Appoquinimink Hundred in Townsend in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Old Union Methodist Church

Photographed by William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008

1. Old Union Methodist Church Marker

Inscription. A log church was built here in 1789 on land donated by Joseph Dickinson. The church was named "Dickinson's Chapel" in his honor. Francis Asbury and many other pioneers of American Methodism conducted services here. Levi Scott, a native of this area and member of the church, became the first Delawarean to serve as a Methodist bishop. He is interred in the adjoining cemetery. The present church was constructed in 1847. Then known as Union Methodist Episcopal Church, it continued to serve the families of Appoquinimink Hundred until the early 1900s, when regular services sere discontinued. The Old Union Church Society was organized in 1939 to preserve the church and grounds. In 1973, Union Church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Erected 2001 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-117.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives, the Francis Asbury, Traveling Methodist Preacher, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1789.

Location. 39° 23.276′ N, 75° 39.769′ W. Marker is in Townsend

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, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Appoquinimink Hundred. It is on Union Church Road 0.1 miles east of US 13, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Townsend DE 19734, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Delaware’s Southern New Castle County, in Greater Wilmington and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic

and on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Scott Church (approx. 1.2 miles away); Blackbird School (District No. 69) (approx. 1.3 miles away); Townsend (approx. 1.6 miles away); Korean War Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away); Townsend World War II Honor Roll (approx. 1.7 miles away); Vietnam War Memorial (approx. 1.7 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.9 miles away); Global War on Terrorism (approx. 2.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Townsend.

Also see . . . Old Union Methodist Church - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form.

Old Union Church is one of the best-preserved specimens of early Delaware Methodist meeting houses, which once were quite common throughout the State.

(Submitted on April 22, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.)

Old Union Methodist Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008

2. Old Union Methodist Church

Stone over Door image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008

3. Stone over Door

Union M. E. Church A. D. 1847

Old Union Methodist Church Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, August 17, 2008

4. Old Union Methodist Church Cemetery

Credits. This page was last revised on May 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 22, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 2,620 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 22, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.