Woburn United Methodist Church

History of Woburn UMC

ORIGINAL BUILDING: Original Unitarian Structure Built 1845

Civil War: A season of great trial - nearly 1/4 of all male members were enlisted in the war, leaving the church with reduced numbers and limited financial means.

"But for the determination of a few, the church would have been broken up." Still they managed to generate sufficient pledges to purchase the Unitarian structure valued at $10,000. One member, Thomas Warland, mortgaged his home in order to obtain sufficient funds to help purchase the building.

Methodist Dedication: May 17, 1865

Collections: Rev. Matthew Parkhurst wrote that there was a brother who would go to sleep before he had completed his sermon. So he instructed the collector to send him two bills; one for pew rent and one for lodging. The brother paid both and said he would not sleep any more without a couch, and he slept no more in church.

FIRE: March 6, 1873 - a day of sore trial for the Methodist people. Both the church and the parsonage were lost and they were a "flock without a fold." During the next several years we were a church of migrating people. We worshipped with the Congregationalists, used the Unitarian church for afternoon services, on occasion joined the Baptists and even used the Engine Hall on Railroad Street (Montvale Ave). We finally settled in the Temperance Hall until we were able to occupy the new church then established on the corner of Main and Walnut with seating for 500. When this became too small, land was purchased north of this site and the current structure designed to seat 886 was dedicated in February 1891.

NEW STRUCTURE: Dedicated February 21, 1891, the trustees were E.G. Clough, John D. Finn, Frank W. Greydon, Warren P. Adams, Thomas R. Corbett, Mr. Wesley True, Amos Knowlton, and Frank W. Legg. J.H. Beserick was the architect. The faith in the founding fathers was not in vain.

Gifts Along the Way: In 1974 a new altar cross was dedicated having been given by the Hull family in memory of Lay Leader John Hull.

In 1974 a chair lift was installed, given by the John Robinson family.

The 125th Anniversary of the church was held February 20, 1976. Many other events in 1976 helped in the celebration, including Seminary Singers, a multi-media slide presentation of stained glass windows, banquets and musical programs presented by the choir.

CHANGES: The parsonage has been blessed with many paint jobs and other minor upgrades as new families arrive and others move on to answer their call in new dimensions.

In keeping with the faith of the founders of this church, the Trustees have consistently been able to raise sufficient funds each time the Church was in need of major renovations. These included:

Basement renovation for use of the Church School.
Vinyl siding (a move to reduce the expense of paint).
Roof replacement (whole and partial).
New front doors, entryway steps and carpet throughout the sanctuary.

In 2000, the Church began a major project which would open its doors to everyone, including those who struggle to get to the sanctuary with strollers, wheel chairs, crutches and walkers. This new addition was completed in 2001.

Many believe that when the amount required for upgrades seemed beyond our grasp (the cost of a new elevator was going to exceed $200,000), God provided the essential backbone to cover much of the expense leaving the Trustees to complete this act of faith with smaller building fund preparations. Rental income from cellular antennae on the roof and steeple is a recent example of God's gift to the church. Other gifts have come at times in need from parishioners and bequests. The church has a history of overcoming all odds in order to bring God's word to its members and the community within which it resides.

It is the history of our founders which continues to weave this strong fabric of faith and stewardship that promises to carry us into our future.

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5/13/04