Waypoint 4: The Newtown United Methodist Church
The Newtown United Methodist Church has been a part of Newtown’s history since the 1800s. Starting in 1800, the church group was led by Sally Curtis, back when the Church was located at George’s Hill. Around this same time, another group was gathering inside the residence of Mrs. Phoebe Peck on Brookfield Road, a short distance from Newtown. Shortly thereafter, a man named John R. Wheeler moved into an old house purchased as a building spot for the Episcopal Church. He then invited local Methodist preachers, Levi Bronson and Joseph Pierce, to join him in the efforts to further strengthen the christian community in the area. A parsonage was built on the comer of Walnut Tree Hill and Church Hill Road in 1859.
In 1935, women of the church led a fundraising drive to bring electricity to the building, and in 1936 they hosted the first united Lenten service which included the Congregational, Trinity and St. John’s Episcopal churches. The first pastor to serve full time at the church was Rev. Kenneth E. Halcott in 1963. On the national level, the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodists merged in 1968, and the United Methodist Church was formed. In 1984 a new parsonage was built in the upper meadow of the property, and in 1988 the Sandy Hook Fire Department conducted a controlled burning of the old Wesley Hall barn to make way for the new Wesley Hall, dedicated by Bishop Forrest Stith in 1992. In 1993, Wesley Learning Center (WLC), a high-quality, preschool program for 2, 3, and 4-year olds, was founded in Wesley Hall by church member Rhanna Peck.
The Newtown United Methodist Church is highly active in the community and continues to contribute in a variety of ways, including their regular Sunday Services, commitment to the Scouting BSA programs, various charity events, and more. Everyone is welcome to see what NUMC is all about!
Next Waypoint
In 1935, women of the church led a fundraising drive to bring electricity to the building, and in 1936 they hosted the first united Lenten service which included the Congregational, Trinity and St. John’s Episcopal churches. The first pastor to serve full time at the church was Rev. Kenneth E. Halcott in 1963. On the national level, the Evangelical United Brethren and the Methodists merged in 1968, and the United Methodist Church was formed. In 1984 a new parsonage was built in the upper meadow of the property, and in 1988 the Sandy Hook Fire Department conducted a controlled burning of the old Wesley Hall barn to make way for the new Wesley Hall, dedicated by Bishop Forrest Stith in 1992. In 1993, Wesley Learning Center (WLC), a high-quality, preschool program for 2, 3, and 4-year olds, was founded in Wesley Hall by church member Rhanna Peck.
The Newtown United Methodist Church is highly active in the community and continues to contribute in a variety of ways, including their regular Sunday Services, commitment to the Scouting BSA programs, various charity events, and more. Everyone is welcome to see what NUMC is all about!
Next Waypoint