SAUGUS — The East Saugus United Methodist Church officially had its final Easter Service as it prepares to close its doors and merge with another church.
The Historical Society devoted part of its most recent meeting to discussing the church’s closure, with member Bill Stewart, a longtime congregant, joining Society President Laura Eisener in the conversation.
Eisener said it wasn’t yet clear what would happen to the building, noting that the church was built in the 1800s, specifically in 1854, and that it was a beautiful building.
“Currently, what’s going on, and I think this may be until June, there are two congregations… I’m not really sure what denomination they are that are renting space and don’t own their own property. It would be nice if one or maybe both of them, combining forces, would be able to buy the building,” Eisener said.
She noted the size of the building, stating that it had multiple additions over time, and that while there were some stained-glass windows, it mainly had puritan-style clear windows.
Stewart said there were times when 100 people gathered at the church, filling the pews, but this year it was eight.
“East Saugus was one of the popular areas early on in Saugus. That, Cliftondale, and Saugus Center… When I was a child, there were five Methodist churches in Saugus… North Saugus, Lynnhurst, Cliftondale, East Saugus… and Main Street,” he said.
Eisener noted that the Lynnhurst church existed until around the early ’60s, but the building burned down after the congregation broke up.
“Sometime in 2023, when the Methodist diocese in the state declared they were an open and affirming community, some Methodist churches split and said, ‘Ok, we’re not flying a pride flag.’ And this church said we’re going with what the diocese said,” she said.
Stewart commented that this was one of the reasons numbers started to go down, along with people moving and getting older.
John Tumblin, the trustee chair at ESUMC, thanked everyone for tuning in during their final Easter service.
