Macedonia United Methodist Church, Ocean City, New Jersey, was founded June 1899, by a group of fifteen African American students from Princess Anne Academy, a Methodist school located in Princess Anne on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. The founders of the church originally met to worship in Gillet’s Barber Shop, located at 740 West Avenue. The land of the current edifice at Tenth and Simpson Avenue was donated to the church by the Lake brothers, founders of Ocean City. The present building was erected in 1903.
The church was named by Rev. Thomas Kiah, the church’s first pastor and Rev. Charles A. Tindley, pastor of the Bainbridge Street ME Church, (presently named Tindley Temple). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After discussing names, the ministers selected the name “Macedonia” based upon Acts 16:9 when Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him to come over to Macedonia and help. Macedonia was a new fledging church and needed help.
The first ministry commenced in 1901 when Reverend Thomas Kiah, a theological student, received a summer appointment. All ministers were actually theological students until 1924, when ordained ministers were appointed. In 1924, Macedonia remained open the entire year for the first time.
Macedonia has an African American congregation and its history is interwoven with American History dating back to the Eighteenth Century. Segregation played a role in American History as well as the events of the Methodist Church. During the Civil War era, the Methodist church split in half. The church remained divided along the North/South line for several years. In 1939, the church was brought back together; but in order to appease the south, a “Central Jurisdiction” was formed. The “Central Jurisdiction” gave candid official recognition to segregation in the church. It created, in effect, a captive black church, complete with a junta of black bishops restricted to the overseeing of black Methodists. The situation remained this way until 1964, when black churches were given the opportunity to rejoin their white counterparts.
Macedonia was offered an opportunity to join St. Peters of Ocean City in 1902 and during subsequent years. A major effort was made in 1964 to join Macedonia and St. Peters, but because of the racial climate it did not happen. However, Macedonia and St. Peters remain sister churches and have a good relationship. St. Peters has been kind to Macedonia from its inception. The two churches collaborate on projects and help each other to meet the spiritual needs of the community.
Macedonia participates in many food and clothing drives as well as supports the Ecumenical Counsel and outreach programs. Macedonia prides itself on its benevolent projects and the witnessing of the faith and love the congregation has for Christ.