Map to About Us
The Church of the Village is a United Methodist Church community. The congregation voted to form a congregation in 2005, the result of a merger of three UMC churches: Metropolitan-Duane UMC, Washington Square UMC and The Church of All Nations. The NY Annual Conference voted to approve the new Church in 2006 and the State of New York approved the new body in 2007. Each of these individual churches had a long and colorful history in being beacons for social justice and progressive belief, and The Church of the Village strives to carry out that same commitment in its mission.
There has been a Methodist Church at the corner of 7th Avenue and West 13th Street since 1833. The current building was built in 1932. This site site has been the home to many Methodist congregations, becoming known in the 1980s for welcoming the Gay and Lesbian community at a time when this was a daring act for a church.
As part of our heritage, we can also claim that we welcomed dissidents of the Vietnam War at Washington Square UMC giving sanctuary to ordained ministers who were being pursued by authorities for their non-violent acts of protest. The church building at 48 St. Marks Place, which is part of The Church of the Village, was home to the former First German Methodist Episcopal Church until being changed to the Iglesia Metodista Unid Todas Las Naciones in 1975.
We can make some of our space available to neighborhood organizations that are consistent with our mission. Our new upgraded kitchen will also be available to groups.