History

The Diamond Hill Methodist faith community in Cos Cob has been worshipping together for 175 years. Its current building is an historic Greenwich church, built 140 years ago in 1868.

The church has a rich history in Greenwich. Methodists began meeting in our area, back then known as Mianus, in the late 1700’s. With no physical church to attend in those early days, a Methodist layperson would invite his neighbors to his home to study the bible and participate in religious service. Church records note that they were not always welcomed here and sometimes had to meet sometimes in secret.

When at least ten or more Methodists met on a regular basis they became known as a society. A string of societies located near each other were known as a circuit. In those days a Methodist preacher would ride on horseback in all kinds of weather to the different societies in a circuit. He would bring candles and kindling wood and his preaching skills. These early Methodist leaders were known as circuit riders. It would take as long as three months for these ministers to visit all of the societies in a given circuit. They would lodge in different homes along their journey.

Early church records indicate that in 1787 the first Methodist minister to come to the Mianus-Cos Cob area was the Rev. Samuel Q. Talbot of the New Rochelle Circuit.  He visited the area to preach and form Bible study classes. By 1790 a regular circuit was formed covering all of Fairfield County and part of Westchester with the Rev. John Bloodgood as it’s preacher.

By 1833 the Methodist movement in Cos Cob had grown so much that a church building was needed. Records at the Town Clerk’s office indicate on December 24th of that year, Samuel and Peter Ferris and Gilbert and Deborah Hopkins conveyed land and a building to the church. The land is located across the Post Road from the current church to the north on the ledge of rocks sitting on the corner of Nassau Place. Thus, the first Methodist Church in Cos Cob was built. It was called the Mianus Methodist Episcopal Church. Its founders were Henry Whelply, Samuel Whitting and John Ferris.

Published reports say that first church was about 30 by 40 feet in dimensions, with an arched ceiling, small paned windows and high-backed uncomfortable pews. In winter worshippers took along small charcoal stoves to keep their feet warm. Church records indicate that during some of the longer services held there, worshippers may have used tithing rods with a feather on one end to tickle a dozing woman and a knob on the other end to wake a sleeping man or quiet a fidgety child.

As the church grew there became a need for a larger building. In 1868 the present stone church located across the street and up the hill (Diamond Hill) from the original was completed. The stone used in the construction was quarried on the property. Reports say that the pews and doors were made from chestnut tress from the property of Zenus Worder. The land was given to the church by William Mead and money for the building was raised by subscription. One Methodist in particular a Mr. Ockershausen of Riverside was very instrumental in getting the church built.

Over the years an organ and beautiful memorial windows were installed and stone steps at the entrance were added. The name Mianus Methodist church was changed to Diamond Hill because the congregation agreed it was unique and suggestive of endurance, the sparkle of beauty, value and light.

Today, Diamond Hill is a vibrant and welcoming group of committed disciples. It is today and always has been known for its commitment to the arts and the Cos Cob community.