The church bell peeled from the belfry of the First United Methodist Church on West Avenue in Norwalk one day last week, but as it echoed over the newly fallen snow, it was no longer summoning the faithful to Methodist services—which first began in Norwalk in 1789 under an apple tree.

Ray Rumer, trustee, former baritone in the choir and unofficial church historian, pulled with all his strength on the long heavy ropes, jibing the bell to demonstrate that the instrument still intoned with sweet clarity – and that the church he loves was otherwise in sound condition to be sold.

In recent years, the congregation had dwindled to a few dozen active members, and so in 2008 the decision was made by the governing Methodist council, the New York Annual Council of Methodist Churches, to sell the building, with its 7,280 square feet of indoor space on .63 acres.

"Sometimes buildings become a burden," said Rev. Jeannette Bassinger-Ishii, superintendent for a district of Methodist churches in New York and Connecticut. "Our principal purpose is to do ministries of Jesus Christ," she added in a telephone interview. "It's a waste of money to continue to support a vacant building."

Two years after the decision to put it up for sale, the landmark, double-towered, yellow-brick church, built in Romanesque style in  1896, is still on the market, with an asking price of $1.2 million. Ray Rumer said it is the oldest Methodist congregation in New England.

It has a seating capacity of 750 to 770—"depends on how friendly you want to be," Rumer remarked with a twinkle in his eye as he led a Patch reporter and photographer through the oak-paneled sanctuary and adjoining fellowship hall.

Sights and sounds

The sanctuary is in the shape of a hoop skirt: The venerable Odell pipe organ, choir seats and altar occupy the waist, and the hand-carved oak seating radiates outward and above a sloping floor. A balcony, which could seat as many as 150 ( if only there were 150 people to sit there), overhangs the rear of the church.

"It's a beautiful sanctuary," Bassinger-Ishii acknowledged.

"The acoustics are phenomenal," Rumer said. "The carved oak resonates the sound."

He located the key to open the organ keyboard and after the metal pipes had a moment to warm up, he played the instrument, filling the hall up to its brightly-colored, stained-glass windows with rich sounds.

The stained glass windows celebrate the church's heritage.

There's the enormous founder's window honoring the church's early pastor, Ebenezer Hill. It recites a passage from the Bible (1 Samuel 7:12) and is illustrated  with laborers moving a huge stone in bold cobalt, jade and azure colors. The Jesse Lee window honors the itinerant preacher who spread Methodism throughout New England, starting with a sermon under an apple tree in Norwalk. The "Halleluia" window is said to be of Tiffany glass. The "Jesus" window is a classic 8-petaled design facing north. A 36-foot, hand-carved and delicately windowed pocket door opens into the fellowship hall, its kitchen, offices and numerous Sunday school classrooms.

On the north side of the building is the copper-roofed porte-cochere which served as the entryway for churchgoers who arrived by horse and carriage.

Last days

For years, the church played an important role in the community, holding fish-fry dinners and serving breakfast on Easter Sundays after ecumenical sunrise services at Calf Pasture Beach, Rumer said.      

In addition to music and outreach programs, every fall the church sold 20,000 pounds of pumpkins grown on the Navajo Indian reservation in the Southwest to benefit those poor communities.  

When "First Night" was a tradition in Norwalk, the church hosted madrigal singers and refreshments. There were thriving art classes and other after-school programs.

Rumer recalls with great sadness the deconsecration service held in 2008, when the Bible, bronze cross and altar vestments were moved out and the pronouncement was made by an emissary from the Bishop's office: "Never more could this building be used in the worship of the Lord."

He knows of former members of the church who marked baptisms and deaths over decades and who are devastated to see the church closed.

The church was briefly re-consecrated for the funeral service for Annie Frances Shufelt Albin, who died in 2008 at age 97. She was a direct descendant of Rev. Ebenezer Hill and had served the church in many capacities for 86 years.

Possible future

The church's trustees, who are paying utility and insurance bills with funds from an annuity left by a wealthy congregant, have received several bids, including one from a local church which had to withdraw its offer after failing to raise the money.

Ideally, Rumer said, the church would be sold to a congregation that would put it to the use for which it was intended. Still, he would happy if the church were used as a concert hall and studios for the performing arts, including dance and choral music.

Spanish-speaking and migrant labor communities in the South Norwalk area are under-served, Bassinger-Ishii said, and could benefit from church ministries funded through proceeds of the sale of the First United Methodist Church.

"Several years ago, there were five shootings between teenagers in South Norwalk," she said. "It would be wonderful if there were a gymnasium for the local teenagers."

"We have a deep desire to find a congregation and have vibrant ministries in Norwalk."