Epworth UMC is the oldest
organization in the immediate community. In a unique way, its
beginnings trace to the early years of Methodism.
Isaiah Toy, a 5th generation
descendant of early settlers who located here prior to 1689, was a young
far-traveling seaman of the early 1800's. According to family
tradition he was converted to Methodism in London during one of the numerous
revivals immediately following the time of John Wesley, the founder of the
faith. Returning to his home here in the area, he and others of the
family became lay leaders in the young Asbury Church of Cinnaminson, helped
to form the Methodist Church of Moorestown, and laid the foundation for
Epworth Church by organizing a Sunday School on the riverfront in 1840.
This led directly to the
organization of a Methodist Church in Palmyra in 1853. A church
building was completed in 1854, with a cemetery adjoining it at the location
of Cinnaminson Avenue and Broad Street. This was the first large
meeting place in the town of Palmyra, which was given its name in honor of a
missionary cousin of the Toy family that had traveled to the ancient city of
Palmyra in Syria.
The Methodist congregation moved
to its present location on Morgan Avenue in 1893. A frame church was
dedicated under the name of Epworth (for Epworth in Lincolnshire, England,
the birthplace of the Wesleys). The old church building at Cinnaminson
Avenue and Broad Street was eventually moved slightly, and renovated to
become the present Palmyra Borough Hall.
The Epworth church building of
1893 is still in use today. A stone educational building was added in
1915-16. In 1921, the present Moller pipe organ was installed, and
since then many improvements and renovations have been made.
Having celebrated our 150th year
in this church building, we are reminded that The Church is more than a
building. The Church is people! We are The Church! Peter,
the apostle, tells us we are "living stones built into a spiritual house."
May we continue to build on our heritage of devoted and dedicated Christians
to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in our area!
