USA > New York > A history of the purchase and settlement of western New York : and of the rise, progress and present state of the Presbyterian Church in that section > Part 57
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This church has been blessed with revivals. Under the labors of Dr. Parker it increased to the number of one hundred and nine-
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ty-eight members, a very considerable number of whom were received as new converts. In 1831, one hundred and fifty-eight were reported as having been received within the preceding year on their profession of faith. In other years considerable numbers are reported. During the ministry of Dr. Parker, a house of wor- ship was erected. In consequence of debts contracted by the con- gregation this house was sold about the time of Mr. Wisner's dis- mission, and the congregation were constrained to meet for public worship in such places as could be obtained, till at length a room in the Rochester Seminary was obtained till they could erect an appropriate building. Their present edifice was constructed in 1835-6. It is built of stone, in length seventy feet, in breadth forty-eight.
Rochester Free Presbyterian Church .- This church was orga- nized April 25th, 1832, by the Presbytery of Rochester. It was composed of forty-five members taken from the third, and one from the second Presbyterian church. The next year it is reported as consisting of two hundred and thirty-seven members, and in 1836, of four hundred and twenty-five. These numbers are taken from the statistical tables appended to the minutes of the General Assembly. Another account before the writer states the number of members in 1836 at two hundred and fifty. Rev. Luke Lyons was installed pastor of this church in the spring of 1833, and was dismissed, Sept. 14th, 1836. In June, 1838, the church, by an act of the Presbytery, was dissolved. Its dissolution is supposed by the writer to be owing to local circumstances.
Rochester Washington Street Church .- This church was ori- ginally denominated the Bethel Church of Rochester. It was reported by a committee of the Presbytery of Rochester as orga- nized Feb. 7th, 1837. It then consisted of fifty members. In 1846, according to the statistical table appended to the Minutes of the General Assembly, it consisted of four hundred and twenty-five members. Oct. 19th, 1837, Rev. G. S. Boardman was installed pastor of the church, which station he held till June 28th, 1842, when his pastoral relation to the church was dissolved. In 1843, the church by permission withdrew from its connexion with the Presbytery, but, on its application, was received again in 1844. Rev. Milo J. Hickok was installed pastor of the church, Feb. 25th, 1845, and is the present pastor. This church, in common with others in the city of Rochester, has been blessed with the effusions of the Holy Spirit in abundant measure. This church has a spacious house of worship built of stone, and located on Washing- ton street, between Buffalo street and the canal.
North Rochester .- This church was organized in 1838, and re-
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ceived under the care of the Presbytery of Rochester, June 26th of that year. The same year it commenced the building of a house of worship, and completed it the next year. Of what number of members it has been composed at any period of its existence, is not known to the writer. Rev. Richard De Forest commenced labor- ing in this location under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, Jan. Ist, 1837. He seems to have continued three or four years, and was succeeded by Rev. D. K. Gally, who probably continued one year. Mr. De Forest was again com- missioned by the Society to labor on this field in June, 1841. How long he continued, and what has been the subsequent history of the church, are circumstances unknown to the writer. This church appears to be the only one in the city of Rochester that has received aid from the American Home Missionary Society.
Besides the Presbyterian churches connected with the Presby- tery of Rochester, there is one Presbyterian church (Old School), one Reformed Presbyterian, one Congregationalist, one Evangeli- cal Lutheran, two Baptist, two Methodist, two Episcopal, one Christian, two Friends' meeting-houses, one for Universalists, and two for Roman Catholics.
Parma and Greece .- The location of this church is on the Ridge road, and on the dividing line between the towns of Parma and Greece, this line passing through the centre of the house of worship. The church, consisting of twenty-one members, seven only of whom were males, was organized, Dec. 2d, 1819, by Rev. Messrs, Solomon Allen, Ebenezer Everett, and John F. Bliss, acting as a committee of the Presbytery of Rochester. The church was soon after taken under the care of the Presbytery on the accommodating plan. In 1828 the church numbered eighty-three members, which is about its present number. Previous to the installation of a pas- tor, the church was supplied statedly or occasionally for different periods, by Rev. Solomon Allen, Rev. Alanson Darwin, Rev. John F. Bliss, and Rev. Philips Payson. Rev. Stephen V. R. Barnes commenced ministering to the church in September, 1823. He was installed pastor, July 5th, 1825, and dismissed from his pastoral charge, July 5th, 1826. After the dismission of Mr. Barnes, a number of ministers in succession were employed as stated supplies. Rev. Rudolphus Landfear, three months ; Rev. Ralph Clapp, one year; Rev. Chauncey Cook, two years ; Rev. Stephen Williams, six months ; and Rev. R. Montgomery Davis, six months. Rev. Ralph Clapp commenced labor a second time, January, 1832, was installed pastor by the Genesee Consociation, Jan 14th, 1835, and was dismissed by the Presbytery of Rochester, Sept. 3d, 1844. At the same time he withdrew from the Presbytery and connected himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church. Rev. Charles Kit- tredge, the present pastor, commenced laboring in the congregation
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in September, 1844, and was installed pastor, July 8th, 1845. In the autumn of 1826, a revival, under the preaching of Mr. Land- fear, was enjoyed, as the result of which thirty-five members were added to the church by profession. In 1831, seventy-seven were thus added ; in 1834, ten ; in 1836, twenty-seven ; in 1842, twelve ; and in 1843, thirteen. In several of the seasons last mentioned, a protracted meeting was held, and an evangelist employed to con- duct it. The writer's correspondent observes, that the character and results of these meetings were probably much the same as in other churches in the region.
In September, 1830, this church, on account of Congregational preferences, took a dismission from the Presbytery, and united with the Genesee Consociation. This body having become tinctured and divided by the theology maintained at Oberlin, the church, in 1842, voted to " dissolve all connexion with the Genesee Consocia- tion," and to "adopt the Westminster Confession of Faith as con tained in the Assembly's Shorter Catechism, as their symbol of faith." Feb. 7th, 1844, the church was again received under the care of the Presbytery of Rochester, and in February, 1846, adopted in full the Presbyterian form of church government and elected ruling elders. But the church was far from being in a state of harmony. The leaven of Oberlinism was working in the body, and strong Congregational preferences existed in some minds. About forty of the members withdrew from their brethren, and set up an independent meeting, and have since been recognised as an independent Congregational church. The majority who remain are harmonions in their views of doctrine and practice, and are determined to maintain the institutions of Christ's house.
This church has received aid from the American Home Mission- ary Society, one or two years in the support of Mr. Clapp. Their church edifice was erected in 1824, and finished, at an expense of $2750, and dedicated, July 6th, 1825. Since the division of the church, the dissenting party have claimed to be the church, and by stealth taken possession of the house, and at the last information retained possession by force. The subject was before a legal tri- bunal for adjudication, but was not yet decided.
Parma .- The settlement of this town, and of the country gene- rally on the Ridge road, commenced within the present century. In 1810, it was observed that the settlement of the town of Parma was comparatively new, and the number of inhabitants small. The church was organized in 1829, and was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Rochester, June 30th of that year. The number of members, according to the latest report within the writ- er's knowledge, was between seventy and eighty. As stated sup- plies, Rev. Messrs. Silas Pratt, Chandler Bates, Beaufort Ladd, William P. Kendrick, and Daniel Johnson, have severally officiated
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at different periods, since 1830. What ministerial aid the church enjoyed previous to this is not known to the writer. In the support of all the above mentioned ministers, the church was aided by the American Home Missionary Society. Under the labors of Mr. Pratt a season of revival was enjoyed, and forty-five individuals were reported as hopeful converts. Under Mr. Kendrick's minis- try in 1841, sixteen were reported as hopefully converted. In 1843, the congregation were engaged in building a house of worship. This church is sometimes denominated the church of Parma Centre.
Parma Corners .- This church was reported as organized, and taken under the care of the Presbytery of Rochester, Sept. 21st, 1830. At the time of its organization, Rev. Chauncey Cook, under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society, was laboring in the region. The new formed church did not flourish, and in less than a year became extinct, its members receiving let- ters from the Presbytery to unite with other churches in the vicinity.
Clarkson .- The settlement of this town commenced in 1803, by Mr. Moody Freeman from Connecticut. A Congregational church consisting of sixteen members, of whom four only were males, was organized by an ecclesiastical council, Sept. 4th, 1816. This town at that period was included in the town of Murray, and the church was styled the First Congregational Church of Murray ; but for many years past it has been known as the church of Clarkson, as its place of meeting is in the village of that name situated on the Ridge road, distant from the village of Brockport one mile and a half. In 1826, the church contained twenty-seven members ; in 1824, one hundred and seventy-six, and in 1846, one hundred and fifty-two. It was received under the care of the Presbytery of Ontario, Feb. 10th, 1819, and was transmitted to the care of the Presbytery of Rochester on its organization. Rev. John F. Bliss was installed its pastor, Feb. 11th, 1819. He was dismissed, Feb. 4h, 1823. Mr. Bliss, during his pastorate, had another church under his care, and divided his ministrations equally between the two. Rev. William James succeeded him in 1825 as stated supply, but continued only a short time. Rev. Stephen V. R. Barnes took the charge of the church as stated supply in 1826, and continued two years. He was succeeded in 1828 by Rev. Benjamin I. Lane, who continued two years. On the fifth day of February, 1831, Rev. Charles E. Furman was installed as pastor, and continued to sustain the relation till June 29th, 1836, when he was dismissed. He was followed by Rev. Norris Bull, D.D., who was installed as pastor of the church, June 27th, 1837. He has since deceased.
Under the ministry of Mr. Lane a revival which added more than twenty members to the church was enjoyed. Also, under the ministry of Mr. Furman outpourings of the Spirit were granted,
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and more than one hundred members were added to the church on profession. And again under the ministry of Dr. Bull the work of the Lord was revived, and a goodly number added to the church. They have a commodious house of worship, which was erected in 1826. They were aided by the American Home Missionary Society two years in the support of Mr. Lane. The members of this church live intermixed with other denominations, Methodists, Bap- tists, and Free-will Baptists. The Methodists are the most nume- rous body, the Congregationalists next, and the Baptists the fewest. The mass of the population attend worship with some denomination.
Murray .- A church in this town, denominated the church of Sandy Creek, was received under the care of the Presbytery of Rochester, Sept. 11th, 1821. The writer supposes that it was small in number, and feeble in means to support the institutions of religion. Its name is found on the list of churches connected with the Presbytery of Rochester, in the Statistical Tables appended to the Minutes of the General Assembly, from the year 1826 to 1830 inclusive. No number of members in any case is given, and the church is uniformly stated to be vacant. In the town of Clarendon a church was organized, and received under the care of the Presby- tery of Rochester, Feb. 4th, 1823, which in 1826 was reported as consisting of nine members. In the Statistical Tables it is uni- formly reported as vacant, and no report of the number of mem- bers is found except in the instance stated before. These two churches by an act of the Presbytery were united, July 13th, 1831, to be known as the church of Murray. Of the further history of this church the writer is not informed.
Holley .- This village is located on the Erie canal, in the town of Murray, and like most other villages similarly situated, has its origin from the construction of the canal. At what period the Presbyte- rian Church was organized, is not known to the writer. Its name is first found in the Statistical Tables in the Minutes of the General Assembly for 1833. It then included 112 members, and in 1834, 181. In 1827, Rev. Stephen Williams labored here for a short time under the patronage of the American Home Missionary Society. The next year, Rev. Eber Child was employed under the same patronage, and seems to have continued one year. In 1833, Rev. Hiland Hulbert was reported as stated supply, and the year following, Rev. Robert H. Conklin. In 1837, Rev. Oliver II. Powell was reported as stated supply. On the 14th day of Novem- ber, 1843, Rev. Jonathan Copeland was ordained and installed pastor of the church, and still sustains this relation. In 1834, seventy-one members were reported as having been added to the church by profession the preceding year. The church has an appropriate house of worship.
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Brockport .- This is a beautiful village on the Erie canal, in the town of Sweden. It was first settled by Messrs. Hopkins and Harmon, whose title was transferred to Messrs. Brockway and Seymour, about the year 1820, and was soon after laid out into village lots, and peopled by immigrants from different parts of the State of New York and New England. Public worship was first set up by the Methodist denomination about the year 1826. A Congregational Church consisting of six members, was organized by Rev. Avelyn Sedgwick and Rev. Josiah Pierson, which was taken under the care of the Presbytery of Rochester, March 19th, 1828. In June, 1830, on account of the difficulty of maintaining discipline, a standing committee was elected in accordance with the Plan of Union of 1801, and in October, 1834, the Presbyterian form of government in full was adopted, and a session formed. In 1830, the church reported fifty members ; in 1834, 200; in 1837, 219; and in 1846, it numbered 123. Rev. Joseph Myers was installed pastor of the church, January 13th, 1830, he having for some time previously officiated as stated supply. He was dis- missed, June 27th, 1832, and was succeeded by Rev. Joel Byington as stated supply for one year. Rev. Eli S. Hunter, D.D., com- menced laboring with the church in May, 1834, and was installed as pastor, December 23d of that year. The pastoral relation be- tween him and the church was dissolved, June 28th, 1837. He was succeeded by Mr. Pliny Twitchell, a licentiate, for one year as stated supply, after which period Rev. Benjamin B. Stockton was called to the pastorate, and installed August 30th, 1838. He continued to minister to the church about five years, and was dis- missed July 11th, 1843. Soon after this event Rev. Hugh Mair, D.D., was employed as a stated supply, and at the writer's last information, continued in that station.
From March, 1830, to March, 1831, seventeen members were re- ceived by the church, on a profession of faith. These were the fruits of a precious season of revival enjoyed during the latter part of that period, under the ordinary means of grace. Soon after this period, a somewhat different course of measures was pursued, at- tended, perhaps, by a somewhat different course of instruction. Under the operation of this course, frequent additions were made to the church by profession. Twenty-seven were reported as thus added in 1832, and thirty in 1833. On the twenty-third day of April, 1833, a protracted meeting was commenced, and continued twenty-eight days, under the direction of Rev. Jedidiah Burchard. During this period ninety-nine members were received into the church, on their profession of faith in Christ. Of these and others previously received as new converts, there is every reason to be- lieve that a goodly number of them were indeed born again, but with respect to others, to say the least, the case is doubtful, and the hasty admission of such numbers was attended with disastrous re-
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sults. About twenty have been excommunicated or suspended for unchristian conduct, and a vastly larger number have left the church without regular dismission, and are gone to distant parts of the country. During the ministry of Mr. Stockton, after the church had elected a session of elders, a case of discipline occurred with a man, who, for a considerable time, had neglected to act with the church, and who, when called before the Session, denied their juris- diction over him. Under these circumstances, the case was re- ferred to the church for counsel and advice, and resulted in an en- tire new organization of the church, making it to consist of ninety- eight members, since increased to one hundred and twenty-three. The church, at the period of the preceding annual report, had a list of two hundred and twenty-seven names of members nominally belonging to the church, leaving. after deducting the ninety-eight who united in the new organization, one hundred and twenty-nine. Of these, twenty were resident in the village of Brockport, or its vicinity, and style themselves the First Congregational Church of Brockport. The remainder were either under church censure, or had left the region without regular dismission.
This church has received aid in the support of its pastor, the two first years of its existence, to the amount of $200, from the Assem- bly's Board of Missions, and the third year, $100 from the Ameri- can Home Missionary Society. They have a commodious house of worship, fifty feet in length, by forty in breadth, which was completed and dedicated to the service of Almighty God, in June, 1831. A house of worship was erected by the Methodists in 1828, and another by the Baptists, in 1829. The Free-Will Baptists and the Episcopalians have also houses of worship. The Presbyterians, the Methodists, and the Baptists, are about equal as to strength. The other denominations are more feeble. It is estimated that not more than two-thirds of the population of the village and its vicinity are regular attendants on the preaching of the gospel.
Sweden .- This church, the writer supposes, is located in the southern part of the town of Sweden, as that of Brockport occu- pies the northern. The church was received under the care of the Presbytery of Ontario, Feb. 10th, 1819, and was transferred to the Presbytery of Rochester, on the organization of that body. In 1826, it numbered seventy-seven members. It varied but little from this number till 1833, when it reported ninety-nine members. In 1836 the number was one hundred and fifteen, and the following year, ninety-seven. This is the last number the author finds on record. The church has never had a regular settled pastor, but has generally been furnished with a stated supply. Rev. David Page seems to have officiated in this capacity several years ; Rev. Josiah Pierson two years ; Rev. Samuel Marsh for a similar period, and Rev. Daniel Johnson several years. The church was assisted
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by the American Home Missionary Society, in the support of Mr. Page. What is the present state of the church is not known to the writer.
Ogden .- This town was originally the southern part of the town of Parma. The first person who purchased and located in the town was George Willey, who, in September, 1845, still remained an inhabitant. His settlement in the town was in 1803. Public worship commenced as early as the autumn of 1804. A church was organized, Nov. 4th, 1811, a record of which was made in the following words :- " On this day is a church of Christ organized of the Congregational order, in the town of Parma, by Rev. Reuben Parmele, of the following members, viz .- Samuel Davis, Daniel Arnold, James Ferrington, Josiah Mather, Jabez Busley, Ben- jamin Freeman, Abigail Busley, Phebe Finch, Lydia Mitchell, and Betsy Nichols." The church was designated the Congregational church of Parma for several years. On the division of the town it assumed the name of the church of Ogden. In 1825, it contained one hundred and two members ; in 1836, two hundred and forty- five ; and in 1845, about two hundred and fifty. It was received on the accommodating plan, under the care of the Presbytery of Geneva, August 9th, 1815, and was transferred to the Presbyteries of Ontario and Rochester, at the formation of those bodies. It was dismissed on request from the Presbytery of Rochester, Feb. 7th, 1826, and, as the writer believes, became connected with the Gene- see Consociation. In 1835, it adopted the Presbyterian mode of church government, and was again received under the care of the Presbytery of Rochester. The church of Parma and Greece, and the church of Adam's Basin, were formed of members from this church.
This church enjoyed the labors of several ministers previous to the settlement of a pastor, among whom was Rev. Henry Smith, whose labors were blessed to the conversion of a number of souls. The first settled pastor was Rev. Ebenezer Everett, who was installed by the Presbytery of Ontario, Feb. 10th, 1819. He was dismissed, April 17th, 1822. The next pastor was Rev. Avelyn Sedgwick, who was ordained and installed, Nov. 17th, 1824. He continued in the pastoral office till July, 1833, when he was dismissed from his charge, and was succeeded by Rev. John H. Carle, who labored as a stated supply with the church one year. Rev. Con- way P. Wing was installed pastor of the church, March 25th, 1835, and was dismissed, Nov. 5th, 1838. Soon after the dismission of Mr. Wing, Rev. Avelyn Sedgwick returned to the church, commenced ministerial labor, and was installed as pastor, Feb. 11th, 1840. His pastoral relation to the church was dissolved by the Presbytery, Sept. 7th, 1842, but whether his ministerial labors were suspended for a season is not known to the writer. He was soon
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afterwards officiating as stated supply, and at the last information still continued in that capacity. During the first period of Mr. Sedgwick's ministry two extensive revivals were enjoyed ; one, in 1827, as the result of which sixty members were added to the church ; the other in 1831, in which about one hundred and thirty were brought into the church. Under the ministry of Mr. Wing two or three seasons of refreshing were enjoyed, adding a consider- able number of members to the church. Similar seasons have been experienced during Mr. Sedgwick's last period of ministerial labor.
This church has an appropriate house of worship, erected in 1822, and dedicated the year following, Rev. Alvan Hyde, D.D. of Lee (Mass.), officiating on the occasion. It is fifty feet in length and forty in breadth. The average number of the congregation attending worship upon the Sabbath, is from three to four hundred. The church, soon after its organization, received aid in supporting the ministry to the amount of $50 a year for two or three years, from the Female Domestic Missionary Society of Oneida County. Besides the Presbyterian churches in the town of Ogden, there are a close communion Baptist, a Free Will Baptist, an Episcopal Metho- dist, and a Wesleyan Methodist church. The three former have appropriate houses of worship. The Baptist churches number over a hundred members each ; the Methodist Societies are smaller.
Adams' Basin .- This is a small village situated on the Erie canal in the town of Ogden. A Presbyterian church, by an act of the Presbytery of Rochester, was organized in this village, April 19th, 1837. It consisted of twenty-one members taken from the church of Ogden. The present number of members is not known to the writer. Rev. Daniel Johnson officiated as stated supply the latter part of the year 1841, and the former part of the succeeding year. He was succeeded in May, 1842, by Rev. Richard Dunning, who was installed pastor of the church, April 29th, 1845, and still sustains the relation. The church erected a house of worship, which was completed in 1842. They have since built a parsonage. They have been aided from year to year by the American Home Missionary Society.
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