Our History

In November, 1771, Francis Asbury, one of the great pioneers of Methodism in America came across the Blazing Star Ferry. Landing at Rossville, on his way to New York from Philadelphia

He called the farmers together at the house of Peter Van Pelt which was the birthplace of the Methodist church on Staten Island. In May of 1787, a meeting was called for the purpose of veiling the Woodrow Methodist Church.

The first church was built of wood, smaller than the present building built parallel to the road. The entrance was on the side of the veiling.

In 1842 the church was struck by lightning. The building was torn down, and the materials sold to many of the worshipers. That same year the present church was built on the same site. It was located with the front facing the road. On December 25th of 1842 it was dedicated.

In the year 1850 two acres of land were purchased for a parsonage site. The parsonage was built in that same year. A frame structure was built in 1884 as a meeting hall. This was on the easterly side of the church

The hall burned in the fire of April, 1963, which leveled Staten Island’s South Shore. In 1971 the church hall was rebuilt. Woodrow has the distinction of being a United States National Historical place and in 1967 it was registered as a New York City Landmark The Burial grounds surrounding the church are older than the church organization.

The oldest grave site known to be used is marked with a tombstone dated 1767 On December 1, 1976 the Wesley Methodist Church, and the South Shore Presbyterian Church which had been meeting In Eltingville, on Richmond Avenue, and the Woodrow Church merged in a decision to become one church and to meet at the Woodrow location.