The following historical information on the Tewksbury United Methodist Church was written by The Rev. Richard L. Evans and was delivered by same during a planned Seventy-Fifth Anniversary program of celebration for the church held on November 1, 1986. The Rev. Richard L. Evans served as Chairman, 75th Anniversary Committee as well as Master of Ceremonies for this event.
1911 - 75th ANNIVERSARY - 1986
Our History
As South Tewksbury was developed and as the number of residents grew during the first decade of the 20th Century, a need was expressed for a church in the area to serve the spiritual needs of the people. During 1910 and 1911 Methodist ministers from Wilmington held services in the home of David Sutherland, and in the open air when weather permitted. Although the small congregation consisted of persons with various denominational backgrounds, it was soon decided that the new church in South Tewksbury would be Methodist.
On November 5, 1911, a Methodist Episcopal Church was formally organized with Dr. A.P. Sharp, Superintendent of the Lynn District of the New England Conference presiding. A Board of Stewards and a Board of Trustees were elected. In 1912 the Bishop appointed our first minister. Those beginning years were difficult, but several faithful members were determined that the church would survive.
A building committee was named in 1914 and fund-raising began. A Ladies Aid Society was organized in 1915 and the women spearheaded the raising of funds for the new church at the corner of South and Brown Streets. Construction began in September, 1914 and services were held indoors during the winter, although the building was not completed for more than a year. The church building was dedicated by District Superintendent William H. Powell on May 7, 1916. Alterations and additions were made to the building during the next decade with a service of re-dedication held in December 1925. Bishop William F. Anderson was present on that occasion.
1927 saw substantial increases in membership and the formation of an Epworth League. A Junior League was organized a year later. During 1928 major improvements were made to the building. A furnace was installed and nine stained glass windows were presented. in memory of deceased members.
The depression years were difficult, but the faithful members struggled on. Vacation Bible Schools, LaSalle Institutes, a Young Adult Group, and a Junior Society of Christian Service for girls all contributed to the health of the South Tewksbury congregation by the early 1940s. An addition to the church building doubled its size. The dedication service for the new sanctuary was held on Good Friday, 1942. A new altar, a pulpit and other worship appointments were added during the next several years.
A parsonage was the next major project, begun in 1947. The foundation was laid in February and the house was completed late in the year, after the pastor and family had moved in during September. A garage was added in 1949. The parsonage on Whelan Road served the pastors and families well for over thirty years.
A Fortieth Anniversary celebration was held in 1951. Just as the post-war "baby boom" and the suburban "building boom" were impacting Tewksbury and surrounding towns. Worship attendance and Sunday School enrollment increased rapidly and an addition was proposed which would create a new sanctuary and convert the old building to educational use. Just before construction was to begin on the project, plans were changed.
In 1956, property was acquired at the corner of Main and South Streets as a future site for the church building. The property contained "The 1721 House" and efforts were made to incorporate the historic house into plans for church use. The house was finally razed, however, to make way for the new church building, designed by Arland A. Dirlam.
The corner stone on the new building was laid on October 18, 1959 with District Superintendent Willard C. Arnold present. The final service at the old church building was held on March 27, 1960 and the opening service in the new building was one week later on April 3. Bishop John Wesley Lord and Dr. Arnold participated in the afternoon service of consecration. During the next several years many interior appointments, carpeting, and a new organ were added.
A Fiftieth Anniversary celebration in 1961 launched us into a decade of unprecedented growth. The lower hall of the new building was divided into classrooms to accommodate the large number of children and youth in Sunday School. Then as the population of the town "peaked" during the seventies, the membership of the church and the church school began to stabilize. A highlight of our history during that decade was "The Burning of the Mortgage" on April 2, 1978, which left the congregation debt-free. Bishop Edward G. Carroll was present on that occasion.
A number of energy conservation improvements were made to the building as fuel and electric rates soared in the early 1980s. Storm windows, ceiling fans, fluorescent lights and a more efficient furnace have resulted from a conscious effort to be good stewards of our material resources. During 1983 a larger and more adequate parsonage on Pinnacle Street was purchased and the original parsonage was sold.
Although the congregation had begun as a "community church" for residents of South Tewksbury, our church now serves the entire town and membership extends to several neighboring towns as well. Since the creation of the United Methodist Church in 1968 (from the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren Church and The Methodist Church), we have been known as the Tewksbury United Methodist Church.
As we celebrate our Seventy-Fifth Anniversary, we are surrounded by signs of health and future growth. Membership and attendance at worship are on the increase, as are infant Baptisms and church school enrollment. Our conference apportionments and our giving to missions have been paid in full for several years and continue to increase. We are presently using our facility to capacity and, once again, we must ask what God may be calling us to do in Tewksbury to respond to the needs of people for an adequate building in which to gather for worship, for study, and for service to all the world in the name of Jesus Christ.
A current theme in United Methodism is "Catch the Spirit". In this anniversary year it is good to remember that The United Methodist Church would not exist in Tewksbury had not our forbears caught the spirit 75 years ago. As we, too, "Catch the Sprit" we must pass it on to future generations and insure the vitality of this church in its 100th year - and beyond!
The following pastors have served the Tewksbury United Methodist Church since its beginnings:
| Raymond A. Withey | 1910-1911 | B.R. Van Dyke | 1911-1912 |
| Lester A. Jones | 1912-1914 | Howard G. Hageman | 1914-1918 |
| Thomas J. Denny | 1918 | George H. Phillips | 1918-1922 |
| William F. Preston | 1922-1926 | Stead Thornton | 1926-1927 |
| Roger W. Garland | 1927-1928 | Malcom W. Garland | 1928-1929 |
| W. Henry Shillington | 1929-1931 | Harland S. Evans | 1931-1932 |
| Gordon S. Kenison | 1932-1935 | Hiram C. Weld | 1935-1936 |
| Raymond Proudfoot | 1936-1937 | O.W.L. Sargeant | 1937 |
| Fern E. Raymond | 1937-1938 | Arthur L. Mansure | 1938-1939 |
| Elmer Parker West | 1939-1942 | W. Wayne Yeater | 1942-1943 |
| Robert J. Ash | 1943-1944 | Benjamin Seaboyer | 1944 |
| Victor K. Meredith | 1944-1945 | Aubrey A. Crawford | 1945-1946 |
| John F. Johnson | 1946 | Richard C. Thistle | 1946-1948 |
| Keith N. Rholl | 1949 | Helena Loraine Champlin | 1949 |
| Earl D. Haywood | 1949-1952 | Jack M. Tuell | 1952-1955 |
| Donald E. Hickman | 1955-1961 | Robert W. Hannum | 1961-1965 |
| Lewis E. Lint | 1965-1968 | James S. Swartz | 1968-1974 |
| J. Warren Jacobs | 1974-1978 | Warren D. Odom | 1978-1980 |
| Stephen T. Melius | 1980-1990 | Jerry A. Cook | 1990-1993 |
| Susan G. Curtis | 1993-2000 | Marj W. Stark | 2000-2002 |
| Rwth Ashton & Richard Black | 2002-2003 | Levi Williams | 2003-2004 |
| David Mangun | 2004- |
The following historical information on the Tewksbury United Methodist Church from 1986-2000, was written by our Church Historian, Ms. Elsie Howell:
June 13, 1993 marked an historic happening in our Church. It was Children's Sunday and a monument titled "TOUCHING SOULS" was dedicated in front of the church
The artist, nationally renowned Mico Kaufman, depicts a group of children, in bronze. They consist of two boys and two girls of different ethnic backgrounds. The children are sitting on the ground, leaning back on their hands, touching each other by the soles of their feet but so are their spirits' souls'.
The message of the sculpture is clear. It is a statement against prejudice and discord.
On September 12, 1999 a second copy of the sculpture was placed in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England at the 1020 BC Abbey.
Michael Tavanor, Vicar of the Abbey writes: "In a world where there is so much discord, born of nationalistic rivalries, it is often children who can see beyond the selfishness which separates adults."
It is fitting that we continue to Touch Souls here in Tewksbury.
In 1993, a new Parsonage and Garage was built on the Church property. The move from the old site was a great addition and the parishioners felt more connected to the Pastor.
As the town grows (and we do have about 98% home sales) in Tewksbury, we pray the newcomers searching for a church home will join us.