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Community Corner

Behind The Doors of Hauppauge United Methodist Church

Once the center of the community, church's membership may be small but its congregation optimistically looks towards the future.

Over 200 years after its humble beginnings, Hauppauge United Methodist Church stands as center of the Hauppauge's community. It's steeple is a testament to a strong past that foreshadows the future. 

Simeon Wood wrote extensively about United Methodist in his manuscript “A History of Hauppauge, Long Island, N.Y.” published in 1920. Founding members rose from prominent families such as Hauppauge’s first settlers the Wheelers, Smithtown’s founding family Smith, and the Blydenburghs, who our county park is named after, were among the membership.

 The congregation first met in 1806 at a schoolhouse and later in the home of Richard Wheeler, according to Wood.  It was Joshua Smith Jr., a descendant of Smithtown’s founder Richard Smythe, who donated a plot of ground that was described as eight rods square that would become the church's current location. The size of the land was increased by his son.

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In a letter from James D. Blydenburgh, he wrote that his “grandfather gave enough standing timber to make ten cords of wood," which is republished in Wood's history. The church members then conducted a cutting frolic  - however, unlike other cutting frolics of the time, no alcoholic was served much to the dismay of one attendee.

 The church was built with a basic two-story structure. The steeple of Hauppauge United Methodist Church wasn't added until 1895. Original churchgoers brought foot warmers until wood-burning stoves were used in later years.

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Smithtown Historian Bradley Harris said the church was originally segregated, women and men sat on different sides and also entered through different doors. This practice continued until 1866 when both sexes finally worshipped together.

The church briefly experimented with string instruments in the 1840s, according to Christopher D’Antonio, a student of Hauppauge’s history. It was decided by many to be the "devil’s music." It wasn’t until the 1860s that an organ was used in services.

The church continues to be an important part of our hamlet in the 20th century. Churchgoer Harriel Minder, a life-long Hauppauge resident, remembers when she was younger - membership grew to a point where there was a need for an education building, as the basement could no longer hold Sunday school attendees It was built and completed in 1961 on Brooksite Drive where a parsonage once stood in the 1800s, according to Harris. 

However, by the 70s membership declined and the building was eventually rented out.

"As the community grew and new people came in, the interest in the church fell away," Harris said. 

At present, Reverends Rasmussen and Maine serve both Hauppauge and Central Islip United Methodist.  with approximately 50 members in Hauppauge. Minder said the congregation is active contributing to the Smithtown Food Pantry and global causes such as relief for Haiti. The Sunday school recently has been reinstated, and three young women will be making their confirmation this year.

While the days of the Wheelers, Smiths and Blydenburghs may be long gone, Minder remains optimistic about the future.

“A small church is a good church,” she said.

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