Smyrna in Kent County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Site of Old Asbury Methodist Church
Photographed By Bill Pfingsten, December 15, 2010
1. Site of Old Asbury Methodist Church Marker
Inscription.
Site of Old Asbury Methodist Church. . 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.
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.
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. Marker is between Mt. Vernon
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and North Streets at the cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Smyrna DE 19977, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2010, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 906 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 16, 2010, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.
