Drew Church History

Methodism had its beginnings in the Putnam and Eastern Hudson River area in the late 1700's and early 1800's when circuit riders traveled through the area holding services at private homes.

Freeborn Garrettson – (1752-1827), American Methodist preacher, born in Maryland: At the time of his conversion to Methodism (1775), he freed his slaves and began his journeys as a preacher. In 1784 he traveled through the South, summoning preachers to the conference at which the Methodist Episcopal Church of the United States was organized and at which he was ordained. He organized congregations in Nova Scotia, New York, and New England. At the request of John Wesley, he wrote The Experience and Travels of Mr. Freeborn Garrettson (1791). His zeal and travels helped greatly in the spread of Methodism in the United States. Mr. Garrettson was one of the leaders of the Methodist movement in the U.S. and established the Methodist Church east of the Hudson River and for many years circuit riders traveled through the area holding services at private homes. This circuit was known as the “Courtlandt Circuit”, and our Church was part of that circuit.

What follows here is an early record of the first Trustees of the Carmel Methodist Episcopal Church, signed by those Trustees on July 14, 1822: We Benjamin Townsend & Platt P. Smith two of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, Carmel, Putnam Country, do hereby certify, that in pursuance of an act of the Legislator of the State of New York entitled an act. to enable all the religious Denominations in the State to appoint Trustees who shall be a body Corporate for the purpose of taking care of the temporalities of their respective congregation- for the purpose therein mentioned passed April Eighth one thousand Seven Hundred eighty four-The male persons of full age belonging to said Church were this day duly Convened agreeable to notification given at least fifteen days for two successive sabbaths preceding  this day of Election at the House of Benjamin Townsend in the Town of Carmel the place where they statedly attended, for divine worship that, then, there they did by plurality of votes nominate and elect in the officers of the election this day held, for Trustees under the said act. that they did also then and there plurality of Voices, under our Instructions and agreeable to the form and direction of the Act. elect nominate and appoint Leonard Clift, Aaron Pickite and Platt P. Smith discreet and prudent persons of the Said Church as Trustees to take the charge of the estate & the property belonging to the said Church and to transact all affairs relative to the temporalities of the Said Church to have and to exercise all the powers which Trustees, appointed in virtue of said act. can have and exercise and we as further certify that the sole name on title by by which the said Trustees and their successors shall forever here after be called and distinguished and known by the title Name on Title of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Carmel in Putnam County.  In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our bond & seals, This 14th day of July 1822  Benjamin Townsend and Platt P. Smith. The proceeding recorded this 10th day of August 1822 at 2 0,clock PM. Hiram Waring  Dept. Clerk .

On December 9, 1830 we have a record of land being donated. Nathaniel & Lydia Crane conveyed land to the Methodist Episcopal Church of Carmel (Trustees present: Leonard Cliff, Benjamin Townsend, Harry Lounsbury, Robert Wright, and John Drawyer) for the amount of $10.50. The Drew United Methodist Church sits on that piece of property.

The first Church building was a wooden structure built on a stone foundation which was completed in 1835. In 1864, this structure was sold to James J. Smalley who moved it and added it on to the Smalley Hotel. A new stone building was dedicated on October 10, 1865, free of debt. Daniel Drew donated $30,000.00 for the construction of what at the time was named Drew Methodist Episcopal Church; now Drew United Methodist Church. It was the centenary of American Methodism which gave Daniel Drew his great opportunity and called forth his greatest gift. The General Conference of 1864 had appointed a committee for an appropriate celebration of the anniversary through some great program of further advance. From these appointments and gifts from Daniel Drew came Drew Theological Seminary, Drew United Methodist Church, and other local churches. 

Over a five year period beginning in 1947, John George Huber, worked on carving a wooden altar, baptismal font, and reredos for the sanctuary. The dominant motif of the Gothic architecture is the vertical line which leads upward to God.

Picture of the Wooden Altar area of Drew U.M.C.

The cornerstone of the education building, which today houses classrooms, a gymnasium and stage, was laid in 1955.

The Church front entry was added during the 100th anniversary year of the Church.

A pipe organ was installed in the sanctuary in the early 1980's.

For years, drew has been known throughout the area for its outstanding music program which currently includes the Chancel Choir and Children's Choir.