History of FUMC

Its nickname, the Creek Church, came from its proximity to Cedar Pond Brook. The congregation first met in the home of Peter DeNoyelles in Haverstraw. It became an organized church in 1804, and the first meeting after that was in the home of Daniel Phillips. Other members who opened their homes for services were Aaron Decamp, John Thiell, the Babcock family from Willow Grove, and others.

In 1882, the Church was completely rebuilt to its present size. The carriage shed was also built at this time. At the same time (1882) the church members wanted to rebuild the Church, a split occurred within the congregation. There was a dispute over the new parsonage but more importantly of the location of the Church itself. Since no agreement could be reached, some families left First Church and proceeded to build a new church “in town” – now known as the Trinity United Methodist Church. Part of the problem is that by this time Stony Point proper was the center of the town. The area where FUMC was located, which was known as Antioch, was losing its importance. (Note: Trinity United Methodist Church closed in 2023.)

In 1956, wooden doors were donated to the Church by the family of Charles H. O’Dell, Sr.

In 1987, the church office was added onto the lecture room. The bathrooms were modernized and the kitchen was enlarged. This was done under the direction of Harold O’Dell. Lucien Conklin and Douglas O’Dell did the digging. The Square Foot Club paid for the improvements, inclusive of the following donors: the Estate of Helen Johnson;  memorial funds in memory of Beatrice Baisley, Frank Baisley, Fannie Blanche, William Bulson, Doris T. Byheny, Ethel Guernee, John McElroy, Melinda McElroy, Charles O'Dell, Jr., Roy O'Dell, Harold Peifley, Catherine Peterson, David Peterson, Everett Peterson, and Frank Strassburg; donations in honor of Mr. Willis Ambrey, Mrs. Willis Ambrey, Michael Heaphy, Jeffrey Heaphy, Kimberly Heaphy, Brian June and Jonathan Oyer; corporate donations from United States Gypsum Corporation and Helmer-Cronin Construction, Inc.;  and individual donors of Daniel Adler, Sr., Clarence Ambrey, Frank Attigliato, Loretta Babcock, Ken Baisley, Jr., Fred Bohlander, Sr., Linda Branson, Ricky Branson, Violet Campbell, George Cole-Hatchard, Alfred Conklin, Lenard Conklin, Robert Cronk, Robert Dubois, Felice Fasano, Fred Fiore, Darlene Halstead, Sam Iorio, Douglas Jobson, Carl Jones, Luther Jones, John Kuryla, Pat Murry, Catherine Napoli, Jessie O'Dell, Edward Odell, Hazel Peifley, Kenneth Schmoeger, Robert Simkovich, Matthew A. Waldron, Jr., Shari Williams, Emil Yehl, a gift from the Sunday School and posthumous gifts from Mildred Crill and Lucien Conklin.

Also in 1989, 121 new United Methodist Hymnals were donated to FUMC by: Clarence & Frances Ambrey in loving memory of Edward Blake; Clarence & Frances Ambrey in loving memory of Bertha Ambrey; Clarence & Frances Ambrey in loving memory of Robert Ambrey; Clarence & Frances Ambrey in loving memory of William Ambrey; Debbie Babcock in loving memory or my daughter, Tammie Eileen Babcock; Debbie Babcock in loving memory of Gene Scank; Loretta Babcock in loving memory of my husband, Denton Francis Babcock; John H. Baisley, Sr. in loving memory of my son, John. H. Baisley, Jr.; Ken, Jr., Lois, Carrie, Jennie & Melissa Baisley in loving memory of Carrie E. Baisley; Ken, Sr. & May Baisley in loving memory of Carrie E. Baisley; Roy I. Baisley, Sr. in loving memory of my wife, Carrie E. Baisley; Roy I. Baisley, Sr. in loving memory of my parents, Mr. & Mrs. Irving Baisley; Mr. & Mrs. LeRoy Baisley in loving memory of Mr. & Mrs. Willis Ambrey; James & Ella Bender in loving memory of deceased family & friends; Fred & Goldie Bohlander; Linda & Ricky Branson in loving memory of Linda's parents, Richard & Mildred Crill; JoAnn & Lucien Conklin in loving memory of Bery Hoyt; JoAnn & Lucien Conklin in loving memory of Ada, Howard & Jesse Conklin and John Alfred Leslie; Louise & George Cummings in honor of Michael Heaphy, Jeffrey Heaphy, Kimberly Heaphy, Brian June and Jonathan Oyer; Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Fioriti in loving memory of Mr. & Mrs. Stephen L. Anderson; Mr. & Mrs. Matthew Fioriti in honor of Mr. & Mrs Spencer Ryder; Priscilla Gannon in loving memory of her grandparents John & Melinda McElroy; Mickey & Phyllis Heaphy in loving memory of our grandmothers, Elizabeth Crawford & Marion McElroy; Mickey & Phyllis Heaphy in honor of Michael Heaphy, Jeffrey Heaphy and Kimbery Heaphy; Jim, JoAnn, Jason & Jaclyn Humphrey in loving memory of Sharon Humphrey; Edith Jackson in loving memory of Ethel Cole-Hatchard; Edith Jackson in loving memory of Mr & Mrs. Laird Haring; Gladys Jones in loving memory of Allen Jones; Gladys Jones in loving memory of Helen Larder; Gladys Jones in loving memory of Alex & Della Rose; Gladys Jones in loving memory of Arthur Rose; Gladys Jones in loving memory of Edward & Margaret Stout; Gladys Jones in loving memory of James & Daisy Williams; Nancy Jones in loving memory of my husband, Elbert Jones; Joyce & Joy Lewandosky in loving memory of Dorothy & Laird Haring; Betty & Richard McElroy in loving memory of Paul & Edna Lewis; Betty & Richard McElroy in loving memory of Charles & Marion K. McElroy; Betty & Richard McElroy in loving memory of Richard P. McElroy; Jean Munroe in loving memory of Edna & Paul Lewis; Jean Munroe in loving memory of Harold R. H. Munroe; Catherine & Robert Napoli in loving memory of Cate's brother & sister George & Alberta Crill; Edith O'Dell in loving memory of Charles R. O'Dell, Jr.; Harold & Janet O'Dell in loving memory of Alfred & Amelia Copeland; Harold & Janet O'Dell in loving memory of Charles & Lavenia O'Dell; Mildred M. O'Dell in loving memory of Howard E. O'Dell; Barbara & Russell Oyer in loving memory of Elizabeth Crawford; Barbara & Russell Oyer in loving memory of Joseph Oyer; Gary & Cookie Peifley in loving memory of Fannie Blanche; Gary & Cookie Peifley in loving memory of Bert Hoyt; Gary & Cookie Peifley in loving memory of Carmelo Leggio; Gary & Cookie Peifley in loving memory of Lena Leggio; Gary & Cookie Peifley in loving memory of Harlod Peifly; Hazel Peifley in loving memory of Margaret & Jerome Bulson; Hazel Peifley in loving memory of Harold Peifley; Ralph Peterson in loving memory of David & Catherine Peterson; Ruth E. Peterson in loving memory of Evertt Peterson, Sr.; Elizabeth Pitt in loving memory of Mr. & Mrs. George Gurnee; Elizabeth Pitt in loving memory of Mr. & Mrs. Augustus Babcock; Helen Rider in memory of my Loved Ones; Evelyn Ryder in loving memory of Spencer C. Ryder; Richard Ryder & Nancy Waldron in honor of Shirley H. Ryder; Shirley H. Ryder in loving memory of Laura & Hudson Hurd; Shirley H. Ryder in loving memory of Maud & Rolland Hurd; Edward & Diane Sabino in loving memory of David Galloway; Edward & Diane Sabino in loving memory of Jane Galloway; Edward & Diane Sabino in loving memory of Virginia Sabino; Jill & Mark Strauch in loving memory of Gertrude Caskey; Jill & Mark Strauch in loving memory of Nelson Strauch; Debi, Jeff & Jay Thomas in honor of Eva & Wilson Young; Jeffrey & Pamela Turner in loving memory of Edward Heitzmann; Jeffrey & Pamela Turner in loving memory of Luis Rodriques; Jeffrey & Pamela Turner in loving memory of Earnest & Helena Turner; Beverly & Matthew Waldron in loving memory of Fannie Blanche; Matt & Eleanor Waldron in loving memory of Fannie & Harry Blanche; Wilson Young & Family in loving memory of Charles & Lavenia O'Dell; His brothers and sisters in loving memory of Donald J. Bulson; His brothers and sisters in loving memory of Ronald J. Bulson, Jr.; His brothers and sisters in loving memory of Marjorie Bulson; Her children in loving memory of Etta Bulson; His children in loving memory of William Bulson, Sr.; Thier chilrden in loving memory of Frank & Beatrice Baisley; and Their grandchildren in loving memory of Mr. & Mrs. John H. Ambrey.

Additionally in 1991, the first sound system was installed in the sanctuary, to modernize the worship experience thanks to contributions by: Clarence Ambrey,  JoAnn Conklin, Lendard & Nora Conklin, George & Louise Cummings, Jim & Jane Granito,  JoAnn & Jim Humphey, Luther & Gladys Jones, Nancy Jones, Rev. Ai Ra Kim, Carmen & John Kuryla, Edith O'Dell, Harold & Jessie O'Dell, Cookie & Gary Peifley, Hazel Peifley, Ralph Peterson, Ruth Peterson, Evelyn Ryder, Shirley & John Smith, Debra & Jeff Thomas, Pam & Jeff Turner, and Eva Young.

In 2014, the front Church doors that we now have were donated in memory of Richard N. McElroy by his wife Betty and his memorial fund. New lightweight tables and chairs were purchased for throughout the building.

In 2022, the interior of the entire church was refreshed with new paint, lighting and fixtures and Memorial Hall flooring. The sanctuary was refinished using memorial funds from former Trustee Chairman George Cummings and memorial funds from our favorite “ticket-taker” Nora Conklin. The altar chairs were refurbished in memory of Matthew R. Waldron. After the sanctuary, the remainder of the building interior was refreshed using memorial funds in memory of: Dot and Jeanne Baisley, Ella Bender, Shirley Brooks, Nora Conklin, Helen Van Ness Gray, Ruth Herrington, Clyde Lawrence, Elizabeth (Betty) McElroy, Jean O’Dell, Jessie O’Dell, Richard O’Dell, Shirley O’Dell, Barbara Skinner, Jeff Thomas, Matthew Waldron & Eva Young. We decorated our lecture room with 17 pieces of historic artwork donated to FUMC over the years. We held a special fundraiser to purchase 20 pieces of brand-new colorful artwork for Memorial Hall.