Methodism began over 200 years ago in England, as a revival movement within the Anglican Church. Brothers John and Charles Wesley, both Anglican priests in their early 20s, organized the Methodist movement and served as its first leaders.
From the beginning, this movement, which has become today’s United Methodist Church, emphasized “holiness of heart and life,” or “personal” as well as “social” holiness. Methodists believe in the vital link between a deep personal relationship with God and a love of neighbor that acts with justice and mercy in the world.
Our own local church has been a presence in the New Haven community since 1886 when a dozen residents, along with their pastor Rev. R. L. Marsh, organized a Methodist congregation on our current property in the Granniss Corners neighborhood. In 1892, the present building was formally dedicated as St. Andrew’s Methodist Episcopal Church.
In 1965, Park Methodist Episcopal Church in New Haven’s Morris Cove neighborhood joined with St. Andrew’s. Our current Park Fellowship Hall commemorates that union. More recently, in 2009, St. Andrew’s received the membership of the former East Pearl Street United Methodist Church in the nearby Fair Haven neighborhood.
Today we are blessed by the strengths and traditions of all three of these historic congregations as we continue to worship in one shared life together.