Two congregations to combine as Methodist buildings are sold off
To solve the problem, the Rev. McLeod and church leaders devised a plan to sell the aging building, which would otherwise have required at least $1 million worth of repairs. The property sold in 2008 for nearly $3 million. Its sale provided enough money to build a new church and create a savings account for the congregation’s future, he said.
Until the new Sag Harbor church was constructed in 2010, the congregation held services in the vacant St. David A.M.E. Zion Church nearby for about 18 months, he said. Also during that time, it used some of its newfound money to develop successful community outreach programs, such as building up its social media presence and redesigning its website.
“In that tiny, 60-seat [A.M.E.] church is where the Sag Harbor United Methodist Church really sustained a great a period of growth,” the Rev. McLeod said. “For the two years we were in there we really became a community. And when construction was done we really needed the new building because we had outgrown that little space.”
Among the new pastor’s first orders of business in Cutchogue will be to work with the existing congregants to develop a mission for the church’s future and undertake outreach efforts to gain more parishioners.
“Almost all these churches on the East End and the rural areas of New York, they were planted by the community; it was a grass roots movement and it really needs to be a grass roots movement that brings back the presences of the United Methodist Church,” the Rev. McLeod said. “The only way to solve the problem is to have the people of the community address their own issues and bring forth ideas of what they want.”
He said he even envisions the two other Methodist congregations in Southold Town — in Greenport and Orient — joining the North Fork Methodist Church as well, through no official plans are in the works.
“We need to build a church of the North Fork rather than keeping separate identities,” he said. “I know it is sometimes difficult and there are, of course, people attached to their own churches. But to achieve the greater good sometimes we need to let go of some things we’re holding onto so that we can get where God wants us to be.”
Leaving Southold United Methodist Church on Sunday, “upset” was how Southold resident Kay Goldsmith described her feelings as she fought back tears.
“I was baptized here,” she said. “I think it’s sad to leave.”
Her husband, Al, said there were “just too many” memories to list.
But the Goldsmiths agreed they would attend services in the new church, wherever that may be.
Bryan Anderson was at the church Sunday with his wife and their infant daughter. He said the family is new to the church.
“It was very important because we’re local and there aren’t many Methodist churches,” he said, when asked why he and his wife chose the Southold church for the baptism. “[My wife] is Protestant and I’m Catholic — this is one of the ones where you can be any religion and it’s fine.”
Mr. Anderson said he and his family also plan to follow the church to its new location.
“It’s sad to see it close because it’s been here for so long,” he said. “It’s also nice to have a new place.”
