Program

NYS Historic

Subject

People, Religion

Location

25 Broadway, Amityville, NY 11701, USA

Lat/Long

40.671923, -73.416226

Grant Recipient

Amityville Historical Society

The village of Amityville is located in an area formerly known as Huntington South, West Neck. The Long Island Circuit of the Methodist Church was formed in 1784. In March of 1797, a Quarterly Meeting was held in Hempstead Harbor and Elijah Chichestor, paying a quarterage of $1.25, was recorded as representing a class – a small group of church members – in West Neck. This points to 1797 being the first Methodist congregation formed in this location.

An 1874 historical sketch of Suffolk County by Richard Bayles states that the first Methodist Episcopal church building in Huntington South was erected in 1823.  A new building replaced it in 1845. About five years later, the building was moved to what became 25 Broadway, Amityville.

In October 1891, a cornerstone was laid for a new, expanded Methodist Episcopal Church adjacent to the existing church. According to the South Side Signal (July 16, 1892), the Reverend B. M. Adams, Presiding Elder of the Brooklyn District, along with several other prominent ministers was present in July 1892 to dedicate the newly completed Methodist Episcopal Church. As of 2023, the First United Methodist Church still stands at 25 Broadway in Amityville.