The United Church of Phelps is a union of two historic
Churches existing in the village of Phelps, New York since the 1850’s. The
Methodist Church sat in a hillside on the west side of the village, directly in
front of Resthaven Cemetery. The Presbyterian Church was located just east of
the village business section on the corner of North Wayne Street. For over a
hundred years the people of these Churches worked side by side during the week
but on Sunday they went their separate ways.
In the 1970’s some of the
membership of each Church met and began to talk of coming together as one strong
community Church. The Church would continue their ties to the two denominations
but they would pool their resources in order to meet the needs of the people in
the village and people in the world. The Presbyterian Church had lots of room.
The Methodist Church needed more room but building a new Church was not fiscally
possible. It was a difficult decision to make for many hearts were tied to what
had always been their Church.
In 1975 The United Church of
Phelps was born. Thirty years later this toddler has grown into a happy well-
adjusted adult!
The stained glass windows that
formerly fit the windows in the narthex of the Methodist Church fit perfectly in
the window frames in the narthex of the Presbyterian Church. The people fit
together just as perfectly.
Our mission statement tells our
story: “As the people of the United Church of Phelps we are called to reach out
and receive people as they are, so that together all may be the living, loving,
serving body of Christ.”
If you want to be an active member
of Church please answer our invitation and join us? We’d be so pleased to have
you here!
