First United Methodist Church, Westfield
History and directions for our worship home in Westfield, New Jersey.
First United Methodist Church, Westfield
Address: First United Methodist Church, 1 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ-07090 (for GPS enter: 130 Ferris Place, Westfield, NJ)
FUMC has been a part of the Westfield community since 1859. The original sanctuary was replaced by a second one, dedicated in 1877. A steeple, housing a clock and bell, was added for a re-dedication in 1886.
The current sanctuary is the third constructed at 1 East Broad Street. It was dedicated in 1911 and houses the historic 1886 E. Howard Clock and Meneely Bell.
The Wesley Hall Wing, which houses the Wesley Hall School for Early Childhood (formerly Wesley Hall Nursery School), was dedicated in 1952. Extensive renovations to the entry hallway were completed in 1993.
This Westfield Leader article provides an interesting history of the clock and bell.
Tours of the clock and bell tower can be arranged by contacting John R. Panosh through the church office. Groups of 15–20 can be accommodated. Children should be at least seven years old and adequate supervision must be provided.
Directions
The First United Methodist Church of Westfield is located at 1 East Broad Street, Westfield, NJ. Parking lot access is from Ferris Place, a one-way street one block off Broad Street, accessible from Prospect Street.
For GPS enter: 130 Ferris Place, Westfield, NJ-07090.
As you enter the parking lot, the church entrance is on the left at the far end of the lot. The sanctuary and office entrance is the set of doors to the right of the Wesley Hall School for Early Childhood entrance. Please respect the handicapped and reserved parking spaces. Also, depending on the time of day, there may be many parent-child pedestrians in the area, so please be careful.
About Westfield, New Jersey
Westfield is a town in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town's population was 30,316, reflecting an increase of 672 (+2.3%) from the 29,644 counted in the 2000 Census, which had in turn increased by 774 (+2.7%) from the 28,870 counted in the 1990 Census.
According to a 2014 nationwide survey, Westfield is considered to be the 30th safest city to live in the United States.
The old village area, now the downtown district, was settled in 1720 as part of the Elizabethtown Tract. Westfield was originally formed as a township on January 27, 1794, from portions of Elizabeth Township, while the area was still part of Essex County, and was incorporated on February 21, 1798, as one of New Jersey's initial group of 104 townships by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature.
It became part of the newly formed Union County on March 19, 1857. Portions of the township have been taken to form Rahway Township (1804), Plainfield Township (1847), Cranford Township (1871), Fanwood Township (1878; now Scotch Plains), Mountainside (1895) and Hillside (1913). The Town of Westfield was incorporated on March 4, 1903, replacing Westfield Township.