St. Paul's Methodist Church (Oyster Bay, New York) facts for kids
St. Paul's Methodist Church was once a small group of Methodist people who built their first church in Oyster Bay, New York. This first building was on Orchard Street and was finished in 1858. Later, in 1895, a man named Joseph B. Wright bought that building for his business.
The church members then moved to a new building on South Street. They had been working on this new church since 1891. By 1913, the church group had grown much bigger. To make more space, they lifted the whole building up! They dug out a basement underneath and added new rooms, including a kitchen. In the 1920s, a tall bell tower on the church was hit by lightning and had to be taken down. Today, a group called North Shore Church owns the building. They bought it in 1999 and still hold church services there.
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A Look at the Church's History
Just like many other church groups, the first Methodists in Oyster Bay did not have their own church building. Instead, traveling Methodist ministers would visit them. These ministers came from Jamaica, Long Island, as early as 1812. They held their services at the Oyster Bay Academy.
Building the First Church
Finally, in 1858, the Methodists were able to build their very own small church. This first church was on Orchard Street. Today, a place called Oyster Bay Manor stands where that first church used to be. In 1895, Joseph B. Wright, who was a blacksmith, bought the building. He used it for his business for many years. Meanwhile, the St. Paul's Methodist Church group was getting ready to move into their new church building. They had been building this new church on South Street since 1891.
Changes and Growth Over Time
In 1904, something new and exciting was added to the church: a pipe organ! Half of the money for this organ was given by a very rich and generous person named Andrew Carnegie. By 1913, the church group had grown a lot. To make more room for everyone, they used special jacks to lift the entire church building up! Then, they dug out a basement underneath it. They also built several new rooms, including a kitchen.
Modern Updates and New Owners
Even though the church building has kept much of its old charm, some things have changed over the years. A tall, forty-foot spire used to stick up above the bell tower. But in the 1920s, lightning struck it, and it had to be removed. The "Carnegie" organ is no longer there either. The inside of the church has also been updated to look more modern.
In 1988, St. Paul's Methodist Church joined with another church group in East Norwich. After that, the Bethel Pentecostal Church moved into the building. But Bethel Pentecostal Church also grew too big for the building and moved to Westbury. Then, in 1999, the North Shore Church made this building their new home. North Shore Church is part of the Presbyterian Church of America.
Just like the early Methodists, North Shore Church started as a small group without its own building in the 1990s. Today, their church in Oyster Bay has grown and is doing very well. They even use the large house next door, which is called a parsonage. The modern look inside the church works well for them and their modern Christian music. Their music even includes parts of Jazz music! After their Sunday services, another local church group, the El Shaddai Pentecostal Church, holds their service in North Shore's chapel.
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