How it all started...
The Methodist Episcopal Church in Collingswood was born on November 5, 1886 in the living room of 604 Park Ave, the home of Mr. & Mrs. James Gibbs, just down the block from our current location at the corner of Park & Dayton Avenues. From there the congregation purchased the lot on the corner and laid the cornerstone for the first building on June 15th, 1887. The building was dedicated on December 4th of the same year.
In 1895, the church found itself in a financial crisis related to the construction of the first parsonage. Under the leadership of Rev. Samuel Van Sant, the congregation clung to the promise of Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply of your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." This verse became the motto of the church and they were able to pay off the debt and balance the budget.
The second church building was constructed in 1904 to help provide space for the growing Sunday school program, and a addition was built in 1912 to house the growing program. The Sunday school building and the Sanctuary were destroyed by fire in 1932 and rebuilt as the current building in 1934.
In 1895, the church found itself in a financial crisis related to the construction of the first parsonage. Under the leadership of Rev. Samuel Van Sant, the congregation clung to the promise of Philippians 4:19, "But my God shall supply of your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." This verse became the motto of the church and they were able to pay off the debt and balance the budget.
The second church building was constructed in 1904 to help provide space for the growing Sunday school program, and a addition was built in 1912 to house the growing program. The Sunday school building and the Sanctuary were destroyed by fire in 1932 and rebuilt as the current building in 1934.
Expanding the vision...
Rev. Dr. Frank B. Stanger was appointed as the pastor in 1951 and saw the growing congregation build the education wing on the Stokes Avenue end of the building. Dr. Stanger was succeeded as pastor in 1959 by Rev. Philip E. Worth when Dr. Stanger left to become Executive Vice President and then President of Asbury Theological Seminary. Rev. Worth was the longest serving pastor in the history of First UMC Collingswood, serving the congregation for almost 30 years. Rev. Worth also served as the first chairman of the board for the Forum for Scriptural Christianity Within the United Methodist Church (now known as Good News), which sought the reform of the UMC away from the liberal theology being embraced in the denomination and a return to Biblical orthodoxy.
Where we are headed...
First UMC, Collingswood is still trying to remain faithful to the godly legacy that has been passed on to us by countless men and women over the past 135+ years of our existence. In partnership with groups like Good News and The Wesleyan Covenant Association First Methodist is committed to the vision of being an orthodox Methodist presence in our community where people encounter God, experience God's transforming power, are formed into the image of Christ, and empowered to be sent into the world to carry the presence of God's Spirit to every part of our community.
