Tabernacle UMC in Binghamton celebrates 150th year: 'We really feel like we're flourishing'
“We went from being closed with COVID, being dark and dreary to now. We really feel like we’re flourishing,” Theresa Lee-Whiting said of the 150-year-old Tabernacle United Methodist Church.
More than two centuries ago, the first Methodists came to Binghamton. Three congregations grew from the original church.
“Tabernacle came all the way down the street to the West Side. They gave the notice to start the church on Jan. 25, 1873 and plant a new church. They started building on March 14, 1873, just a small wooden church. So many members, they ended up building a new church in 1883, the present church,” said Lee-Whiting, who is coordinating the 150-year anniversary celebration.
She notes there have been challenges over the years.
“In 1923, there were 1,450 members. That would have been their 50-year anniversary. Also that year a fire broke out in the basement. Luckily it didn’t destroy the whole church and they had to cross the street to worship for a while. And it cost $10,000 to fix,” Lee-Whiting said.
“They held a centennial banquet in 1973. The first hundred years. They had a dinner at the Johnson City Banquet Hall. It was $3.50 to go. Barbershop chorus sang for entertainment,” she said.
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“We don’t have 1,450 people … but … we’re trying,” Lee-Whiting said of weekly church attendance. She said that in the three years since COVID began, some still watch services online. But many more attend Sunday morning worship.
“We have an organ that we use, we have a grand piano. We have a choir that sings every week. The kid’s choir sings sometimes,” said Lee-Whiting, who is also the director of Music Ministry at the church.
But Lee-Whiting adds there’s much more going on beyond Sundays at Tabernacle.
“One of the main things nowadays is our church is kind of becoming a community place.” she said. “Meals on Wheels. They’re there every day, they use our parking lot. That makes us busy every day.”
“We have our Wednesday night meals. That’s been going on a long time − 20-30 years,” Lee-Whiting said. "There’s a three-times-a-week after-school program, too. The church gym was redone by a grant from the city. Other programs for kids are in the works, too. A martial arts group and a volleyball group also meet in the facility. There are also several meetings each week of Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous.
“We host community events. We had the Martin Luther King event this year. The church was packed for that.”
Several events are being held to mark the 150th anniversary. The first was held in March, with Egyptian artist Reda Abdelrahman.
“He came and did a live painting in front of an audience,” Lee-Whiting said. “We provided inspirational music having to do with the theme of peace and compassion. The readings had to do with that, from Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa and it was kind of an ecumenical event.”
Also in the planning stages is a gathering later in the year to include Bishop Hector Burgos Nunez of the Upper New York Conference of the United Methodist Church.
“We became a reconciling congregation 25 years ago, which means that we accept everybody, the LGBTQ. We champion those causes,” Lee-Whiting said. “We were one of the first ones in Binghamton.”
“We accept anybody who is searching for God, and they don’t have to believe exactly as we do. We can share the Methodist way, which is social outreach, loving your neighbor,” she added.
“There’s a place for everybody there to get involved and become a part of the community,” said Lee-Whiting, who credits many for helping at Tabernacle recently, including administrator Sarina Barrera and members of the board of trustees.
She suggests those interested could attend a service on Sundays at 11:15 a.m. to meet the pastor, Harold Wheat, and enjoy the history of Tabernacle UMC.
“You can look around and see the beautiful windows,” Lee-Whiting said. “We have the history that surrounds us in the building. The people that are there are very excited to be there and to grow. We want to be around another 150 years.”
More about Tabernacle United Methodist Church
83 Main St., Binghamton
607-723-8983
This article originally appeared on Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin: Binghamton Tabernacle UMC celebrates 150th year
