| A group
of
Methodists, looking to build a church,
purchased a plot of ground, eighty by one-hundred fifty feet on West
State Street in the Borough of Media, for the sum of $200. The deed
bears the date August 21, 1851. A Church Charter was granted on
November 24, 1851. In the summer, meetings were held under an apple
tree located on the church property. When the weather turned cold,
worship services were held in the newly built Media Court House, and in
the second story of Mark Packard's barn. A Sunday School was organized
in 1853. The church was built in 1854; a two story stone building forty
by sixty feet, with the sanctuary on the second floor. It was dedicated
on August 26, 1855. The Village Green Circuit served the church until
it became a separate station with its own minister, in 1859. A
parsonage was built in 1877, on the site of our present sanctuary.
Throughout the years
several additions were added to the church building. However, during
the 1950's, it became increasingly evident that a new and larger
facility was needed, with the sanctuary on the first floor. Ground was
broken for our present sanctuary on January 29, 1956, and the parsonage
razed. Because of a steel strike, progress was slow. The cornerstone
was laid September 15, 1957. Opening Sunday was December 8, 1957. On
that Sunday we met in the old church and the entire congregation and
choirs, led by the minister, proceeded to our new sanctuary singing a
familiar hymn. It is noted that more than 625 persons attended opening
ceremonies. The church was dedicated December 16, 1962 and the mortgage
burned. Construction began on the education wing in 1969, and the
original church demolished. The cornerstone was laid on March 22, 1970
and the building dedicated on April 15, 1981.
In the year 2001, we
celebrated 150 years of ministry to the congregation and the community.
We are a busy, active church living our mission statement: Reaching out
in Christian love to share the joy of Christ to all people.
Kathy LoRusso
Church Historian
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