History of Bow Mills United Methodist Church

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Methodism in Bow began in 1927 with the chartering of the First Methodist Society in Bow by the New Hampshire Legislature.  The first meeting of the new congregation occurred in 1832.  Ezekiel W. Stickney was the first preacher of the Methodist Society and was paid one hundred dollars for preaching “one half of the time for 1823….”  By 1834, the Methodist Society was served by the Rev. Enoch Ladd.  He was furnished with a house and land and the church voted to provide the pastor with a cow.  In 1842, The Methodist Society gained much strength from a great revival, under the ministry of Rev. James Pike.  Elder John Hook, in his early days, also held revivals here, and Revs. Sullivan Holman, Jedediah Abbott, and Henry Kaudler were among the preachers heard by these people.

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In 1892, a second Methodist Congregation in Bow was formed in Bow Mills.  In1897, twenty-six people met at the Women’s Christian Temperance Union Hall.  The W.C.T.U. Hall was deeded to the congregation and became the Bow Mills Methodist Episcopal Church.  The new Bow Mills congregation began meeting at the WCTU.  The Rev. Alexander Reynolds was the first pastor with Sunday services held at 2:30 pm.

In 1947, work began on renovation of the interior of the church under the leadership of Rev. Milo Farmer.  A service was held inaugurating the completion of the renovated and decorated sanctuary.

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At the turn of the century, the Bow Mills Church had 25 Members and a church school of 28.  Over the next half century, The Bow Mills Church grew to become the predominant Methodist congregation in Bow.  By 1950, the membership at Bow Mills Church grew to 113.

In 1954, the State Highway Department announced that the planned construction of Interstate 93 would require the demolition of the WCTU Hall in order to build the new interchange at Bow Junction.  Within the next year a new church was built, and on September 30, 1956, the cornerstone was placed in the present Bow Mills United Methodist Church at 505 South Street, Bow.  The first service in the partially completed building was in the new church on December 23, 1956 with Rev. Quentin Hand, Pastor.

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Over the years there have been close to thirty ministers who have shared the pulpit.  At one time church service were held at 9:00 am every Sunday.  Sunday school was held on Wednesday nights at the church.  School was offered to all ages.  At present, the parishioners enjoy the convenience of two services held each Sunday morning.

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In 1993, the church had a full time pastor and with this came the need for a parsonage.  Through a bequest from Mable J. Howland to the Bow Mills United Methodist Church, this need was met.  This became known as the Mable J. Howland Parsonage.

In 1997, a new addition was added for the expansion of Sunday school space.  In 2006, major renovations were made to the church sanctuary.