Over Two Centuries on Main Street
Stratford United Methodist Church sits at 2600 Main Street, one block from the Stratford Railroad Station and a short drive off Exit 32 of Interstate 95, in the heart of the town where Methodism first took root in Connecticut. The Methodist preacher Jesse Lee preached in Stratford on July 4, 1789, and on May 19, 1790, he and the Rev. Daniel Smith formed the first Methodist class in town. From that class grew the Methodist Society of Stratford. Bishop Francis Asbury, often called the father of American Methodism, preached in the congregation in 1791, 1794, and 1795. Four houses of worship have been built and occupied by ten generations of Methodists, and the gospel has been carried by sixty-eight itinerating circuit preachers and fifty-two stationed pastors. The full story is preserved in J. Oliver Carson's In This Place, A History of the United Methodist Church, Stratford, CT, 1790-1990, and the present church continues to bear the name Stratford United Methodist Church that has stood since 1972.
The sanctuary that greets worshipers today is the setting for a long-standing musical tradition. A Rodgers 950A organ was installed in August 2018, a Steinway grand piano anchors the front of the room, and a Neupert harpsichord, the gift of Alexandra Vanderclock, was installed in July 2021. A side chapel, called the Memorial Chapel, hosts the earlier Sunday service each week.
Traditional Worship in Sanctuary and Chapel
Two Sunday morning services anchor the week. At 8:15 a.m. a smaller service gathers in the Memorial Chapel. The 10:00 a.m. service is held in the Sanctuary and is described on the church calendar as a Traditional Worship. Both services welcome everyone. On the first Sunday of the month the Chapel service is suspended so that the whole congregation can observe Communion together at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary.
Each 10:00 a.m. service is livestreamed on the church's YouTube channel so that members and friends who are traveling, homebound, or living out of town can still take part. A dial-in option is also available for anyone who would rather listen by phone: callers dial (646) 558-8656, enter Meeting ID 203 375 5851, and use password 123. Recordings of past services remain on the YouTube channel, and recent performances, including a Shards Duo concert in the Sanctuary and the Choir's Lenten concert of Faure's Requiem with the Mendelssohn Choir of Fairfield, string orchestra, harp, and organ, are archived there as well.
Music is woven into the fabric of the service rather than treated as a separate act. The Senior Pastor is the Rev. Suhee Kim, and Chris Muller serves as Director of Music. Beth Sullivan, the church secretary, keeps the office open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., and Pastor Suhee's office hours run Tuesday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
Sunday School for Toddlers Through Eighth Grade
Children are welcome from their earliest years. Sunday School meets at 10:00 a.m., in classes divided into appropriate age groups for toddlers through eighth grade. Children start the service with their families, head to their classrooms after the children's sermon, and parents can pick them up after worship. The teaching staff has years of experience and follows safe sanctuary practices, including background checks. Lessons are Christ-centered and focus on sharing, kindness, and loving one another.
Special events fill the Sunday School calendar through the year. The Easter egg hunt, Penny Fair (which has raised money for Heifer International with the help of live animals), Trunk or Treat on the church lawn, the Christmas Advent party, and the Christmas pageant are all open to the public. Families do not need to be members of the church to take part. A SUMC Kids YouTube channel shares glimpses of the children's program with extended families and friends.
Music as a Long-Standing Tradition
Music has been a hallmark of the church for generations. The Sanctuary Choir sings at the 10:00 a.m. service every Sunday from September through mid-June, rehearsing Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. and warming up at 9:15 a.m. on Sunday morning. New singers are always welcome: anyone curious can simply stop by on a Thursday night during choir season and listen in. The choir presents an annual Christmas Cantata paired with a children's pageant on the Sunday before Christmas, and a comparable offering on Palm Sunday. Past performances have paired the choir with chamber ensembles and visiting soloists for larger works.
The Grace Notes Handbell Choir meets on Thursdays from 5:15 to 6:00 p.m., giving ringers of all experience levels a chance to play. Members of both groups share fellowship outside rehearsal hours, gathering for meals and celebrations around choir season. Anyone interested in joining can speak with a choir member after the 10:00 a.m. service or email Chris Muller at music.director@sumcct.org.
United Women in Faith and Adult Groups
The United Methodist Women unit, now known as United Women in Faith, is a hub for adult fellowship and study. Its Arts and Crafts interest group, led by Phebe Kirkham, meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 1:00 p.m. United Women in Faith at Stratford supports local, national, and global ministries alongside the rest of the congregation.
A weekly Adult Bible Study Group meets on Zoom with Pastor Suhee Kim. The church also maintains an active prayer chain; anyone can email or call the church office at (203) 375-5851 to add a name to the prayer list. Details and updated dates are printed in the church bulletin and posted on the online calendar.
Youth Ministries and the Annual ASP Trip
Confirmation classes are offered for older youth. Each summer a group of youth and adult leaders travels to Appalachia for the ASP (Appalachia Service Project) mission trip, a work-and-witness experience that has become a defining part of the youth calendar. In February 2026, for example, two youth participants and a leader attended the ASP Youth Leadership Summit in Virginia.
The church points families toward the New York Annual Conference's three United Methodist summer camps, Epworth, Quinipet, and Kingswood, each summer. Scouting has long had a home here as well: Boy Scouts of America meet on Monday nights at 6:45 p.m., Cub Scouts on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m., and Girl Scouts on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
Heaven Sent Thrift Shop and Pumpkin Patch
The Heaven Sent Thrift Shop, run for many years by Mary Ellen and Dave Reilly with the help of volunteers, is a major community ministry. It is open Thursday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to noon. Shoppers can find clothing for ladies, men, and children; accessories; linens; baskets; toys; puzzles; and household goods, all at modest prices. To reach the shop, drivers turn around the rear parking lot, take the side driveway to the bell tower, or use the driveway on the other side of the bell tower where parking is available. Volunteers willing to help with setup, hanging clothing, and placement of items are always needed.
Each October the congregation runs a Pumpkin Patch on the church grounds, with daily sales open to the public, stories, and s'mores. In recent years the Pumpkin Patch has been the congregation's largest fundraiser by volume, and the lot draws neighbors who return season after season to choose their jack-o'-lanterns.
Warming Center and Community Feeding
Beginning February 22, 2026, Stratford United Methodist Church opened a Sunday-morning Warming Center from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Guests enter through the back entrance and gather in the All-Purpose Room, where a safe, warm space is available for anyone seeking shelter from the cold during these hours. Inquiries can be sent to missions@sumcct.org.
Feeding ministries extend year-round. The SUMC Neighborhood Breakfast is served jointly with Nichols United Methodist Church on the first and third Saturday of each month from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m., open to all with a free-will donation. The congregation also takes a turn every quarter at The Lord's Kitchen at Christ Episcopal Church (2000 Main St., Stratford), which serves a free meal every Monday and Wednesday from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. Food donations collected at the church are delivered to the Sterling House Food Pantry for distribution in the wider community.
Beyond feeding, the church supports more than thirty local, national, and global ministries, including Habitat for Humanity and United Women in Faith's outreach. SUMC joins the wider Stratford Clergy Association each January for the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration. In Advent the congregation has been hosted by First Baptist Church for shared worship services, a reminder that the church's life stretches well beyond its own walls.
Getting Here and Getting Involved
The church sits just off Interstate 95 at Exit 32 and is a short walk from the Stratford Railroad Station on Metro North, an easy arrival for visitors coming from Bridgeport, Fairfield, or points up and down the coast. Online giving through the secure Vanco Giving platform, giving by bank bill pay, mailed checks, and gifts placed in the offering plate on Sunday morning are all welcome; the office can provide a Qualified Charitable Distribution route for members aged 70 and a half, and the church is registered with employer matching gift programs.
Adults and youth looking for a place to plug in will find Bible study on Zoom, choir and handbell choirs, scouting troops, confirmation classes, United Women in Faith interest groups, and a long list of volunteer roles at the thrift shop, the Pumpkin Patch, and the community breakfast. Visitors arriving for the first time are warmly welcomed. The weekly update, the calendar, the Good News newsletter, and forms for prayer requests and contact information are available at sumcct.org.