United Methodist Churches coming together to Worship the Lord

The Albany Street UMC dates back to 1890 and was located at 924 Albany Street, Schenectady.

Five Methodist churches came out of the ministry at the Albany Street Methodist Church.

The Stanford Methodist Church was started about 1860 by Lewis Vrooman. It was mostly Sunday School work until 1889 when Welton Stanford had the old Laden homestead rebuilt into a place suitable for worship. In 1902 he turned it over to the Albany Street Methodist Church whose local preachers, G. W. Webber and Issac Vanderpool, developed the work.

In 1905 the Stanford Methodist was organized as an independent church and incorporated in 1908 by the Rev. Peter W. Finger who was the first appointed Pastor. In 1910-11 the Chapel was moved back and enlarged. In 1925 the present foundation was built. The present church building was completed in 1952.

In 2003 the Albany Street United Methodist Church made the decision to sell their building on Albany Street to a Guyanese Christian congregation. The Albany Street United Methodist Church is still an active congregation and share worship space in the building of the Stanford United Methodist Church. Joint worship services began December 7, 2003.

Stanford United Methodist Church celebrated "100 years of Ministry to the City of Schenectady."   A special celebration worship service was held December 6, 2009 at 2:00 p.m.  Bishop Susan Hassinger was the special guest speaker.