History

The first Methodist Society was formed November 23, 1841, in Raymond after a revival. The Society was then known as the Methodist Episcopal Society. The first services in Raymond were held in a home on Branch Road.

In 1842, a committee was formed to draft a constitution and efforts were made to build a church.  In 1848, another committee was formed to design and construct a building.

The church was located on the left side of Fremont Street, now Main Street, just after crossing the railroad tracks.  It was a two story building with Church services held upstairs. The first floor was a store that the Society rented to a merchant.

In October 1849 the church was completed and pews were auctioned off.  This gave the buyer the choice of pew he or she wanted.  Subsequently, a pew rent was paid to support the building.  Additional levies were made as needed,

In 1892 the church was destroyed by fire.  In 1894 a new church, complete with horse sheds in the rear, was built on a new site at the corner of Wight and Main, the current location.  A new Educational Hall was later added in 1968-69.

At various times, shared ministries with churches in Fremont, Congregational Church in Raymond and North Salem United Methodist have taken place.

For many years , church suppers were prepared from the large kitchen in the basement.  In the 1980’s a smaller kitchen was added from part of what is now referred to as Fellowship Hall.

Sunday School rooms and a nursery were also in the basement and some of these are now used by 68 Hours of Hunger for storage and packing of back packs.