Mission:

We will...

-Worship God and make disciples of Jesus Christ

-Intentionally reach out to all

-Meet our neighbors at their point of need

-Build up the church through spiritual renewal


History:

The Methodist Episcopal Church came to Chincoteague Island in January of 1869, when two ministers, J.M. McCarter and M.L. Kenney of Federalsburg, Md., were visiting friends. Neither the existing Baptist nor the Methodist Protestant Church had ordained ministers and the two soon realized there was a great need for the foundation of a new faith. They obtained permission to hold a service in the Methodist Protestant Church (now St. Andrew Catholic Church) and quickly gained 50 converts. Later that year, Chincoteague was made an appointment with Rev. George Remson serving as pastor. The new church group met in the homes of members until the first little church was built on the corner of Taylor Street, then called New Church Lane.

The Church continued to prosper and soon outgrew its modest beginnings. A larger building was needed and the majority wanted it closer to the center of town, so in 1884 a division occurred. The members who lived in the North Main Street section of the Island moved the church to their neighborhood with the others meeting temporarily in Red Mens' Hall (U.S. Post Office site today). Land was secured on the south side of Church Street and a frame building costing $2500 was erected which still stands today (the current Opportunity Shop). The sanctuary would comfortably accommodate only 100 people and the Sunday School facilities not more than 150 .

As the years passed, the church was becoming too crowded and in 1919 a building committee was formed to consider a larger building. Land was purchased across the street and on March 17, 1922 the first stone for the new structure was laid and one year later the building was completed.

The new church, of Old English Gothic style, was constructed of Chestnut Hill stone purchased in Philadelphia, shipped by rail to Franklin City, then by boat across the bay to the Penn. Railroad dock at the end of Church Street. The building was 109 feet in length and about 40 feed wide, finished in quartered oak with memorial windows and a beautiful slate roof. All of the original building was completed for $39,000.When automobiles arrived on the Island, transportation was provided for the North Main Street church (Goodwill) members and they rejoined the downtown congregation.

The alter area was remodeled in 1946 with a new organ and chimes replacing the original handsome Mohler Pipe Organ which was then placed in the tower as an echo organ. This remained playable from the new console until 1962 when blowers and motors in the basement were damaged by flood waters and were unable to be repaired or replaced. In 1990, a new Galanti Praelunium II organ was purchased and installed. The stained glass windows and new lighting have greatly enhanced the beauty of the original building. Through the years, changes have included new carpet and pews in the back sanctuary room. Structural changes include the Sunday School Building and social hall in 1954 and the large kitchen added in 1968. In 1997 the chancel area was restored to its original design to make room for the growing choir and other events.

In 1939 Christ Methodist Episcopal Church merged with the old Methodist Protestant Church to become Christ Methodist Church and in 1968, because of mergers on the national level, became Christ United Methodist Church.

Many changes have taken place in our community and world since our humble beginning as a church family over 100 years ago. It is with great pride that we look back on our past and hopefully with even greater pride, faith and love that we face each day of our future.