Methodism in Wind gap dates from the incorporation of the First Methodist Church on September 3,1902. Before that time a group of Evangelicals erected a church in Wind Gap at the cost of $2500 in 1893. Because of some difference of opinions and the inability to pay bills, the United Evangelical Church decided to abandon the building in 1901. At about this time a small group of Methodists lead by Charles A Daniels desired for themselves and those who should follow a house of worship. It was their foresight that resulted in the formation of the present congregation. Permission was obtained to use the building for a limited time in order that the strength of the movement might prove itself in time. Since no Preacher was appointed, local preachers and clergy supplied the pulpit. These men often came on foot to preach in the enthusiastic manner of the day. The tentative understanding under which the was started almost resulted in its failure to continue. Negotiations were being made for the building but the prospects of closing a deal were not bright. The faithful band prayed, and God answered. On June 8, 1902 Walter L Moore was appointed as the pastor of the Belfast and Wind Gap Methodist Churches. With the establishment of service, the success of the venture was assured, and a ministry to Methodist families in the area, and the start of Methodism in Wind Gap.
On September 3, 1902 Charles A Daniels, Milton Hahn, James Kostenbader and Joseph Titus entered into an agreement to purchase the building. This brought an answer to prayer for a house of worship. The Original membership of the church consisted of nine members for the struggling church. The articles of incorporation were drawn up that day. Since then, the church has operated under its original charter with two exceptions: the word Episcopal was dropped from the name following the action of the General Conference in 1940 and, secondly the Methodist Church merged with the Evangelical United Brethren Church in 1968 to form the United Methodist Church. On May 1, 1903, the individuals holding the church deeded it over to the Methodist Episcopal Conference. On May 3, 1903 the Epworth League (later known as the Youth Fellowship) was formed to minister to young people. Today with our Association with Covenant United Methodist church Youth group meets there. On July 28, 1903, the Ladies Aid Society (later known as United Methodist Women) came into being and was an important and vital ministry until the 1970’s. Around 1905 Ed Shover was the first choir director and Grace (Albert) Harding was the substitute pianist. The church was well known for its revival meetings during the fall season. The revivals were led by traveling evangelist(s), who usually held the meetings nightly for three weeks.
In 1915, the sanctuary was remodeled, and the entire church was given a facelift through interior and exterior painting for a total cost of $3500. In June 1926 the Hamilton Bible Class was formed after Rev. George Hamilton died while serving the church.
The Wind Gap Boy Scout Troop was organized under the sponsorship of the First Methodist Church and the efforts of its pastor Rev. Smith in 1918. The church was nearly destroyed by a fire in 1923. During the re-furbishing the basement was remodeled and raised so it could be used for Sunday School classes and Meetings. In 1928 the first Sunday School Orchestra was started under the direction of Wills Harding.
When the church had financial problems in the 1920's and 1930's the Ladies Aid Society and other members of the church were instrumental in keeping the Methodist movement alive in Wind Gap by making pasties and baking doughnuts to sell in the community in order to balance the budget of 947.00 a year. During that year the Belfast and Wind Gap churches together gave 390.00 to foreign and home missions. This represented about 20% of total church giving.
Between 1943 and 1944 the church underwent a program of needed mechanical replacements. A new heating plant was installed after the boiler burst in 1943. In 1944, the Sanctuary was repainted. As well as new pews and lighting restored. During the 1940's the smell of roasted peanuts permeated the air around the Wind Gap Methodist church. A bag of salted peanuts cost $ 0.25 the income of the peanut sales was used to support the church budget.
In 1961 the parsonage was purchased for $10,500.
In the 1970's inside renovations to the church were completed with the partitioning of the back rooms and new carpeting and pews.
1992- Plenty of volunteering opportunity including an adult and children choirs, VBS in the summertime evenings. The church used to participate in the Blue Valley Farm Show doing the Pork and Saurkraut dinners. Youth groups were also very popular inside the church walls from ages 12-17.
April 2002- The Parsonage was sold for $90,000. Originally the parsonage was built in 1934 and the church bought it in 1961. It is located across from the movie theater and next to the old hardware store in Wind Gap.
Around 2005, the youth began to fizzle out, due to rising economic costs and lack of participation. The pork and sauerkraut meals stopped.
2017- Became the satellite church to Covenant United Methodist Church in Moorstown PA
2018- Beginning of Because You Matter Ministries. On June 21,2018, Pastor John started a Bible book study. The book that was involved in the book club was called "The Jesus I never knew" by Philip Yancey. We got two meetings into it when we realized we were having the Bible book study at the same time as a mealtime, so we decided to cook hot dogs on the grill outside. When doing so, the Pastor came up with an idea to feed anybody who was walking by, to offer up a free hot dog meal just hot dogs and chips. The Bible book study ended immediately once we realized that the meal we were giving out, that our main purpose was to feed the community, to feed the hungry, not just in food but spiritually… in which we did. We then started having a weekly cookout giving out free hot dogs and hamburgers. The Pastor would actually stand on the corner and a hot dog costume with a sign saying free hot dogs! It was at that point just called a "Free Community Cookout." What started out as something so simple grew into what we came up with. BYM- Because You Matter. Because You Matter Ministries turned into not only a meal but a food distribution; a gathering of people to help one another because you matter.
August 22 2018 there was a free movie night at the Wind Gap Park for any congregational member or anyone in the community who wanted to come and watch it.
1902- 1903 Walter L. Moore
1903-1904 Benten S. Swarts
1904-1905 John Nelson
1905-1906 Norman McVey
1906-1906 Norman Kays (April - June)
1906-1910 Walter B. Smith
1910-1911 R.D. Allot
1911-1912 Dallas DeHuze
1912-1916 Alfred M. Kuder
1916-1916 George W. Hamilton (March - June)
1916-1916 WM. J. Bawden (June-August)
1916-1920 Frank Mack
1920-1921 L.A. Dyer
1921-1923 W.A. Smith
1923-1925 N.L. Davidson
1925-1926 P. Wesley Bare
1926-1929 Seba H. Hamm
1929-1931Wm.J. Rodgers
1931-1932 W.A.H. Willams
1932-1934 Carl Hammerly
1934-1939 R.E. Meredith
1939-1942 E.G.W.Estlow
1942-1945 William Pahls
1945-1947 G.Wentermute
1947-1950 Lawrence Cooper
1950-1952 Wm. E. Fenstermaker
1952-1954 Thomas Bare
1954 -1958 Gerald H. Miller
1958-1960 Clarence Howell
1960-1961 Carl B. Simms
1961-1965 Roy Lewis
1965-1968 Richard Howarth
1968-1975 John T. Truitt
1975-1976 Charles N. Kindt
1976-1982 Thomas W, Hower
1982-1983 Michael Roney
1983 -1987 Nancy S. Curtis
1987-1988 Gary Jocabella
1988-1992 Barbara L. Hartman
1992-1998 James D. Anderman
1998- 2000 R. Dean Blimline (Til Nov.)
2000-2001 Jack Rule(Nov - February)
2001 - 2005 Sandra Nash
2005-2007 Susan Roehs
June 2007-June 2011 Deanie DiBendetto
Dec. 2012-July 2016 Bill Kuntz
Aug 2016-June 2017 Pstr Brundy
2017-Present John Vidal
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