The History of Methodism in Princeton

In the latter half of the 18th century, circuit-riding Methodist ministers made sporadic visits to meet and worship with small groups in private Princeton homes. From one such group, a Methodist class was formed in 1841 or 1842, meeting in an Alexander Street home. By 1847, a congregation was formed, and the Princeton Methodist Episcopal Church was established. The first church to be built for the new congregation was located on Nassau Street but not on the corner of Vandeventer Avenue.  Dr. Bartine, a physician and a member of the Church, had his home and business in the house on the corner. Eventually Dr. Bartine’s property was purchased and donated to the church by Mr. M. Taylor Pyne.The growth of the congregation necessitated razing the original church structure in April 1910, and erecting our present building, with its magnificent stained glass windows, on an expanded site. Further growth resulted in the addition of our education wing in 1959, when the existing Sunday School rooms and the sanctuary were renovated. Changes were made to make the building more accessible to the physically handicapped, including ramp entrance in the front and a lift at the back entrance to the parking lot to help with wheelchairs. During the 1990s, the sanctuary was again renovated and a new organ, consisting of 2,775 pipes, was installed.In 1997 the church celebrated the sesquicentennial anniversary. In the following years, a second floor was added to the Education Building which improved the offices, added classrooms for the Church School and resulted in restrooms on the second floor which are more convenient to the Sanctuary.