Uncertain future for Methodist church site

A fence surrounds the closed Woodmere-Lawrence Methodist Church, at 1023 Broadway in Woodmere, and a notice was recently posted informing passersby that parts of the interior of the church, including electrical wiring, plumbing fixtures and heating and cooling units, are to be removed.

The church closed in June 2012, due to dwindling membership. There were 150 members in 2003, but nine years later, two families, the Herrises and the Kohlers, “were some of the only parishioners left,” said Hewlett resident Yvonne June-Marie Brower. Patricia and Rod Herris, and Maryanne and Bill Kohler were active members of the church. Patricia Herris was Brower’s Sunday school teacher. The Rev. Wendy Steed, a former pastor, said that a decrease in interest in the Methodist faith was a contributing factor.

Brower, whose family donated the land on which the church was built in 1921, said she remembers when it attracted many parishioners, and she also observed the decline. “I remember the church being somewhat full when I was a child, but very empty as an adult,” she said.

An older church building was moved to the back of the property 95 years ago. Established in 1871 as the Lawrence Methodist Church, the congregation merged with members of McKendre’s Chapel, which closed in 1976, to form the Woodmere-Lawrence Methodist Church.

“The church is very much a part of the town’s history,” said Brower, who added that she is interested in having the stained glass windows preserved.

Local historian Millicent Vollono, who wrote a book about the history of the Five Towns and worked at the Hewlett-Woodmere library as a reference librarian for nearly 30 years, said the church was a “center of community activity” and that there were “generations of residents who were really involved.”

“When the church was in danger of closing its doors a few years ago, my family was devastated, as was the small amount of parishioners that were still left,” Brower said. Her grandparents were heavily involved in the church until 1990, when they moved away, and Brower recalls going Christmas caroling with the church choir and attending Sunday school there with her brothers and other children in the parish.

“Plans have not been submitted for the future of that space,” said Town of Hempstead spokeswoman Susan Trenkle-Pokalsky.

Regarding the possibility of having the church site designated a historical site, Trenkle-Pokalsky pointed to the town’s Landmarks Preservation Commission web page, which states, “Any person, with or without the written consent of the owner, may request the designation of a landmark or landmark site by submitting an application to the Commission on its form.”

“So many things have come and gone,” said an employee of Woodmere Locksmith, across the street from the church, who declined to be identified. “It’s a real nice building. They shouldn’t tear it down.”

Bruhall Inc. is the listed contractor for the proposed interior work, but a call requesting comment had not been returned as the Herald went to press.