Lee Road and Hickory Street. This land was later exchanged for the present location, at DeGraw Avenue and Hickory streets. The original chapel on Teaneck Road was sold to the Norwegian Evangelical Free Church, and the proceeds were used to help erect the first building.

The cornerstone of the Teaneck United Methodist Church building was laid on November 25, 1923, and the first service was conducted on June 8, 1924. In the late 1940’s, African-Americans began buying homes in the northeast quadrant of Teaneck, as Englewood’s "black neighborhood" began to overflow across the border into this town. This set off panic selling on the part of many whites. Fueled by hungry real estate agents, the phenomenon of blockbusting led to neighborhoods changing from all white to African-American in a matter of months.

In 1955, a black couple with ties to a New York City Methodist Church moved into north Teaneck. They were invited by the minister to join the congregation of the TUMC, and after several visits, they came to their first service. In 1956, they became the first non-white members of the church.

February 9, 1965, was a historic day in the life of Teaneck and this church. For on that day, an election was held for three positions on the township's Board of Education. More than a vote for three people, it became a referendum on integration. Teaneck was the first city in the United States where a white majority voted in favor of school integration.

Increasing numbers of African-Americans joined the Teaneck United Methodist Church in the sixties and seventies. In the seventies, a new wave of families originally from India came to live in Teaneck. Most of them came to Teaneck via New York City.

In 1973, a state-subsidized daycare center was envisioned as an outreach mission of the church. The idea was met with opposition by a significant portion of the congregation. It was a time of transition in the roles of the family and motherhood. Some folk didn't believe in daycare. Others were just as convinced of the need for this community outreach. But a congregational vote was taken, and by a slim margin, the project was approved. Funds to start the center came from memorial gifts for Sydney J. Walker.

Today, The Sydney J. Walker Memorial Learning Center is lauded by state inspectors as one of the best run daycare facilities in the county. And many people in Teaneck know the church through the ministry of this project. Today, twenty-five nationalities are represented among the members of Teaneck United Methodist Church. In his last report to the congregation before retiring in 1965, Dr. Joseph Blessing said, "Our past has seen both prosperity and need. There have been fat years and lean years. But the church has never lost its spirit, or its courage, or its faith." Indeed, the central focus of this community throughout its history has been its faith in Jesus Christ and its adherence to following his teachings.

TUMC is now in its second century of service. The Teaneck United Methodist Church community has a rich and honorable heritage from which to draw courage and conviction, and the faith and strength to face the challenges of the future.

TUMC has a rich and honorable heritage. It has members with roots ranging from England to India, Jamaica to Sierra Leone. This diversity provides a vast pool of talent and experience, of history and tradition, of courage and conviction and faith.

The Teaneck United Methodist Church has entered into its second century of service: to its members, to the community, and to God. Let us pray that He guide us and strengthen us, to His everlasting glory.

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