I.P. Methodist Church to celebrate 90 years

The Island Park United Methodist Church, now celebrating 90 years, can trace its roots to April 16, 1926 when the Reverend John Langdale came to preach. He was the District Superintendent of the Brooklyn South District of the New York East Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Langdale organized the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Island Park, and received 29 people into full membership.

From that beginning the congregation has a history of moving from one location to another, to bigger and better buildings. At first it was called The Community Church. Members met in their homes, the school and in the old Fire Hall, until they built a church on Newport Road. That building as dedicated July 17, 1926. The parsonage on Newport Road was purchased and renovated in 1938. The congregation paid off the loans for that first church in 1945. A parking lot was constructed in 1960. A parsonage on Broadway was built in 1963 and paid for in 1968.

Shortly thereafter it became clear a new church building would be needed. In 1982 the Greek Orthodox Church of Kimisis Tis Theotokou, “Panaghia of Island Park,” made an offer to buy the Newport Road church. The congregation of the Methodist Church voted 78-3 to sell on July 18, 1982.

Land was purchased on Long Beach Road, and the “groundbreaking” was held Sept. 19, 1982.

The church was home to many other organizations. The Island Park Theatre Group would construct a stage and present it’s shows in the church.

Little Seashell pre-school calls the Methodist Church home.

A Spanish congregation also calls the church building “home”. They are ministered to by Pastor Eva Guardado.

The church congregation has held international diners, a street fair and twice ran a blood drive with the Island Park Kiwanis Club. In addition the congregation helps with an angel-giving tree for Island Park students at Christmas.

“Although we have had many pastors we are still united. We had lots of damage as did everyone else with [Hurricane] Sandy and still need repairs to our kitchen. We do a small project at a time,” said congregant Elizabeth Rice.