Smyrna in Kent County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Site of Old Asbury Methodist Church

By Bill Pfingsten, December 15, 2010

1. Site of Old Asbury Methodist Church Marker

Inscription. The roots of Methodism in this community can be traced to the organization of a local “society” in the 1770’s. Meetings were held in private homes before a frame structure was built here circa 1786 on land provided by Col. Allan McLane, Revolutionary War hero and early advocate of Methodism. On May 9, 1799, the meeting house and burial ground were formally conveyed to the church trustees for 5 shillings. The Philadelphia Annual Conference was held here on numerous occasions in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Francis Asbury and many other Methodist pioneers were frequent visitors. Services were held here until 1845, when the congregation relocated to a new site, and the old church was dismantled and moved.

Erected 1996 by Delaware Public Archives.

Marker series. This marker is included in the Francis Asbury, Traveling Methodist Preacher marker series.

Location. 39° 18.051′ N, 75° 36.589′ W. Marker is in Smyrna, Delaware, in Kent County. Marker is on Delaware Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is between Mt. Vernon and North Streets at the cemetery. Marker is in this post office area: Smyrna DE 19977, United States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within

Old Asbury Methodist Cemetery image. Click for full size.

By Bill Pfingsten, December 15, 2010

2. Old Asbury Methodist Cemetery

walking distance of this marker. Home of Allen McLane (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); The John Cummins Mansion (about 700 feet away); "First in the World" (about 700 feet away); Site of Green Pottery (about 700 feet away); The Delaware House (about 800 feet away); The Gray Box Chateau (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sgt. John B. Maberry (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Barracks (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Smyrna.

Categories. • Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion •

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on December 16, 2010, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 670 times since then and 8 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 16, 2010, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.