History of Methodism in New Canaan

A Brief Historic Outline

John Wesley b. Epworth, England 1703; d. England 1791
Wesley’s Aldersgate conversion experience May 1738

1760 First Methodist service held in New York City by Philip Embry  

1771 Francis Asbury preached in Westchester County

1784 Methodist Episcopal Church organized in Baltimore

1786 Thomas Ware preached in Pound Ridge

1787 First Methodist sermon preached in the parish of Canaan (New Canaan) by Rev. Cornelius Cook

1787 Samuel Q. Talbot formed a Methodist Society in Dantown.  

1799 Methodist meeting house built in Dantown, Pound Ridge, near New Canaan border. Church disbanded in 1842.

1801 Town of New Canaan incorporated.  About 1/3 of Dantown became part of New Canaan

1808 Methodist Society organized at Silvermine, first met in school house, then Ebeneezer Crofut's barn

1819 Methodist Society formed in the White Oak Shade district; met in school house, and held a "class" at the house of Holly Seymour

1831 Methodist congregation sought a suitable building. Rented the Town House¹ for two years and laid the groundwork for building the first church on Main Street.

1833 First Methodist house of worship was built in New Canaan on South Main Street at the northwest corner or what is now the intersection with Church Street.  It was dedicated in October.

1833 New Canaan was placed on the Norwalk Circuit by the Conference.

1851 Methodist meeting house was built at Selleck’s Corners.²

1852 New Canaan Methodist Church trustees purchased land for a cemetery. In 1868 the cemetery rights were sold to the New Canaan Cemetery Association.³  

1853 New Canaan Methodists acquired more land around the Main Street church and voted to construct a larger building.⁴

1854 New Church building dedicated December 21st.

The 1854 church building served our congregation for 100 years:    
    
1860 The steeple was blown down and a cupola built in its place. 
 
1900-01 The sanctuary was refurnished and beautified

1904 The church was wired for electricity

1905-1930 Running water was brought into the church; Indoor toilets were installed; Telephone and sewer services were installed

Bef. 1950    A 12-foot wide addition built on west side of church

1954 The congregation made a decision to construct a new, larger church building on South Avenue.

1955 In a three-way exchange, the Methodists purchased the Veterans of Foreign Wars property at 165 South Avenue; the VFW purchased the Masonic Temple at 62 Main Street; the Masons purchased the Methodist Church at 221 South Main Street.

1955-6 Before construction could begin, the Burtis-Behre Veterans House on the South Avenue property was moved to the southwest corner of the lot and refurbished to house the sexton and a tenant.

1957 The new church building was consecrated on December 11th.

1966 The Hickory Lane parsonage was purchased.

1969 Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethern and became the United Methodist Church.

1982 Old Methodist parsonage on Main Street was sold.

1983-87 Major church renovations, including reconstruction of the chancel and nave, an enlarged narthex, a refurbished Wesley Lounge, remodeled kitchen and lavatories, new coat room, new offices and an entry canopy.

1987 Celebration of the Bicentennial of Methodism in New Canaan.

2007 Celebration of 220 years of Methodism in New Canaan and 50 years in our  church on South Avenue.


<sup>1 That Town House is now  the Congregational Church’s parsonage.

2  Still standing

3  Thus the Methodists were pioneers in the establishment of Lakeview Cemetery.

4   In 1854, the old 1833 building was hauled by oxen up Main Street to become first the Concert Hall, then the second Town House; this much-remodeled and enlarged building is presently 132-138 Main Street.
Pews from that church can be seen in the balcony of the Masonic Hall.  Two of those pews have been refurbished and are in our narthex.</sup>