Freeport Churches
First Presbyterian Church
Freeport United Methodist Church
The Methodists had an early presence in Freeport. In the records of the Methodist Church is a statement by Reverend Thomas Birdsall who said he was converted in 1813 in Raynortown. Willet Raynor’s house was the “preaching place” but “William B. Raynor is no 
doubt the father of active Methodism in this community.” Born in 1801, he converted in 1823 and was “appointed class reader in 1829.” The first record of a church in Freeport was in 1833 when they bought a small store on the west side of the Hempstead and Babylon Turnpike, just south of Seaman Avenue. It was called the Sand Hill Church although some called it the Sand Hole Church because there was a Sand Hill Church in Rockville Centre. The elected trustees (June 11, 1833) were Willet B. and William B. Raynor, William Smith, Jackson Post and Jarvis Combes. The building was in use for 25 years with “local preachers and exhorters and the circuit preacher.” The congregation wanted to locate within “Old Freeport” so they bought land and c. 1858 moved to Main Street north of Merrick Road. The frame church held 200 people, and was enlarged in 1877 but they planned for a larger space. In 1891, the Methodist Episcopal Church moved to its present location on Pine Street, east of Guy Lombardo Avenue. It cost $20,000 “and was dedicated free of debt in July, 1891.” Sunday school rooms were added in 1915 at a cost of $11.000 and a parish hall in 1927.
doubt the father of active Methodism in this community.” Born in 1801, he converted in 1823 and was “appointed class reader in 1829.” The first record of a church in Freeport was in 1833 when they bought a small store on the west side of the Hempstead and Babylon Turnpike, just south of Seaman Avenue. It was called the Sand Hill Church although some called it the Sand Hole Church because there was a Sand Hill Church in Rockville Centre. The elected trustees (June 11, 1833) were Willet B. and William B. Raynor, William Smith, Jackson Post and Jarvis Combes. The building was in use for 25 years with “local preachers and exhorters and the circuit preacher.” The congregation wanted to locate within “Old Freeport” so they bought land and c. 1858 moved to Main Street north of Merrick Road. The frame church held 200 people, and was enlarged in 1877 but they planned for a larger space. In 1891, the Methodist Episcopal Church moved to its present location on Pine Street, east of Guy Lombardo Avenue. It cost $20,000 “and was dedicated free of debt in July, 1891.” Sunday school rooms were added in 1915 at a cost of $11.000 and a parish hall in 1927.First Presbyterian Church
The Presbyterians, in 1839, used the little school house at Church and Main Streets which they later enlarged. On April 8, 1840, the members passed a resolutio
n to build a church. Elected trustees were Thomas Carman, Jr., Sylvanus Bedell and Reuben Fine who bought a lot on the east side of Main Street near the Post Office. By 1850, it was still too small and they built a church building and a parsonage on the northwest corner of Main Street and Merrick Road. The Reverend Woodbridge was very upset that “people were careless of the services of God’s house” -the church was across the street from a public house. Activities he pointed to were pitching quoits, running horses and plowing fields in sight of the church. They rolled the church to the property next to the rear of the parsonage. The next church was built on Church Street and was finished on May 13, 1860, and cost $5,255. The first church bells in Freeport came from the Presbyterian Church. A chapel was built in 1879 as a gift of Mrs. George W. Bergen in memory of her mother, Elizabeth Carman. In 1965, they moved to their present location at Smith Street and South Ocean Avenue. The old building was purchased by the Salvation Army of Freeport. When it became too small for all the Army’s activities, it was torn down and replaced by the present building. The ground for the new Army center was broken in 1974.
n to build a church. Elected trustees were Thomas Carman, Jr., Sylvanus Bedell and Reuben Fine who bought a lot on the east side of Main Street near the Post Office. By 1850, it was still too small and they built a church building and a parsonage on the northwest corner of Main Street and Merrick Road. The Reverend Woodbridge was very upset that “people were careless of the services of God’s house” -the church was across the street from a public house. Activities he pointed to were pitching quoits, running horses and plowing fields in sight of the church. They rolled the church to the property next to the rear of the parsonage. The next church was built on Church Street and was finished on May 13, 1860, and cost $5,255. The first church bells in Freeport came from the Presbyterian Church. A chapel was built in 1879 as a gift of Mrs. George W. Bergen in memory of her mother, Elizabeth Carman. In 1965, they moved to their present location at Smith Street and South Ocean Avenue. The old building was purchased by the Salvation Army of Freeport. When it became too small for all the Army’s activities, it was torn down and replaced by the present building. The ground for the new Army center was broken in 1974.