Lake Mahopac United Methodist Church of the NOW Cooperative

Thank you to our clergy and church members and family, both past and present, who shared communion and memories of our beloved church on the lake. It was a beautiful day, gifted with sunshine by our Lord, and filled with the loving memories we share as family in Christ. A bittersweet celebration. God has surely said "well done, good and faithful servant."

This weekend marks the decommissioning of the Lake Mahopac United Methodist Church of the NOW Cooperative at 85 Mount Hope Road Route 6 and East Lake Boulevard,... Mahopac, NY. The Methodist community in the Lake Mahopac region dates back before 1822 when itinerant Methodist preachers traveled by horseback throughout the New York Circuit, likely assigned by Freeborn Garrettson (the Paul Revere of Methodists), and when they found a welcoming settlement for spiritual conversation, they would organize a church society. The knoll around Lake Mahopac, or the Big Pond as it was referred to back then, became the land conveyance deed (Liber A, page 474) for the first church built circa 1826 on lakefront land donated by Nathaniel Crane. For over 96 years, what was first known as the Big Pond Methodist meeting house, was located on the shores of Lake Mahopac but by 1920 it was announced that the building would be removed and, according to the Putnam County Courier of July 30th, the timbers and contents sold for what they’ll fetch. Its inaccessibility, its great need of repairs, its utter lack of all conveniences, has compelled the razing of the picturesque edifice now used. The old church is most sacred to many. It holds in its bosom blessed recollections, but like the human body, it has grown old and feeble and the time and opportunity has arrived for its recrudescence not as a sore but as a blessing upon the body politic. Planning for the new stone church construction was approved in 1920 after Mr. Hilary R. Chambers, president of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Lake Mahopac board, donated land near the Thompson House (Mount Hope Road and Lake Boulevard) and subscriptions helped fund its completion. In July 1922, the church bell said to date back to ca. 1855 - was removed from the old church and placed in the tower of the new one and on the hundredth anniversary of the Church organization at Lake Mahopac, the bell was rung 100 times. Soon after, the new stone church was opened. In Dr. Charles E. Winslow’s 1922 historical sketch of the Lake Mahopac M.E. Church he stated, The church is a credit to the people both natives and summer cottagers and to the donor of the land on which is stands and to all who have worked either by head, hand or heart that there might be a new church at the Lake. (Putnam county Courier, Sept. 22, 1922, p. 4) The Old Methodist Cemetery also known as the Mahopac Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, which was part of the former church property located at McMahon Place, remains in possession of the Town of Carmel. According to the website PutnamGraveyards.com, a number of veterans from the Revolutionary and the Civil War era are buried there. In addition, many members of notable families, such as Baldwin, Shear, Wixson and Hitchcock are buried there. Lake Mahopac United Methodist Church of the NOW Cooperative will host a Celebration of Life & Decommissioning Worship Service on Saturday, September 21st, 11 am 2 pm. The archives of The Putnam County Courier, up through 1930, are available online at HRVH Historical Newspapers. Hudson River Valley Heritage Town of Carmel Historical Society

Mahopac Methodist Church

Christ is Risen!! Alleluia!!

Thank you to our clergy and church members and family, both past and present, who shared communion and memories of our beloved church on the lake. It was a beautiful day, gifted with sunshine by our Lord, and filled with the loving memories we share as family in Christ. A bittersweet celebration. God has surely said "well done, good and faithful servant."

This weekend marks the decommissioning of the Lake Mahopac United Methodist Church of the NOW Cooperative at 85 Mount Hope Road Route 6 and East Lake Boulevard,... Mahopac, NY. The Methodist community in the Lake Mahopac region dates back before 1822 when itinerant Methodist preachers traveled by horseback throughout the New York Circuit, likely assigned by Freeborn Garrettson (the Paul Revere of Methodists), and when they found a welcoming settlement for spiritual conversation, they would organize a church society. The knoll around Lake Mahopac, or the Big Pond as it was referred to back then, became the land conveyance deed (Liber A, page 474) for the first church built circa 1826 on lakefront land donated by Nathaniel Crane. For over 96 years, what was first known as the Big Pond Methodist meeting house, was located on the shores of Lake Mahopac but by 1920 it was announced that the building would be removed and, according to the Putnam County Courier of July 30th, the timbers and contents sold for what they’ll fetch. Its inaccessibility, its great need of repairs, its utter lack of all conveniences, has compelled the razing of the picturesque edifice now used. The old church is most sacred to many. It holds in its bosom blessed recollections, but like the human body, it has grown old and feeble and the time and opportunity has arrived for its recrudescence not as a sore but as a blessing upon the body politic. Planning for the new stone church construction was approved in 1920 after Mr. Hilary R. Chambers, president of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Lake Mahopac board, donated land near the Thompson House (Mount Hope Road and Lake Boulevard) and subscriptions helped fund its completion. In July 1922, the church bell said to date back to ca. 1855 - was removed from the old church and placed in the tower of the new one and on the hundredth anniversary of the Church organization at Lake Mahopac, the bell was rung 100 times. Soon after, the new stone church was opened. In Dr. Charles E. Winslow’s 1922 historical sketch of the Lake Mahopac M.E. Church he stated, The church is a credit to the people both natives and summer cottagers and to the donor of the land on which is stands and to all who have worked either by head, hand or heart that there might be a new church at the Lake. (Putnam county Courier, Sept. 22, 1922, p. 4) The Old Methodist Cemetery also known as the Mahopac Methodist Episcopal Cemetery, which was part of the former church property located at McMahon Place, remains in possession of the Town of Carmel. According to the website PutnamGraveyards.com, a number of veterans from the Revolutionary and the Civil War era are buried there. In addition, many members of notable families, such as Baldwin, Shear, Wixson and Hitchcock are buried there. Lake Mahopac United Methodist Church of the NOW Cooperative will host a Celebration of Life & Decommissioning Worship Service on Saturday, September 21st, 11 am 2 pm. The archives of The Putnam County Courier, up through 1930, are available online at HRVH Historical Newspapers. Hudson River Valley Heritage Town of Carmel Historical Society

Mahopac Methodist Church

Christ is Risen!! Alleluia!!

Our prayers go out to the people of France at the damage and devastating fire to their beautiful monument to Christian faith. As we journey through Holy Week, we must hold fast to the promise of new life after destruction such as this. It is with faith and time and devotion that Cathédrale Notre Dame will be rebuilt, restored to its prior glory and lifted in love and joy, not only by France but by the world. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.