Our Church

146 Years of Serving Christ

1866 - 2012

This year celebrates the 146th anniversary of the United Methodist Church of the Atonement. Between 1864 and 1866 a small group of Methodists formed a Sunday School, which met on the second floor of Frank Ford’s grocery store across the street from the Robinson House. These people, feeling the need for a permanent church in the Claymont area, met in the parsonage of the Marcus Hook Methodist Church on June 2, 1866 and organized themselves into what was to become our present day church. William Dalrymple was the first pastor of the newly formed church and was present at the Marcus Hook meeting. The first order of business for the new congregation must have been to find a suitable location for a new church and to begin construction.

Methodist Episcopal Church of the Atonement

On June 7, 1866 Thomas Kimber Jr., a member of the Society of Friends, deeded approximately two acres of land to the members of the new congregation as a site for the church. In November 1866 the church was dedicated. According to records, the church was filled to capacity with many people who had driven to the church in carriages and wagons from many miles around. In 1872 the Board of Trustees realized the young church needed a parsonage and it was built.

On March 24, 1879 the church, with a membership of 30 persons, was chartered as the Methodist Episcopal Church of the Atonement and was separated from the Chester Circuit. In 1885 the church school unit was built. This was a frame addition to the rear of the church and was used to house the growing Sunday School population.

Present day photo of Church of the Atonement in Claymont, Delaware

The cornerstone of Fellowship Hall was laid on June 27, 1927. Completed in 1949 was the lengthening of the church by 35 feet with the addition of six stained glass windows. Seven Sunday School classrooms, a choir room, two lavatories and the Epworth Chapel were also added at this time. Over the years this beautiful stone structure has stood as a symbol of God’s love not only to the people of Claymont, but to the surrounding community as well. Many generations of people have served their Lord at Atonement.