"A Friendly Family Church"

Westchester Methodist Church formerly Westchester United Methodist Church became a new entity in 2023 as part of the disaffiliation process from the United Methodist Church .The  former Westchester United Methodist Church was organized in 1808 and incorporated on March 8, 1809, making it the oldest church of that denomination in what is now called the Bronx. The society was originally named "Zion Methodist Episcopal Church of the town of Westchester." The first church edifice was erected about 1818 on Walker Avenue (now known as East Tremont Avenue), which was the road leading to West Farms, and the churchyard included a small cemetery. Zion Church was reincorporated on October 26, 1826, but it does not seem to have flourished, as the church corporation was dissolved by reason of non-use. The society was reincorporated a second time on February 7, 1833, under the name of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Zion in the town of Westchester. 

We are Still Standing, Praising, and Moving in God's Glory

The first church was destroyed by fire at an unknown time, and the second church was built on the same site. On May 9, 1910, the roof of the second church was set ablaze when the nearby Morris Park Racetrack caught fire, after which the congregation decided that a brick church would be safer. From 1913 to 1948, the congregation worshiped in the roofed-over basement that was two-thirds below ground; throughout this period, the church was known as "The Eelpot Church" because an eelpot is two-thirds submerged below water. Finally, in 1948, the present brick church was constructed over the basement.