More About Our History

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The first church in Damascus township was Baptist, built in 1800, with the Methodist Episcopal church being constructed in 1831. The Methodists were one of the first in the area to do missionary work. 

Reverend M.P. Jones, a local preacher from the Callicoon Methodist Church, held services in the Rock Run Schoolhouse in 1871, which laid the foundation for the Abrahamville United Methodist Church. In that same year, on July 4th, a group of ladies purchased a Bible for the use of the ministers, and that Bible is still presently located in the church, with their names inscribed within as follows: Mrs. Jennet Ewin, Eliza Gregg, Mary E. Abraham, Jane A. Swan, Angeline Whitmore, Sarah Morrison, and Rebecca A. Greg. 

The Bible was later restored with the contribution by Mr. and Mrs. David Moore (Elizabeth Whitmore, granddaughter of Angeline Whitmore).

Before the construction of the church in 1926, Sunday school was held each Sunday morning in the Abrahamsville schoolhouse, located across the road in one of the many one-room schools established in the public school system in 1834. Our services were held only once every three Sunday evenings, as the minister had five sermons to deliver in the area. The schedule was kept even after the church was built. 

In 1923, a corporation was formed with a board of trustees consisting of five members, the first being MC. Boughton, Katie Litzenbauer, Emily Baker, C.T. Blair, and Fred Brosman.

The name of the proposed corporation was to be the Abrahamsville Methodist Episcopal Church, the purpose being for the support of public worship according to the faith, discipline, and usages of the Methodist Episcopal Church. However, the church could be used by others as long as it posed no conflict with the time and the services. The charter was granted on November 10th, 1924. 

On December 9th, 1925, Henry Josiah Whitmore and his wife, Ella C., deeded a parcel of land consisting of 14,916 square feet for the purpose of building a church. The parcel was originally part of the land Mr. Whitmore purchased from Greg Abraham in April 1912. 

The church was built by volunteers under the supervision of Judson Canfield, who lived in Damascus with his wife, Lily Baker Canfield, formerly of Abrahamsville. 

The bell was donated by the Canfields and the beautiful stained glass windows were donated by various families and thus inscribed as follows:

• Mr. & Mrs. Corwin H. Valentine
• Sarah Morrison
• Mrs. George Chilson for Mr. & Mrs. A Robertson Sr.
• Mr. & Mrs. Josiah Whitmore
• Alto and George, daughter and son of M. & A. Lord
• Mrs. Nora Howell
• Boyce
• Margaret Gregg Whitmore
• Whitmore Family in memory of John & Eliza
• George I. Abraham
• Mary E. Abraham

The first minister to the newly constructed church was Reverend John Robinson, who was originally from England and lived in the parsonage in Damascus. He was often seen driving his horse and wagon to a member's home to enjoy dinner before conducting the evening church service. 

The church was originally dedicated to Reverend Robinson on October 29th and 30th of 1927, with a mortgage debt of some $2,000. It was some time later, in the following years, that a service was held, and Mr. MC. Boughton did the honors of burning the mortgage. 

The Abrahamsville church was famous for the chicken pie suppers, which were served at the annual Sunday school picnic and again at the church picnic. Cantaloupes, called “musk melons” back then, were sold with a scoop of homemade ice cream in the middle on the picnic grounds by the church during afternoons. Candy, popcorn, soft drinks, and other treats were also sold. Local boys played softball in the field next to the schoolhouse. 

Our church has seen numerous changes in the past 82 years. We welcome you to our church and would appreciate any information and photos you could add to help complete our history book. 

Thank you, Denise L. Wood, Church historian 1986.