Simpson United Methodist Church stands at the corner of Route 516 and Owens Road in Old Bridge, New Jersey. The congregation has been gathering in some form since 1859, and the present building has been its home since 1962. Its motto is "Committed By Faith, We Build and Grow." That phrase captures what Simpson is known for: a warm, lay-active family that takes its Sunday school, choir, youth group, and community missions seriously, and that lives out the United Methodist call of "Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors."
From Maple Street to Route 516: A Church Since 1859
Simpson Methodist Church was organized in 1859. Three years later the first church building went up on Maple Street in what was then East Brunswick Township, a part of Old Bridge that longtime residents still call "The Historic Village of Old Bridge." That 1862 structure, used by the congregation for more than a century, is now the East Brunswick Historical Museum.
The church takes its name from Bishop Matthew Simpson, a pioneer in American Methodism who served as a college and seminary president, traveled the world, and was a close friend of Abraham Lincoln. Bishop Simpson delivered the eulogy at President Lincoln's funeral in Springfield, Illinois.
The depression years were lean ones, and a small group of faithful members carried the church through. For many years Simpson shared a minister with Spotswood Methodist Church, and the first full-time pastor arrived in 1954. The congregation marked its hundredth anniversary in 1959, and by then plans were already in motion for a new home. The present building at Route 516 and Owens Road was completed in 1962. Six years later, when the Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church merged into one denomination, the church became Simpson United Methodist Church.
That 1962 structure remains the church's home today, and members speak of more than six decades on Route 516. Inside, the sanctuary hosts a traditional Sunday service, while classrooms down the hall hold Sunday school, youth devotions, and choir practice.
Sunday Worship at Eleven
The congregation gathers each Sunday morning at 11:00 AM for a traditional service in the sanctuary. The pastor leads worship in a style that draws on the United Methodist heritage of hymn-singing, prayer, Scripture reading, and a sermon that aims to feed both longtime believers and newcomers.
First Sundays of the month are set aside as Communion Sundays, when the congregation celebrates the Lord's Supper together. Fifth Sundays of the year are taken over by the youth, who lead the service in their own way. Throughout the year, special Sundays mark holidays and other moments in the church calendar.
For those who cannot be in the pew, the service is shared on Facebook and YouTube, so that members and friends near and far can join in. The church has cultivated an online presence over many years, livestreaming the 11:00 AM worship through Facebook.
Worship is shaped by the United Methodist Church's "Igniting Ministries" motto of OPEN HEARTS, OPEN MINDS, OPEN DOORS, and the team behind the service works collaboratively under the pastor's direction to make each gathering prayerful, meaningful, and Spirit-filled. Plans are also in the works for Wednesday evening services in a praise and Bible study format.
Sunday Mornings for Children and Adults
Christian education has been a core part of Simpson's ministry since its earliest days, and the church runs programs for every age. Children's Sunday School meets at 10:00 AM on Sunday mornings. During a recent season of building renovations the children gathered as one combined class, and teachers brought the same lessons to life through prayer, Scripture, and service projects that build a sense of community.
The Sunday school curriculum aims at five clear goals: sharing the good news of God's love through Christ, helping Bible truth make a difference in children's lives, leading them to accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, encouraging friendship within the church family, and helping them grow in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and people. Lessons center on three keys: learning to talk to God through prayer, understanding and reading Scripture, and developing faith in action.
Adults have their own rhythms of study. A Men's Bible Study group meets on Sunday mornings from 9:00 to 11:00 AM, and a Wednesday evening Bible Study gathers during the week. Adult learners, from newcomers to longtime Bible readers, are welcomed with the understanding that God still has fresh things to say in every stage of the Christian journey. The church follows the Greater New Jersey Conference's Safe Sanctuaries policy to make sure its classrooms are safe places for children, youth, and vulnerable adults.
Choirs, Bells, and a Summer Song
Music has long been one of Simpson's signatures. The Adult Chancel Choir blesses the traditional Sunday service with its singing and rehearses every Thursday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 PM, with a brief 20-minute warm-up at 10:30 AM on Sunday mornings. Choir responsibilities take a rest during the summer months, though several members join the Ocean Grove Choir activities during that season.
The Hand Bell Choir brings together ringers of various ages for Wednesday evening rehearsals from 6:30 to 7:30 PM. As the church puts it, "If you can count, you can ring a bell." The bell choir adds special pieces during holiday services and other celebrations. In summer, a Summer Choir and other special talents take over the music, and a Praise Band is being revived to bring more contemporary flavor to the music ministry.
A Youth Group Without Walls
The United Methodist Youth Fellowship at Simpson is open to any young person in grades 6 through 12, and you do not need to be a member of Simpson to join. The group is led by Scott Hunter, who can be reached through the church office.
Throughout the year the youth pack their schedule with activities that mix missions, fun, fellowship, and fundraising. Annual traditions are tubing down the Delaware River, lock-ins at the church, "Hang Out" nights, concerts, the Creation Festival in Pennsylvania, and the Wildwood, New Jersey "Ignite" Youth Weekend, plus mission trips both near and far. On Sunday mornings at 10:15 AM, junior and senior high students gather in the Youth Room for devotions before the worship service begins.
Missions Close to Home and Far Away
Outreach is woven into Simpson's identity. Each month the congregation's loose communion offering is designated for a different cause, and a "Change for L.I.F.E." jar collects spare change year-round for Heifer International, whose mission is to work with communities to end world hunger and poverty and to care for the Earth.
Three times a year, at Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas, the church prepares food baskets for families in need identified by Old Bridge Township. Members also participate in fundraising dinners, parking lot sales, and other events that keep the missions budget moving. Online giving is available through a secure giving portal, and gift cards from participating retailers can be ordered through RaiseRight at no extra cost to the buyer.
ShareGood Thrift Shoppe in Sayreville
In November 2013, Simpson United Methodist Church and Sayreville United Methodist Church launched a joint venture called the ShareGood Thrift Shoppe, a play on "Share God" with an extra O. The shop takes in donated, gently used clothing and household items and resells them at low prices to make clean, useful goods available to the community. Inventory changes constantly, and the shop regularly donates to area shelters and organizations in need.
ShareGood is located at 406 Main Street in Sayreville, with its entrance in the back of the church building on Ida Street off Pulaski Avenue. The shop is open on Saturdays from 9 AM to 1 PM, and donations are accepted during those hours. Through the thrift shop, both congregations share their resources and their faith with neighbors who walk through the door.
Vacation Bible School in July
Each summer Simpson holds Vacation Bible School over three nights, running from 6:30 to 8:30 PM. The program is held outdoors when weather permits, with an indoor backup plan in case of storms. Children hear Bible stories, make crafts, sing songs, play games, and learn about God's love together.
VBS also gives the children a hands-on mission project, often collecting supplies for a community organization that the church has chosen to support that summer. Registration opens online ahead of the program.
Pastor Kevin and the Simpson Family
The pastor of Simpson United Methodist Church is Rev. Kevin Davis, whose letter to the congregation is shared each month. His welcome to visitors is straightforward: "Come experience God's presence among us." He frames Simpson's life together around Acts 2:42, "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer," and invites newcomers to worship, learn, eat, and pray together.
The church describes itself as "an open, loving, and diverse Christian family who reaches out to serve our members, our community and all people as disciples of Jesus Christ." Beyond the staff, lay members lead everything from the youth group and the choirs to the thrift shop and the food basket ministry, and the church welcomes anyone who wishes to visit or to join the congregation.