The History of Church on Main
Church on Main (first known as Forest Church) was founded in 1750 as a separate church from an outgrowth of Old Drawyers Presbyterian Church in Odessa (established c. 1700). In 1850, the present church was built in the neo-classical style on the site of Peterson’s Cemetery on West Main Street. Then in 1882, a new façade was added providing the tower with the town clock, a foyer, vestibule, and double staircase leading to the second floor sanctuary and choir loft. The church sanctuary features 8 stained glass windows commemorating former ministers serving between 1865-1956, as well as members living from 1783-1947. Designs include Christian symbols such as doves, a lamb, floral vases, and geometric patterns. The pipe organ was built by C.S. Haskell of Philadelphia, PA in 1892. The church is fortunate in retaining much of its original furniture, as well as the electrified gas chandelier, sconces, and lamps. In 2000, the church celebrated its 250th anniversary by restoring the stained glass windows in the sanctuary.
Church on Main Today
In 2015, the Forest Presbyterian Session voted to invite New Castle Presbytery to start a new worshipping community at Forest Presbyterian. The Presbytery closed Forest and created Church on Main as a new community, centered on intentionally welcoming all.
Church on Main is a worshipping community where we seek to follow the way of Jesus through love of God, self, and others. The church’s mission is to all in need and Celebrationlebrate our diverse identities, including race, ethnicity, gender, nationality, physical and mental health, age, sexual identity, religious background, and socio-economic status.
We strive to maintain a church community that is more diverse than the community at large, where no one feels excluded, diminished, or unwelcome. We hope to be instrumental in helping those people in the majority of the community to care more for the growth of the minority groups in Middletown and the surrounding areas.
We are an LGBTQ+ affirming, justice-minded, Christ-centered worshipping community based in Middletown, Delaware and are affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA).
Our community partners are Friendship House, Scouts of America, Narcotics Anonymous, and Our Daily Bread. Church on Main is ready to continue providing outreach to the unhoused of Middletown and will continue to support other agencies that are doing this work in the community as well as individuals and agencies with substance abuse and mental health issues. To that end, we provide a safe space for groups to meet that may have difficulty finding support through other public community spaces.
Truly, at Church on Main, you are seen, heard, and welcomed fully as you are. Here, you are met wherever you may be on life’s journey. You are a worthy, beloved child of God and you belong.