It’s all peaches and cream in more ways than one for the Moorestown First United Methodist Church on Friday, Aug. 21.
That Friday will be the celebration of two major events for the church — its annual Peach Festival as well as its 200th anniversary. From 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Moorestown citizens and members of the church get to enjoy fresh peaches, homemade baked goods, ice cream and, of course, birthday cake for the occasion.
“It is a time for the community to get together and celebrate differences through the peach, all in one place,” associate pastor HeyYoung Horton said.
The FUMC in Moorestown was incorporated and built on Main Street in 1815 with only 50 people in membership by 1845, but doubling the next year. Since then, the church location was moved until it was built in its current location in the 1950s and expanded with new classrooms as well as new memberships.
The annual Peach Festival has been an event held for more than 50 years, but no one remembers exactly when it started. However, it has been a long-time Moorestown tradition for members of the church as well as residents and those from the surrounding area.
Normally, the Peach Festival is held on a Saturday. However, because the 200th birthday falls on Friday, Aug. 21, the church decided to change it to the Friday instead.
At the Peach Festival and 200th celebration, there will be a picnic in the courtyard where pork roll, hot dogs and hamburgers will be sold by the church’s youth groups, as well as the Peach Festival in Fellowship Hall where there will be peaches, baked goods and ice cream, musical entertainment from four different musicians, children’s activities such as inflatable bounce houses and face painting and a slide show of the history of the church over the past 200 years. The music for this year will be provided by Hank Mason, Al and Cindy Cope, Kathleen Deffley and the Sanctuary Band.
Tickets are $5 per person, $15 per family and free for children under 5. Tickets may be purchased in advance at the church office or at the festival.
For the past two years, proceeds from the Peach Festival have been donated to three local food pantries in desperate need of help. Once again, they will be donating the proceeds to Moorestown Ministerium (St. Matthew Lutheran), Bethel A M E and First Baptist. They also ask attendees to bring a canned good to the festival so they can deliver both food and money to the pantries.
“All proceeds that we collect during the festival are given to the three food pantries in Moorestown, feeding over 400 people. We try to supply the pantries with food that is greatly needed,” Marilyn Arbitter, chairperson of the outreach committee, said. The church has been celebrating its 200th anniversary all year. It had a visit from a Ugandan Choir in January and the Philadelphia Boys Choir in May. On Sunday, Sept. 13, there will be a special service for the FUMC’s 200th anniversary with Bishop John Schol. At this special service, the church will honor members who have been a part for 50 years or more and have a performance of a special hymn specifically written for Moorestown’s FUMC.
“Not many churches now have a 200-year history and are still growing. FUMC is special because it is 200 years old and still growing; a lot of families are still attending church. That aspect is really special,” Horton said.
The FUMC is an open church that invites anyone from the community to join in festivities as well as church services. For the future, Horton hopes the church continues to grow and future generations continue to carry on its legacy.
“We are very excited that we are still a growing church, teaching our children to be better people and people who can impact society in a positive way. I hope our children carry on our legacy to the 300th and 400th anniversary,” Horton said.
First United Methodist Church is located at 446 E. Camden Ave., at the corner of Pleasant Valley and Camden avenues. For further information, email Church@MeetwithGod.com, call (856) 235–0450 or check FUMC’s website, MeetwithGod.com.
