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John Street Methodist Church First John Street M.E. Church John Street Methodist Church 44 John Street, New York, N. Y. 10038 Oldest Methodist Society in America 1766-1966 WESLEY CHAPEL, designed and built by Philip Embury— the first building to stand on the John Street property— dedicated by Embury, Sunday, October 30, 1768. JOHN STREET METHODIST CHURCH York Society as of 1766. The statement then proceeds: "About the same time, Robert John Street Church is the oldest Method- Strawbridge settled in Frederick county, in ist Society in continental America, continu- the state of Maryland, and preaching there, ously occupying the present property since formed some societies". It is most interest- 1768. It was in September 1766, when Philip ing that Asbury, only twenty years after Embury, 38-year old carpenter, school- the events, and possessing more intimate teacher, and Wesleyan local preacher, or- knowledge of all available facts than any ganized this Methodist Society in New York other then living person, could not determine City. For several weeks the services were the Maryland date with any closer state- held in his home, a 2-story Dutch cabin on ment than the ambiguous "about the same Augustus Street, located at about the north- time". The Philadelphia Society is definitely west front of the present Municipal Build- fixed as of 1767, and the property, 1769. ing close to the City Hall. From those days Leesburg is not mentioned in the 1787 to this, the services of worship, and the Discipline, although Asbury also knew that work of the Society and Church, have been area intimately. The technical Disciplinary carried forward without interruption. statement of 1787 has been repeated in every succeeding Discipline, including the At three other locations, Methodist Soci- most recent, 1964. eties and work were organized during the mid and late 1760's—Frederick county, Maryland, by Robert Strawbridge; Phila- THE FOUNDERS delphia (St. George's Church), by Captain Thomas Webb; Leesburg, Virginia, on During the 1760s, numerous eager young property deeded to Robert Hamilton, "to people came to New York as colonists from no other use but for a church or meeting- Ireland. Notable among these were certain house". In the rule book of Methodism, closely-knit family groups, descendants of Discipline of 1787, appears the first official folk who, a generation or two earlier, had statement of Methodist origins in America, been forced from the ancient family loca- undoubtedly prepared by Bishop Francis tions in the Palatinate of Germany. These Asbury. He mentions the work of Philip religious emigres had found sanctuary on Embury and the establishment of the New the lands of Lord Southwell in southern John Wesley Rigging Loft Ireland. Their industry, frugality and hon- gathered a number of the group at his cot- orable demeanor commended them in their tage for regular Sunday services, mid- new home. Evangelical at heart, they September 1766. So many others responded warmly accepted the preaching of John to his efforts that he was able to organize Wesley's itinerants, and then of Wesley a Wesleyan Society such as they had known himself when he visited them. The Societies in Ireland with classes for men and women. formed among them were vigorous and devout. THE PLACE Philip Embury and his wife were of such background, and he became class-leader It was not long ere the living room of and local preacher, active throughout the Embury's house on Augustus Street became villages of his compatriots. Near them lived overcrowded. Rental of a small, nearby Barbara Ruckle, his cousin, who married structure was arranged. By early in 1767 Paul Heck. They also were ardent Method- this house also proved inadequate. On ists. During the four or five years prior to William Street, just south of Fulton, stood 1766, small groups of these Irish Methodists a two-story building, even then known as settled in New York. Some affiliated with "The Old-Rigging Loft". A ship-chandler's the great Anglican Trinity Church at the shop and store room occupied the ground head of Wall Street. Others became com- floor. The upper story was a rather spacious municants of Trinity Lutheran Church near- loft sometimes used for the rigging of sails. by, reverting to the German Evangelical The Society rented the loft for their form and method. services. With the older home restraints removed, At this juncture Captain Thomas Webb some of the group adopted questionable appeared. He had commanded troops at social practices. Barbara Heck was shocked the Siege of Quebec, in which campaign he to find her husband, brother, and other had lost his right eye in action. Invalided friends gambling at cards in her kitchen. She roundly rebuked them and went at once to Embury, pleading with him to re- "THE CHARTERHOUSE BOY"—original canvas of the only known portrait of John Wesley as a assume his function as local preacher. child. Rev. Richard L. Francis, Pastor, and Col. Moved by her importunate urging. Embury William 0. Elzay, Trustee Vice-president. mbury Barbara Heck breaks up the card game home to England, he was retired from active inal deed is in the possession of John Street duty in the rank of Captain. Coming under Church. Thomas Taylor, one of the Trustees the spell of Wesley's preaching, he was and a friend of John Wesley, promptly soundly converted. Webb was a man of notified Wesley, asking his prayers and ma- unusual oratorical powers and having en- terial aid. This letter constitutes a major joyed a broad education, Wesley gave document in American Methodist history Webb a license as lay preacher. Convinced and was influential in securing the first two that a significant future was destined for of the dozen missionaries Wesley sent to America, he returned to the colonies as con- America prior to the Revolution. tractor for military supplies, called "Bar- Embury drew the plans and superin- racks Master". tended the construction of the chapel, doing Finding the New York Society worship- most of the carpentry himself. The building ping in the Rigging Loft, Webb promptly was of stone faced with plaster. A gallery joined forces with Embury. Preaching al- extended about three sides, the simple ternately and working in notable harmony, pulpit standing upon a raised platform at they drew unprecedented crowds to each the further end of the structure. The service service in the Rigging Loft. By January of Dedication was held October 30, 1768, 1768 it was evident that a great venture Embury's text being Hosea 10:12. From was demanded. The Society must secure its that date until now the John Street property own property and build a chapel adequate has been in continuous use. A scale model to the requirement of its work and services. of Embury's chapel is displayed in the his- Two lots on John Street, midway be- torical museum. Embury's Bible, the lectern tween Nassau and William, were found to he had made for use in the Rigging Loft, be available—property of Mrs. Mary Bar- the first altar rail, a clock sent by Wesley clay, widow of the former noted Rector of to the church, are among the trophies that Trinity Parish (Anglican). On March 30, may be seen. 1768 the Society purchased these lots for Thomas Taylor had asked Wesley for the 600 pounds. The transaction was completed legal phrasing whereby the Methodists held by eight Trustees representing the Society, chapel property in England. That was sent being the first purchase and holding of by the hand of Wesley's first missionaries Methodist property in America. The orig- Richard Boardman and Joseph Pilmoor. ST. GEORGE'S METHODIST CHUKCH, Philadelphia— The Society was estab- lished by Capt. Thomas Webb, 1767—property and building purchased, 1769— oldest American Methodist church edifice—seat of first Methodist Conference, 1773. Arriving in late 1769, they used the so- turbulent days of the Revolution, Wesley called "Model Deed" for the purchase of Chapel was crowded as few other places of the St. George's Church property in Phila- worship in New York. At the close of the delphia. During 1770 a process was evolved war, Asbury's wise appointment of John whereby, through the helpful courtesy of Dickins made possible an untroubled tran- Joseph Forbes, a member of the New York sition from the atmosphere of British colo- Society, a new deed in the proper phrasing nial administration to the new ways of was substituted for the original 1768 docu- American freedom. ment. This second deed is also in the pos- session of John Street Church. Within a few days of Washington's In- auguration as First President of the United States, the Methodist Conference convened EARLY GROWTH at John Street Church. Bishops Thomas Coke and Francis Asbury were in joint A group including the Emburys and presidency of the Conference. By voice of Hecks left New York in 1770 to take up a the Conference, a paper of congratulation land grant above Albany. The work and was presented to Washington by the Bish- services of the Society continued unabated ops who went from John Street Church to at Wesley Chapel. Sent by Wesley to aid the Federal Building for formal appoint- the movement in America, Francis Asbury ment. reached Philadelphia on October 27, 1771. He proceeded quickly to New York, preach- The first delegated General Conference ing in Wesley Chapel on November 13th. of the Methodist Episcopal Church met in This was to be the first of several hundred New York in the spring of 1812. All ses- sermons Asbury preached in the chapel sions were in John Street Church, Embury's during the long years of his astounding chapel still being the house of worship.
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