Wesley Methodist Church; A Brief History
Philip Reese, William Downs, Reverend R. Brown Lockwood, what do all these people have in common? All these incredible people devoted their lives to preaching and teaching others about the belief of Methodism. Philip Reese, William Downs, Reverend R. Brown Lockwood helped start it all here in the Phillipsburg/Easton area. However, preaching about the belief of Methodism did not come easy because at the time there was no “dedicated” place to worship. Meaning there was no Methodist church or chapel locally in the Phillipsburg/Easton area therefore preachers preached wherever they could. They would preach publicly in towns, in classrooms, and sometimes even in their own homes. It wasn’t until the year of 1858 that the very first Methodist Church was in the early stages of construction.
The first 18 years of the church was known as the “building period” mostly because that was the time when the parsonage, chapel, and auditorium was being designed. And on May 29, 1887 Phillipsburg/Easton area’s first Methodist Church was officially known as “Wesley Methodist Church.” The church began with only have approximately 69 written members. Meaning there were only 69 people apart of the church who were written in the church record books.
However, even though Wesley was not the biggest church in size, it had a lot of potential and continued to grow. In the early 1900s, Wesley began most of their committees, societies, and groups; some including Junior Choir, Women’s Missionary Society, and the Junior Epworth League. And believe it or not, but by 1925 Wesley Methodist Church went from having 69 written members to total of 700 written members!
As time continued to pass at Wesley Methodist Church improvements proliferate and the members grow stronger as a community. However, with every step forward there can sometimes be a few steps back. And unfortunately, on November 1937 Wesley Methodist Church faced a big step back. The church suffered a horrid fire that nearly destroyed everything except for a few church records, hymnals, the organ, and the members strong faith whom believed that wit prayer God would help turn this step back into something great! So, with a ton of prayer and a united community Wesley Methodist Church was miraculously rebuilt within a year. November 1938 the very first Sunday service was held at the new church! Then on September 1939, the educational center was fully running helping the students at Wesley become successful.
After that small set back, the church began to flourish more than it has before. The church got itself involved in a multitude of community events including helping boy scouts and girl scouts. Wesley Methodist Church also helped run/set up for holiday events that brought people from all over the community together for festive and fun activities.
To this day Wesley is continuing to grow and build as a family. For the past 100 years there has been countless numbers of pastors and members who made this building become the phenomenal church it is today. Each person who sets foot in the church doors has helped this church become a place of family an worship where each and everyone can “Let your light shine before men that they may do your good works and glorify your father which is in Heaven.” – The words of Wesley’s Historians.