Was it faith the size of a mustard seed that built this church? Welcome to Peck United Methodist Church. This church began with a small seed of faith. Its story is one of endurance.
Peck United Methodist Church was originally known as Peck’s Chapel. The story starts between 1820 and 1826. Attorney General John Wilkinson discovered his wife teaching Sunday School. She taught children in a farm shed. Wilkinson then built the first Peck’s Chapel.
The name “Peck” is interesting. Wiley B. Peck was a circuit rider. He served Peck’s Chapel in the 1820s. Wiley’s brother, Judge Jacob Peck, was Wilkinson’s friend. Wilkinson admired both men. He may have named the chapel after one or both of them.
Around 1829, the original one-room log church was replaced. A frame building, heated by a wood stove, was erected. But before it was finished, they bought the Kennedy Church. It was moved from Wildwood to the Peck’s Chapel site.
Disaster struck around 1900. An overheated wood stove caused a fire. It destroyed the Kennedy Church building. A fourth structure soon followed. It included a basement. It also had a Sunday School annex.
Membership grew. A larger building became necessary. Members offered their labor and money. They built the fifth and current Peck’s Memorial United Methodist Church. The first service was in 1939. A bell salvaged from the fire-damaged third building is still here. You can see it on the front lawn. It symbolizes the members’ faith and resilience.
Peck’s Memorial UMC has existed for over 200 years. Some members are descendants of the church’s founders. Peck United Methodist Church is a small community church. It offers love and friendship to everyone. It welcomes those who want to serve and worship God. It also welcomes those who wish to be in mission to our neighbors and the world.