History of Lakewood UMC
Founding a Congregational Church
Lakewood United Methodist Church had a relatively unique beginning, so far as Methodist churches go. Although Methodists within the small village of Lakewood had been holding prayer meetings in homes and occasional worship services for a few years, it was not until September 11, 1893, that a group of devoted Christians in the area finall
y met to organize a new church. What is so interesting about this group of Christians, however, is that they came from a multitude of denominations, including Methodists, Baptists, Free Baptists, Presbyterians, Congregationalists, and several others. As the Jamestown Journal described the first planning meeting of the new church, it was “a goodly company of earnest people.”
This group, whose goal was simply to “live and work together for the cause of God and fellow man as represented in Jesus Christ,” succeeded in fostering a committed devotion to the Christian life within Lakewood. This first church was actually affiliated with the Congregational denomination, and adopted the name “Union Congregational Church.” Being the only church in Lakewood, however, its membership consisted of many Methodists and people of other denominations. The Methodist Movement
Eventually, the struggles of paying for a regular minister and maintenance on the church proved too much for the Congregational Church. On May 6, 1913, Union Congregational disbanded, a Methodist Episcopal Church was organized and incorporated, and the new church elected 5 trustees. Unfortunately, the next year saw the demise of the church building that housed Lakewood’s Methodist Episcopal Church. Lakewood citizens are never quick to give up, though, and in a trustee meeting that same morning, the community decided to erect a brick church on the same location. The new Lakewood Methodist Church thrived for many years in cooperation with the Celoron Methodist Church, sharing one preacher between the two churches. With increasing growth, though, the church not only had its own pastor, but it outgrew the church building. In 1953, the congregation voted to build a new church two blocks away from the original lot. This large space on the corner of East Summit and Shadyside has been home for the Lakewood congregation for over 50 years. A New Organ
In 1979, the demolition of the Unitarian Church in Jamestown afforded a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to Lakewood UMC. One of the Unitarian Church’s proudest possessions was a beautiful wooden tracker organ. Its members wanted to make sure that whoever acquired it would put it to good use. After several deliberations and a consultation with an expert from Tellers Organ Co. in Erie, the administrative board of Lakewood UMC decided to purchase the organ, even though they would have to store it for a time until funds were available for installation. According to the publicity chairman of Lakewood’s Landmark Organ Committee, David Anderson, the sound of the organ was “just fantastic.”
The next task was collecting the funds needed to ensure that this historic organ did not go to waste. of Westfield, MA, the instrument was still in top shape upon dismantling. With much help from the community and grant foundations, Lakewood UMC was finally able to restore and install the organ in its sanctuary on June 6, 1982. Lakewood’s tracker organ has become one among many reasons to visit this beautiful church. Its tones are rich, and it is capable of a swath of musical emotions.
