HISTORY

History of the Canandaigua Church

The Rev. Hamilton Jefferson brought Methodism to the Canandaigua area early in 1796. In 1811 a Methodist minister began preaching in the village of Canandaigua and the first class meeting was formed in 1814 or 1815 in the upper room of a tin shop on Buffalo Street. In 1817 the Canandaigua Methodist church was assigned its first pastor, the Rev. Benjamin Paddock. Under his leadership, the first chapel, located on what became known as Chapel Street, was built in 1818. It is said to have cost $7000, a considerable sum when you realize that it was about the same as the cost of the City Hall, built a few years later. The chapel was moved to the present church location on North Main Street in 1835. Local myth has it that it was moved in the dark of night because prospective neighbors didn't look too approvingly on those "rowdy Methodists". The present church building was dedicated in 1903. 1957 saw the addition of an educational wing and the Memorial Chapel. On March 31, 1960 a fire destroyed the interior sanctuary, it was then rebuilt in a more contemporary style. A large parking lot has since been added and the building made handicapped-accessible to keep pace with the needs of today's worshipers. The First United Methodist Church of Canandaigua is a strong and growing church committed to making disciples for Jesus Christ.