The Methodist denomination has been influential in the religions life of Plymouth since 1800 at the time when the Circuit Riders visited in West Plymouth The first of their church services was held in the barn belonging to Ebenezer  Blodgett in 1807. After twenty-three years. a brick church was erected on the Keaton Road not far from the residence of Ebenezer Blodgett, that accommodated an audience of three hundred persons. Methodist attendance now surpassed that at the meeting house on Ward Hill.
    No permanent clergyman was assigned by the conference in 1823 or in the next decade, instead Plymouth shared the ministers with surrounding towns. The name, "Methodist Episcopal" pleased Squire Samuel Livermore of Holderness, who regarded the denomination as "first cousins" in relationship to the Trinity Episcopal church with its chapel that still remains near the Holderness School. The brick church Continued to be open for Sabbath services until 1865 although the Methodist denomination established a church on the Main street in Plymouth Village.
    The Methodist Church was the first church building to be erected in the center of Plymouth village. The first church building stood for forty years on the corner of Main and Bridge streets. The congregation increased until this small edifice was inadequate for their needs.
    They then began to assemble in a hall on Highland Street, probably in the second story of the building that was occupied by the store of Nathan Harris at the corner of Langdon and Highland streets.
    A church was erected in 1833 during the pastorate of Rev. William Nelsoll,  in 1931 was the first appointed  preacher for the Methodists in the village in . This church stood somewhat north of the present Record Office building, was of wood construction and was built at an expense of about $1000.00.
    Rev. Nelson was also a capable citizen in both town and in school affairs. He served four terms as a selectman after his retirement in the church. Also he was elected to the legislature to represent Plymouth in 1836. He letured 1845 but substituted in the pulpit until his death in 1859. The Nelson's  twelve children became teachers, physicians and several were clergymen. His daughter, Eliza, married Hon. Henry W. Blair of Campton, senator in the United States Congress. Mrs. Blair was one of the well known women in New Hampshire. Her novel! 'Lizabeth Wilson was published in 1895. The story describes the prejudice between the Methodist and Congregational denominations in the period of the circuit riders. A copy is preserved in the Plymouth Town Library. The description of Rev. Nathan Ward is excellent reading.
 As the church grew a new building of Gothic design was erected on the East Side of Main street south of the Record office, in 1872, at an expense of $20,000. The auditorium seated over three hundred persons and the chapel on the lower floor supplied the facilities for the many functions of the denomination.
    With a legacy in the will of Mr. John H. Gill, a bell was hung in the steeple that served for a fire alarm over many years. Mr. Gill was a musician, taught singing schools, a popular evening recreation, and led the choir until his death in 1888.

   Early on January 5 1943, at 4 A.M. the morning air was filled with the sound of the fire siren and Main Street was red with light. Crowds rushed hurriedly to discover that the Kidder block and the Methodist church was burning briskly, the steeple a torch of flame, beautiful but disastrous.
    The origin was believed to have been an explosion in the basement of the block, which spread the flames with such rapidity that the tenants in the third floor apartments were obliged to flee immediately for their lives. Destroyed were the Kidder Music Hall, O'Brien's department store, Peaslee's Drugs, Steven's' hardware, Ayer's Insurance, Robert Wakefield's law office and the Masonic Hall. Within the Methodist church were all of their furnishings, their fine pipe organ, the Gill bell and the records of the Pemigewasset Woman's Club.
    In addition to this the church lost all their membership records, to this day still haven't been able to fully reassemble.
 

    The members of the Methodist church after long consideration decided to purchase a lot on Highland Street that was of sufficient dimensions to allow expansion in the future. During the interim the Sunday School met in the store of Mr. Louis Richelson in space that he kindly loaned, and the services were held in the Episcopal church on Sabbath afternoons. The new edifice contains a sanctuary that seats about four hundred people its walls embellished by memorial stained glass widows and a rose window in the gable of the Chancel, choir stalls a Hammond organ with Chimes and several small rooms on the street level. Beneath is a chapel and dining room combination large modern kitchen and the heating plant.
    These courageous people emphasized the old saying "Where there's a will there's a way." A group began to serve Smorgasbord Saturday evening suppers with their slogan. "All you can eat for a dollar." Their reputation for quantity and quality spread throughout the cottages of summer residents to overflow crowds.
     On October 9,1947 dedication of the new sanctuary was celebrated and during the following week a program of worship services was enjoyed in which the churches and ministers of the other denominations in the community participated. Nearly $100,000 has been contributed for this religious plant and the mortgage was burned within the following decade. Prominent among faithful and hard working members where 4 and should be remembered with reverence: Miss Caroline W. Mudgett, Mrs. Alvin Burleigh, Mrs. George Adams and And Mrs. Charles J. Ayer.

As the church enters the concluding decade of it's 2nd century the members look to the future with encouragement, with a new vision of witness and service to its community , conference, and the world. Come worship and serve with us!