JEFFERSONVILLE  — For 100 years, the Methodist Church of Jeffersonville has stood as a beacon for parishioners to gather and worship.

The leadership of the church has been passed down from careful hand to careful hand, giving way to a legacy of community in the village.The church is located on Maple Avenue and holds services at 10:30 a.m. every Sunday, lead by current pastor, Linda Simmons CLM.

According to carefully preserved documentation, German and Swiss immigrants settled in Jeffersonville and vicinity during the 1830s and 1840s. The old German Conference records reveal that in 1850 a supply Pastor was sent to the Township of Callicoon to work with the people in this area. The original Church records were written in German and later translated to English.  

Below is an account of the church’s history:

On February 12, 1851, Gregory and Salamena Gutzell sold one acre of land to the German Methodist Episcopal Church Trustees to use for a Church, a parsonage and burying grounds.

Later that year, a Methodist Church was built on a foundation where the present Church stands. 

The appointment was then called the Callicoon Circuit (later named Jeffersonville Circuit) and served North Branch and Callicoon Center in addition to Jeffersonville.  All services were in German.

In the 1870s the Irish and English settled in this area and soon English Methodist services were held in the Church.  The Dutch Reformed congregation and the Presbyterian Congregation also met in the Methodist Church until their Churches were built.

In the early 1920s, the Church was transferred from the German Conference to the New York Conference and still remains in the New York Conference.

The Church building had become dilapidated and was sold to the highest bidder on July 23, 1923. Charles Kaplan purchased same for $325.00 and dismantled the Church, using the pews in the Synagogue.

A new Church building was commenced, and a cornerstone was laid on August 24, 1924. On March 10, 1925, a bill was received for $2,782.30 being the cost of the building. On March 13,1925, the new Church was dedicated.

The Ladies Aid Society was organized in 1906, which was a great spiritual and financial aid to the Church.  This organization later known as the United Methodist Women, was disbanded during 2009.  A Sunday school was also organized.

On October 29, 1944, the Church, now named the Methodist Episcopal Church, was incorporated under the New York State Religious Law and in September 1962.  The name was changed to the Methodist Church of Jeffersonville, now know as Jeffersonville United Methodist Church.

On February 5, 1954, a Certificate of Incorporation of the Methodist Cemetery Association of Jeffersonville N.Y. Inc. was signed.  A Deed conveying the burial grounds to the Cemetery Association was signed and delivered on July 21, 1962.  

In March 1962, the Parsonage building was torn down as the minister for years past was housed at the Kenoza Lake Parsonage.

During 2009, the large shed and barn, which were used to shelter worshiper’s horses, and located in the cemetery behind the Church and to the east, were razed for safety concerns. 

Finally, on August 24 of this year, the Church building reached the milestone of 100 years of welcoming worshipers to services.