First United Methodist Church

History

Methodist Episcopal, Mystic Bridge
Situated at the Corner of Church and Willow Streets
Organized 1835
First pastor: Rev. William S. Simmons
Present Pastor: Abiot Moyo

Trustees, G.W. Mallory, Rev. George C. Williams, A.C., Tift, Charles Grinnell, J.B. Sutton, D.D. Mallory, D.L. Weems, MC. Hill

Membership 150, Sunday School scholars 100

Riders
In the 1800s news of all kinds was carried by riders who visited and stayed at the local Inns or homes on their travels. The early Methodist preachers adopted this practice to spread their message. Methodism had spread tremendously as it was introduced in this country with 14,000 members during the American Revolution and nearly 80 preachers. In 1784, the Methodist Episcopal Church was formally organized with articles of religion written by John Wesley. Sent out to spread the good news were circuit riders… ministers on horseback.

Revival Meetings
Revival meetings were held throughout the area, resulting in considerable growth of the church and growth in its prospects. In 1841, the first Methodist Church for Mystic was built on donated land. This land was situated on Church Street and beside the church a parsonage was built in 1848.

Our conference records, commencing in 1843, lists four persons in attendance for Mystic Bridge, with a Brother Allen as Presiding Elder. A committee was appointed to estimate the cost and expenses for the first pastor, Rev. William S. Simmons.

1841's Church Sold
The church building of 1841 was sold to the Catholic Church. It was turned around and moved closer to and facing East Main Street. In the meantime, plans for a grand new church were in progress, the lot purchased from Mallory being the location of the present church. And the edifice as erected was indeed a grand one. The church had high sidewalls with beautiful stained glass windows. There was no flat ceiling but elaborate carved wooden beams and chestnut planking made on A shaped ceiling. The outside roof was steeply pitched and shingled with slate. The building was heated by three coal burning furnaces with two registers in the main aisle.

Members or Probationers
The first superintendent of the Sunday School was A.C. Tift. Persons as they joined the church were listed as Members with others as Probationers. Pride in the Sunday School, the piety of the person's involved, the added volumes of the library plus accounts of meeting and prayers in abundance fill the volume with an enthusiasm and joy for the beginning church. Entries of new converts or "backslider reclaimed" abound in its early growth. An entry in the journal of 1867, as reported by the Board of Trustees states as follows: "we have decided to build a church for the Society on the lot purchased by Brother Mallory which will cost when completed something like $28,000."

Chandeliers
Lovely chandeliers hung from the rafters on twelve to fifteen foot chains. On windy Sundays, the lights would sway sideways about a foot and the wind could be heard creaking the structure as it passed over it. The pews with cushioned seats were arranged in a semi-circle. A bell tower on the front south corner of the church contained a bell purchased at a cost of nearly $900 a vast sum in those days. In a second floor Sunday School room, two ropes hung down from the ceiling, one to move the hammer that was used to toll the bell while the larger one rolled the bell from side to side.

September 21st, 1938
A fierce hurricane hit New England. This lovely church completely collapsed. The weight of the slate roof is blamed. The mighty bell crashed through the bell ringing room, fell down through the kitchen which was directly below and down into the cellar.

The congregation held together throughout this time. The Mystic Grange offered the use of their building for worship services. Four years from the great devastation, the new building (much smaller) was completed and dedicated. The Methodist Episcopal Church became the Methodist Church.

February 27th, 1947
Once again disaster struck the Mystic Methodist Church! A fire of undetermined origin nearly destroyed the four and one half year old church. Local churches offered the use of their sanctuary for worship services and the congregation met at the Mystic Congregational Church until the newly rebuilt church was dedicated in 1948.

At this point in time, music is still joyously filling our church and we are singing the Lord's praises.

This information was provided by departed historians Marion Higbee and Barbara Neff Jenson.