Dennisville United Methodist Church Dennisville NJ

Our Vision
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Our vision is to make tangible the love of Christ as an active, vital church community, providing inspired worship and opportunities of growth as grace filled disciples of Jesus Christ, where all feel welcome and a part of that tangible love.

​Our Mission

To be a grace-filled, loving and welcoming community while we make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.

 

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ANGEL MANNA Food Pantry

Provides food, detergents, paper products and personal hygiene products to assit our community.

Distributed from the Social Hall at Dennisville UMC 138 Main Street

Open the Last Sunday of each month from 2PM to 3PM (November and December 1 week earlier)
Donations are welcome  

 

 

History of Dennisville UMC and South Dennis Trinity UMC

​History of Dennisville UMC

“Many years of Cape May County history are reflected in the early American church and the parsonage of Dennisville. Founded in 1869, the Dennisville church congregation included shipbuilders who settled in the area because of the abundance of cedar trees in Dennis Creek. A ship yard was set up just south of where (the WaWa is now), where new boats were launched into the Delaware Bay from Dennis Creek.

In the 1700’s, even before the area became inhabited by the shipbuilders, Methodist missionaries sent from England called circuit riders, preached the Word of God. The circuit riders would travel by horseback through tiny towns of South Jersey, where faithful groups began to worship. Because transportation of the era was poor, each community began building churches only a few miles away from each other”. [1] Methodism began in this community in a small chapel that had been moved from the Landing (Dennis Creek?) located opposite the Ludlam School House. This was the first mission where the preachers Woolford and Collins, who had served the mother church in South Dennis.[2] To shorten the distance to the village, James Diverty and other members of the village decided to purchase land and build a church more convenient to the more densely populated area of the town. The lot was purchased from Nathaniel Holmes for $10.00.[3]

On November 29, 1869, The Corporation deed was recorded. The original Trustees were Maurice Beesley, F.B. Bushnell, Jesse Diverty, Nathaniel Holmes, Benjamin F. Lee, Jacob Souder, and Mackey Williams. The cornerstone was laid on November 12, 1870. Funds were raised by the Mite Society to build Dennisville Methodist Episcopal Church. The builders selected were brothers John and Jonathan James and Charles Crandol, all master builders. The approximate cost was $5,200.00. [4] The church was completed in 1872 with the dedication sermon being preached by Rev. Charles Hill on September 15, 1872. The first pastor was Rev. Jesse Diverty, who served from 1869-1870. Because Dennisville was not a wealthy community, the debt was not easy for the members to carry, but within seven years, through the assistance of Rev. Ezra Lake, (who was pastor from 1872-1875), and the Church extension, the debt was paid off in 1879. With the completion of the church, Dennisville M.E. church steeple became the highest point in Cape May County. Historians have reported that nervous seafarers would spot the steeple from the bay and say a prayer of thanks[5], as the steeple was often used as a reference point from a great distance to the entrance of Dennis Creek. The remarkable tinwork on the ceiling and the walls was arranged and completed for the cost of $100.00[6] in 1911. Included in that cost was a new lightening rod.[7] 1963 The Social Hall was purchased. (it had at one time been a general store and Post Office) .

[1] Information found in an unattributed brochure which cited an article it had used for some of the information: “The Church Where Shipbuilders Resided”. Gazette of Middle & Dennis Townships. Dec. 16, 1994 .

[2] Source unknow. From existing tour bulletin from the church.

[3] Alice Belanger McGuigan. Historic Dennisville – A Walking Tour. Atlantic Printing. 2001. 43-44. [4] McGuigan. 43-44

[5] same as foot note #1

[6] another reference states: in 1911, $1000. Was spent during Rev. H.Bradway’s work on this charge when building received new walls and outside painting”

[7] McGuigan. 44.

History of South Dennis Trinity UMC

Trinity United Methodist Church as we know it today is lo-cated on the corner of Route 47 and School House Road in South Dennis. History tells us that this is the third location of a Methodist Church in the South Dennis area, all of which were in close proximity to one another. The location of a first Methodist Church is actually docu-mented in the book, The New Jersey Baptist History by Thomas Griffiths, in which it relates the desire of both the Methodist and Baptists of South Dennis in the early 19th century to build an independent house of worship; How-ever, it was realized that the cost for each to build 'separate churches was not easily affordable. Titus, in the spirit of co-operation, these two leading denominations agreed to pool their resources, seek subscription of money and/or material and build a house of worship which they would share on alternating Sundays.

Griffith' history cites portions of the agreement between the two denominations regarding design and location: "The meeting house shall be 36' long and 2S' wide with Galleries sealed, arched and seated with the pulpit, of which shall be built on the land of the lames Ludlam, adjoining the land of the Dennis School House lot."

A particularly heart-warming aspect of this original agree-ment forged two hundred years ago was the added portion which said: "The meeting house shall be free for at! Denominations whatso-ever who profess Christianity to worship in the same, in the way and manner their consciences shall direct dm, and no Denomi-nation shah be any way disturbed in their Worship provided that their time of Worship doth not one clash with the other..."

By the year 1803, the commodious house of worship was finished and was called "The Union Meeting House." The first sermon preached in the Union Meeting House was by John Goff, a local preacher from Eldora. Griffiths confirms that the church was jointly used by the Baptists and Meth-odists and additional historic references affirms that the other denominations held services there in accordance with the original agreement. The Catholics held Masses here as well.

In 1853 a new Methodist church was built across from the cemetery. The old Union Church had served its mission well, but the years had taken its toll on the structure. It continued to be used by others until it was finally auctioned off on February 23, 1884, for $100 and moved from the site. Ownership changed hands several times and the build-ing Was disassembled and moved to Goshen for re-erection of its framework to construct a public hall. This second Methodist Church edifice not only served as a hallowed house of worship but as a place in which a wide range of memorial services and educational programs were held. The last service held in that building was on October 30, 1935, thus serving the Methodists for 82 years. Time had taken its toll on this church as well, and an opportunity arose for a newer church. The Baptists had built a fine church on the opposite corner from where the original Un-ion Meeting House had stood. The Methodist Church trustees agreed to purchase it for $500. The dedication services were held on November 3, 1935 and the church was renamed "Trinity Methodist Epis-copal Church." The first services were held on July 7th of that year.

As you enter the church today, you will have a sense of tak-ing a step back in time as you view the high ceiling and original pews. At the rear of the church is a balcony area, now closed, but once where Sunday School classes were held. A special cabinet houses an old Communion service, donated by the Baptist church in Ocean View and used by them in this church. They felt it should remain in its origi-nal house of worship. Also displayed are a number of old Bibles dating back as far as 1867 along with two huge Bibles from 1884. Behind the pulpit in the front of the church is a strikingly beautiful painting of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. It once adorned the wall of a Lutheran church in New York City. When the church was to be torn down, the painting was re-moved and carefully rolled up and fastened to the roof of a car. Later it was transported to Trinity, where church mem-ber Kenneth Hickman installed it where it is today. Hickman Hall, so named for member Kenneth Hickman who helped build it, is used for fellowship time and special events. The addition was added in 1981 and includes a full kitchen and meeting room. An old wood stove adorns one side of the building but is no longer in service. Services are pres-ently held at Trinity United Methodist Church on Sundays at 8:45 a.m.

Dennisville and South Dennis Trinity* Pastors from 1869-2016

*The list from 1869 - 1963 was provided by the Dennis Township Museum and History Center. The list was listed as Dennisville UMC. Currently we are confident the pastors were shared between each church since 1935, with the understanding that it continued from 1869. We are in the process of verifying that,(judging by the page from the membership book shown below, in 1872 Dennisville's pastor was Ezra Lake, while the South Dennis Church may have had Rev. Alexander McLea(n or u), as pastor). 1869-1870 Jesse Diverty 1871-1872 George Woolford 1872-1875 Ezra B. Lake 1876-1876 James Tucker 1876-1876 Charles Mead 1876-1877 D. Stewart 1877-1878 J.A. Lilly 1878-1879 J. Clark 1880-1881 George L. Newton 1882-1883 not known 1884-1885 W.A. Ludlow 1885-1886 L.A. Parsells 1886-1887 Charles Elder 1887-1888 A.L. Izzard 1889-1891 James A. Lumley 1891-1893 Edward Mount 1893-1895 George T. Harris 1895-1898 William Disbrow 1898-1899 H.M. Smith 1899-1901 E.J. Kulp 1901-1902 Thomas H. Hicks 1902-1903 Peter M. Bilderback 1903-1905 Milton R. Eastlack 1905-1908 Robert M. Waples 1908-1910 N.V. Cossaboon 1910-1913 Henry L. Bradway 1913-1916 Stanley N. Clarke 1916-1919 John H. Whitaker 1919-1919 John R. Greer 1919-1923 Walter L. Yerkes 1923-1924 Carl W. Reamer 1924-1925 Walter Nicklass 1926-1927 E.O.W. Estlow 1927-1929 John Bradway 1929-1932 Charles DuBois* 1932-1934 Ira J. B. Hill 1934-1936 Thomas J. Morgan 1939-1939 Warren Layton+ 1940-1941 Gordon Lowden 1942-1943 M.E. Walker 1947-1949 H.J. Bugg 1950-1952 E.T. Weeks 1952-1953 Edward Albright 1953-1954 L. Wayne Garrison Jr. 1955-1958 Harry A. Sees 1958-1963 Charles H. DuBois* 1963-1971 Benjamin S. Sooy++ 1971-1974 Clarence Stubbs 1974-1978 Glenn Spencer 1978-1988 Robert Hughes 1988-1996 Robert Brown 1996-2001 Peter Broomall 2001-2006 Joseph Palumbo 2006-2010 James Sainsbury 2010-2010 Donald McMahon 2010-2011 John Robbins 2011-2014 Peter Jamison 2014-2015 John Robbins 2015- Fredrick R. Marz

Dennisville ME (to 1939) Methodist (1939- 1968)+ United Methodist (1968)++