1900
Our lovely sanctuary was dedicated in 1900.
The fellowship hall was built by The King’s Daughters in 1925.
The education annex was the Shady school until district consolidation in 1952.
The stained glass windows in the annex, narthex, and chancel were originally in the Woodstock Methodist Church on Tinker Street.
1870
At a meeting held on July 19, 1870 the members of the Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church associated with the Methodist Church of Bristol (Bristol is the former area now known as Shady), New York, it was decided that a sum of $1,200 be presented to the appointed Building Committee for the purpose of building a Methodist Episcopal Church at Bristol. The dedication services for the church building were held on January 15, 1871 at which time the church became a part of the Woodstock Methodist Charge. The church was in use until June 1900 when additional land was purchased and a new building was erected. The dedication of the new church, the present building, was held on January 16, 1901.
1960
In 1960 the Shady Methodist Church was united with the Phoenicia Methodist Charge which included Shady, Willow, Lanesville, and Phoenicia. In 1968, the Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church to form the United Methodist Church. Thereafter the Shady Church became the United Methodist Church of Shady.
1973
On January 31, 1973 the families of the Willow United Methodist Church joined with the people of Shady to make a stronger witness to Jesus Christ in the Willow, Lake Hill, and Shady communities. Land for the Willow Methodist Church was purchased from Eugene Livingston in 1856 for ten dollars. A church was to be erected on the property, however, if the church were to be abandoned as a house of worship, the property would revert back to the Livingston family subject to the leasehold estate held by Benson Eighmey under and by virtue of a lease for three lives. The deed was filed in 1860. At that time, the trustees of the church property were Benson Eighmey, Samuel Eighmey, John S. Hoyt, Peter Hoyt and John Hoyt.
The Willow Church was closed due to declining membership. The membership joined and consolidated with the United Methodist Church of Shady on January 31, 1973. The Willow Church was sold to Douglas Alderfer for $9,000 after the property sign-off by heirs of the Livingston family.
Shortly after the church was founded, a Sunday School was started and maintained by dedicated volunteer adult members of the church. This Sunday School has continued to flourish over the past 140 years. The Sunday School is open to all children in the area.
A church hall was constructed by the Society of King’s Daughters in 1925. This building and property were later turned over to the church as part of the Shady Parish. Dinners, social functions, and special celebrations are held in the hall.
The Shady School building, adjoining the church property, was put up for sale by the Onteora Central School District at a public auction in June 1961. Because of its usefulness and proximity to the church property, it was purchased for $100. The building presently houses the Sunday School and is used for various church meetings, social functions, and worship during the cold winter months. Three of the beautiful stained glass windows in the church annex, narthex, and chancel were originally in the old Woodstock Methodist Church on Tinker Street in Woodstock. The congregation has raised monies and repaired several of the windows in the church building.
TODAY AND TOMORROW
During the course of a year, the congregation sponsors three dinners, one in April, one in June, and another in October. The King’s Daughters sponsor a fourth dinner in August each year. These dinners are very popular and bring the larger community together for fellowship. We also have a Christmas Shoppe in November. The funds from these events enable us to pay our conference apportionment. During the past fifteen years, numerous repairs have been made to all three buildings. Recently, we have:
Painted and repaired sills on all three buildings
Installed a handicap accessible toilet in the schoolhouse
Installed storm windows on meeting hall and schoolhouse
Painted walls and refinished church vestibule floor
Painted organ room
Made all three buildings handicap accessible
Remodeled meeting hall kitchen.
We are very happy with our Outreach/Mission Program that:
Sponsors a Ladies Tea & Luncheon for ladies in the community
Sends donations of clothing to C.A.P. in Kentucky
Donates money to the Children’s Home in Binghamton, NY
Participates in the CROP WALK for hunger
Donates money to PET in East Jewett, NY
Raises funds for the Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital by sponsoring a Penny Social every year in February
Contributes and work at the Good Neighbor Food Pantry of Woodstock, Inc.
Supports United Methodist Ministries
Sends health kits to the annual conference appeal
10. Participates in the Faith in Action Weekend
The Shady United Methodist Church is open to all who are seeking to find meaning in their lives and wish to know the Good News of Jesus Christ. The church welcomes new persons into the congregation who wish to join in the journeys of faith with Jesus Christ, our Lord. The congregation strives to reach out to the hungry and needy of the Woodstock area and to be a welcoming community of faith to our neighbors.
