A HISTORY OF OUR CONGREGATION
Memorial United Methodist Church is committed to building and rebuilding a vital urban ministry, seeking to provide physical and spritual comfort and a welcoming church home to a wide variety of people from throughout Southeastern Massachusetts. The church is affiliated with the Rhode Island Southeastern Massachusetts (RISEM) District of the New England Conference of the United Methodist Church.
Methodism has existed in Taunton since early in the 19th Century. In September 1954, Hurricane Carol caved in the roof of the former Calvary Methodist Church, located at the corner of Weir Street and Somerset Avenue. Calvary's congregation was invited to take refuge at the nearby First Methodist Church on Weir Street, which itself was located in a small and aging structure. Soon, the two congregations saw the advantages of merging into a single larger force and of constructing a new edifice to the glory of God and the betterment of their ministries. They acquired an estate located between the two churches and undertook a major fundraising and construction project. Memorial Methodist Church, named for Memorial Park located across the street, held its first worship service on June 2, 1957. The organ and pews were salvaged from Calvary Church, refurbished and placed in new settings at Memorial. The church later added a rear wing for classrooms and offices. The beautiful white steeple, which has become a major Taunton landmark, was raised in 1962. In the period 2000-2002, the 1915 organ was restored in a major fundraising and building project, its pipes moved onto the altar for better resonance, and a modern synthesizing console installed. The church building hosts a number of community programs and events.
