History
The early Methodist Movement first came to the town of Chatham when a Methodist Society was formed at the home of Hannah Hudson of Old Chatham in 1803. In North Chatham, the first meeting of the Methodist Episcopal Society was held in 1828. Circuit Preachers traveled on horseback throughout the area.
Henry Starks of Valatie became the first licensed local preacher in 1834. The builder of the original church was probably a carpenter named Veeder who was prominent at that time.
The first Church was dedicated January 8, 1836.
Thirty years after the building of the first church, a larger building was needed. In 1865, the present church building was begun. The total cost of the building including, furniture, bell, furnace, etc., was $12,600. The dedication services were held on Jan. 3,1867. The very first service at the new church was a wedding.
In 1888, E.A. Blanchard was appointed preacher. Later that year, plans were made for a new parsonage. Work was completed on the house and the carriage barn in August of 1889. This barn was moved down the street in 1997 and is now a private residence.
A new barn was built on the same site that same year. The work of building the new barn was organized and led by Paul Herrington and Everett Huges with a team of volunteers. This present barn is the site of The Clothing Barn outreach ministry program.
In 2007, Wesley United Methodist Church of Malden Bridge voted to join with North Chatham and this union was completed in 2010 and was called The New North Chatham United Methodist Church.
Many people fondly remember the Lord's Acre Auction, which was held at the church from 1949 through 2019. The church now participates in the Annual North Chatham Community Day celebration, which is held on the Saturday after Native American Heritage Day (formerly known as Columbus Day) in October.