The First Methodist Episcopal Church of Herkimer, NY

Source:  "Panorama and History of Herkimer, NY, 1725-1900," written and compiled by Thomas C. Murray, sketches by A.P. Zintzmaster and D.J. Devendorf, published by Miss Flora L. Wood, book held at the Frank J. Basloe Library, Herkimer, NY.


 

now the:
First United Methodist Church
located on the southwest corner of Prospect Street and Park Avenue in Herkimer, NY.

Photos taken July 2000
Courtesy of Lisa Slaski

        Under date of September 4, 1888, the Rev. I. S. Bingham, at that time pastor of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Herkimer, transcribed certain pages from "an old church record - The record of old Herkimer circuit."  This transcript states that Herkimer was the first and oldest appointment within the bounds of the Northern New York Conference at the date of that writing.  It shows the dates of quarterly meetings, births and baptisms.  The earliest dates of this record are in 1793, when Herkimer circuit had ten preaching appointments.  In 1799 this number had increased to twenty-five.  The records of quarterly conferences show the names of leasers, the amounts collected by them in S. and P. for the support of the gospel.  How much earlier than 1793 the Methodist Episcopal Church had organized work in Herkimer we have no means of knowing.  The Society's prosperity seems to have begun in 1839, when the four villages of Herkimer, Mohawk, Ilion, and Frankfort, seem to have had some thirty-six Methodists.  From that date the society grew.  A church was organized and on Thursday, August 6, 1840, a substantial frame edirice was dedicated.  That building was sold to the Roman Catholic Church and by them enlarged.  In 1873 the present spacious and elegant brick structure, at the corner of Prospect Street and Park Avenue, was begun.  It was completed and dedicated in 1874.

        Both the church building and the pastor's home are comfortable, commodious  and attractive.  The church is in a healthy and growing condition, it is well organized and aggressive in all departments.  The membership is about 450, but the total congregations and constituency is much larger.

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Created 8/5/00

Copyright © 2000 Lisa K. Slaski
All Rights Reserved.