Our History

Welcome to Wesley United Methodist Church located at 40 West Main Street in the heart of downtown Strasburg, Pennsylvania. Strasburg is situated in an area commonly referred to as the “Dutch Country”, consisting of large Mennonite and Amish communities. The first Methodist Episcopal Church in Strasburg was erected on a plot of ground purchased in 1807 from Mr. and Mrs. John Funk. The plot was located at 126/127 Decatur Street. Bishop Asbury preached in the building in 1811, 1812, and again in 1813.

 

The erected building was made of solid brick, facing Decatur Street, The seats were benches without backs. A raised platform served the minister. Heat was provided by a wood stove and lighting by candles mounted on the wall around the room in sconces. By 1839, membership in the Strasburg Methodist Church had grown to a point that a new larger church was required. To this end, a plot of ground at 30 West Main Street was obtained and a new church erected. The present church building now stands on that plot of ground. In 1871 a Mr. William Steacy donated to the church board of trustees a plot of ground containing a good two story brick building to be used as a parsonage. By 1893 it was determined that the church as old and dilapidated and should be rebuilt or replaced. Through the efforts of a Mr. James T. Satchel, who received a very large and substantial subscription for the church replacement, it was determined to demolish the old church and construct a new one. This was accomplished, and on New Year’s Day in 1894, Biship Cyrus Foss preached the dedicatory sermon.

 

A new parsonage was constructed in 1924 to replace the older building. It was occupied in 1925. The three-figure stained glass window was installed in 1954, to replace the original one. Also, storm windows were installed on all church and parsonage windows in 1961. In 1959, the church secured the property belonging to Mr. Donald S. Eckert, immediately to the eat of the church. This building was razed in 1962 and the new Asbury facility with folding doors and a study for the pastor was constructed. It was occupied for the first time in 1962. At the same time the Epworeth Room, at the rear of the church, was renovated by removal of a platform and chimney, and the kitchen upgraded to a more modern facility. In 20026 the Strasburg Fire Department moved to new facilities. The Old firehouse located adjacent to the Asbury building was acquitted by Wesley Church. The building was renovated and currently serves at the church Fellowship Hall, educational center, and stie for community outreach opportunities.

 

The cemetery behind the church building contains 179 marked graves. Eight of those buried are Civil War Veterans, Twenty nine, about 18 percent, were under the age of fifteen.