Our Church History....
1771 - The Peter Van Pelt House
The first meeting of the future Woodrow United Methodist Church took place in this building in 1771.
The first meeting of the future Woodrow United Methodist Church took place in this building in 1771.
Woodrow United Methodist Church was the first established Methodist Church on Staten Island and has maintained a continuous presence on the island since 1771. While the church was officially begun on May 5, 1787, with the election of nine trustees for the purpose of the construction of a house of worship, there had been an active class meeting, since Francis Asbury had preached his first sermon on November 10, 1771, in the home of Peter Van Pelt, some 150 yards southeast of Woodrow Road, less than a half mile east of the present church.
Francis Asbury is considered the founder of American Methodism. He was sent to the colonies from England by John Wesley and rode over 10,000 miles establishing churches throughout the colonies and later the states of the union. Staten Island was the direct line of travel between New York and Philadelphia, two important commercial cities in the nation at that time. Woodrow was the first place he preached in New York State and later authorized a class meeting of nineteen persons under the guidance of Israel Disoway.
The first church building’s construction was delayed until after the American Revolution. The records show that 137 pounds ($685) was subscribed with other donations of time and money not recorded. The first church was somewhat smaller than the present structure and was erected on the site of the present church facing eastward, parallel to Woodrow Road, with entrances to the south and west. There were no cushions in the pews and no carpeting, the floors being protected by white sand. The old Quaker custom of seating the men on the right hand of the preacher and the women on the left was followed. The church was dedicated in October 1787 and Francis Asbury first preached in it on September 2, 1791. The original church was used until it was struck by lightning and burned in 1832. The old church was torn down and the present church was erected in 1842 and fronted onto Woodrow Road. In addition to the new building being more modern in style and architecture to the shorter windows of the original church were replaced with longer more churchly windows and the gallery, instead of being on three sides were placed on one side above the main entrance forming a vestibule beneath. Nothing from the original building was saved but we do have a bible which was given to the church in 1795 and an old communion plate of German silver. The tower was added to the structure in 1876 and a bell from the foundry of Meneely, West Troy, NY., weighing 1,525 pounds, a memorial to Fannie Cole was placed in position.
The parsonage, now occupied by the church caretakers, was built in 1851 and has been enlarged to double its original size since then. The original church hall was built in 1884. The hall burned in the Staten Island brush fires of 1963, which leveled Staten Island’s South Shore, and was replaced by the current education building in 1971.
The present congregation is the result of a merger, in 1976, of the Wesley Methodist Church, formerly located in Eltingville. In addition the South Shore Presbyterian Church, who had been worshiping with the Wesley church, decided to disband and become members of the newly merged church.
Throughout its early history, Woodrow was served by many different Preachers as is the Methodist tradition. No Pastor stayed more than two years, until late into the nineteenth century. The most famous pastor was “Father” Henry Boehm who was Francis Asbury’s travelling companion for sixteen years. He lived to be 100 years old and is buried in the Woodrow Cemetery. The church reached its pinnacle of membership in the 1840’s during the revival movement led by Wesley Robertson. In the early 1840’s, Bethel Church, the first daughter of Woodrow, was established in Richmond Valley, St. Paul’s Church, her first grand-daughter, established in 1859 in Tottenville and St. Mark’s in the early 1870’s in Pleasant Plains. Several additional Methodist Churches were formed on the North Shore of Staten Island, which are Asbury, Christ, Faith and Summerfield. Today, there are ten active United Methodist congregations on Staten Island.
Woodrow Church almost closed during World War II, but following the war it began to rebuild. The sanctuary was remodeled at that time and a full time pastor was restored in 1952.
The church today is an active congregation dedicated to the service of God though Christ in the tradition of the United Methodist Church. We are a member congregation of the New York Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. It is our purpose to provide an open atmosphere where persons of all ages can explore their faith in God through worship, fellowship, education and mission. We are committed to our community and world, seeking to serve it by, offering a quality preschool, food to the hungry, making our facility available to the youth and twelve step programs, providing support to various community agencies and financial support to various global ministries.
The church recognizes that it is the steward of a valuable heritage. We are committed to preserving our house of worship and are currently in a major exterior and interior restoration project to accomplish this end. We are especially committed to continuing our active faithful presence in the New York City area.
Richard L. Bartels, Chairman
Church Council & Restoration Committee
**If you want more information regarding our church history, or if you would like to help with our restoration please contact the chairman at:
