Town of Greenville Churches
As Identified in J.B. Beers' History of Greene County, published in 1884
Retyped by Arlene Goodwin
Presbyterian Church
The man to whom belongs
the honor of having been the first to labor in the gospel here and to lay the
foundations of the church, was Rev. Beriah Hotchkins. This man was the first
American missionary to cross the Hudson to labor in the new settlements west of
New England. He was pioneer of that vast army of missionaries, which, for the
past hundred years have been marching westward with the advance of civilization.
This church, which he founded, was the first American church organized west of the Hudson and north of Pennsylvania. Before coming here he was pastor of the Congregational church in Guilford, Connecticut, his native place. He was ordained and installed there in 1785. The Rev. Benjamin Trumbull and Jonathan Edwards took part in the services. He preached his first sermon in Greenville, April 5th 1789, in Benjamin Spees’ barn. He soon returned to his old home, but remained there but a short time. In the spring of 1789 he returned with his family. He preached on what was then called Leet’s Hill, East Durham. He was unanimously invited to take charge of the church here, and was offered the round sum of f75 3s. 9d. per annum, with the bonus of 50 acres of land, embracing Botsford’s Hill and the meadows lying between it and the brook. He built the old kitchen belonging to the residence of Nelson Knowles, on the north side of this tract. It contained but one room, but made him a comfortable home. He accepted the call, and in 1793 he came for the third time among the people to whom he devoted the remainder of his life. He was installed on the 18th of January of that year by the Rev. Stephens, Steele, Fuller, and Camp, and Esquires Spees and Knowles. The services took, place in the old hip-roofed church, which stood near and northwest of where the present church stands. It was built in 1793, and was the first of four church edifices which have been erected by this congregation. It was not an imposing structure, and was never completed. About seven years later it was bought by Benoni Austin and moved to where the Episcopal church now stands. It became a dwelling, afterward a tavern, then a students’ dormitory, and its timbers may still be seen in the old saw-mill.
August 27th 1800, the peopled came from far and near to raise the second meeting-house, which stood near where the present one stands. This edifice had a lofty spire, a spacious gallery, unpainted box pews, and an octagonal pulpit supported by a lofty column. The builder was Elon Norton. The site was the gift of Augustine Prevost. It was dedicated September 18th 1801. In this old meeting-house Beriah Hotchkin preached for a quarter of a century.
He was born in Guilford, Connecticut, March 27th 1752. The circumstances of the family precluded the idea of educating their son, and he was apprenticed to the trade of a tanner, currier, and shoemaker, which useful trade he followed till past 30 years of age. He was thoughtful and studious from a child, and eagerly improved every opportunity to cultivate his mind, until in 1785, he received license to preach, from the Morris County Associated Presbytery. Of his arduous labors here, he said:
“I was called upon
not only to supply my own people, but to perform all ministerial services in the
towns of Greenville, Cairo, Durham, Windham, and Rensselaerville, as there was
no minister of our order in any of these places. In addition to these services,
I was obliged to labor with my hands almost steadily to procure support for my
family. I was often at a late hour in a dark night in the woods some miles from
my house, with nothing but a small footpath to tread in, being obliged to give
myself wholly up to the direction of my horse, which Providence had provided
with better eyes than mankind.”
The church rapidly
gained strength, and long before he left it, it had become a power in the land.
The early settlers were a moral and pious people. Most of them were professing Christians, and wherever they pitched their tent in the wilderness, there they erected an altar to their Creator.
The church was organized May 19th 1790. Articles of faith and discipline, together with a covenant, were signed by Eleazer Knowles, David Jewell, Abram Post and Jared Smith. Seven others were received at the same time. They were Thankful Hotchkin, Abigail Knowles, Sarah Norton, Martha Page, Hannah Knowles, Lydia Post and Lydia Baker.
The pastorate of Beriah Hotchkin terminated in 1824, when he retired from the pulpit. He died at Plattsburg, New York, January 26th 1829, aged 72 years. He was followed by Rev. Sylvester Woodbridge; he by Rev. Jonathan Hovey. Afterward Rev. Baker Johnson preached for a time, and was succeeded by Rev. Dr. Robert W. Landis. He was followed by Rev. Edward Hopper D. D., and then came Rev. Theodore White D. D. Rev. John Wells came next; after him Rev. Yates Hickey. Rev. Byron Bosworth succeeded, and was followed by Revs. W. P. Gibson and Andrew P. Freese.
The Sunday-school is in
a flourishing condition, under the superintendence of S. W. Story. It had 154
pupils, and a library of 650 volumes.
Baptist Church at
Greenville Centre
This society was in
existence as early as 1793, and included residents of New Baltimore and South
Westerlo. It then worshipped in barns, school-houses, and private dwellings.
Pride did not then demand, and poverty, did not permit the erection of elegant
and costly temples of worship, such as seen in modern times. The people wended
their way to their places of worship on foot, on horseback, or in rude vehicles
drawn by oxen.
The first clergyman who is known to have ministered to this society was Elder William Stewart, who, while discharging his pastoral duties, supported himself by cultivating the soil. It is said, however, that he received for one year’s pastoral services three pecks of buckwheat; a gift from Deacon Jerard Reynolds. Mr. Stewart lived to the age of 90, but was blind during the latter years of his life.
In 1822 the Westerlo branch of this church was set off with 10 members, and in 1825, the New Baltimore branch with 22.
The Gayhead branch was set off as a separate society September 25th 1868, with the following members: Cyrastus Betts, Jacob Losee, Levi Finch, Betsy Thorn, Mary M. Weekes, Eunice Finch, Rhoda A. Whitbeck, Mary C. Hill, William Thorn, Cyrus L. Betts, Perry Roe, Roxana Losee, Margaret Palmer, Aaron Whitbeck, Sarah Thorn, Mariah Betts.
In 1817 the first meeting house of the Greenville Centre church was built, on land donated to the society by William Pitts. After a number of years it was repaired, the entrance was changed from the west to the south side, and galleries were added.
In 1854 it was turned so that the south became the west side and fronted the road that passes north and south through the village, and was remodeled and a spire was added to it. The rebuilding was done by Stephen Thorn, and the painting, graining, and frescoing by Joseph Thompson. The building committee consisted of, Russell Townsend, David Losee, William Stevens, and Silas Hunt.
The present trustees of the church are Russell Townsend, Sherman Sanford, and George E. Williamson. George Townsend is the clerk and the superintendent of the Sunday-school.
The following is a list of the pastors of this church, with the dates of the commencement of their pastorates:
Rev. William Stewart,
first pastor, 1817; Rev. Mr. Adams, February 5th 1825; Rev. Richard
Shimoniel, November 5th 1825; same time ordained; Rev. M. Jones,
1831; Rev. Thomas Stokes, April 1st 1834; Rev. Alfred Osgood, April 1st
1835; Rev. William M. Doolittle, May 23d 1836; ordained July 13th
1835; Rev. Egbert Penney, March 24th 1839; ordained same time; Rev.
E. R. King, February 22d 1841; ordained April 24th 1839; Rev. M.
Stickney, July 3d 1842; Rev. Mr. Prink, May 4th 1844; Rev. Hiram
Lord, October 7th 1847, ordained same time; Rev. Jacob Gesner, July
22d 1849; Rev. Lyman M. Purrington, March 22d 1851; Rev. Charles Ferguson, May
21st 1853; Rev. Harvey Cornwall, May 1st 1855; Rev. Mr.
Hartwell, December 25th 1858; Rev. Nelson Palmer, February 25th
1859; Rev. Jacob Hoppey, March 1st 1866, ordained June 20th
1867; Rev. Hiram Hayms, March 27th 1868; Rev. Mr. Peck, 1874; Rev.
Mr. Bronk, revivalist, 1874; Rev. Mr. Allen, 1876; Rev. Joseph Slater, 1878;
Rev. A. M. Cole, the present pastor.
The Freehold Christian
Church
This society was
organized August 22nd 1812, at the house of Lawrence Tompkins, in the
town of Coeymans, Albany county. Seven persons organized the church as charter
members, Rev. Jasper Hazen presiding.
From this church four others were organized in 1832, viz: South Westerlo, Stephensville, Berne, Medway Four Corners, and Medusa. The Freehold church was recognized as the mother church. Rev. Jasper Hazen was the pastor from 1812 to 1820. He was an able preacher and one of the leading men of his denomination. During his ministry at Freehold, he had the assistance of a great number of ministers, who travelled through the country, organizing and proclaiming the doctrines of the new movement.
The principles and the creed advocated with zeal by Hazen and his co-laborers. Churches were organized through the State, and the denomination grew rapidly in numbers and influence.
Rev. John Spoor, successor of Elder Hazen, was born September 11th 1795, at Charleston, Montgomery county. He was the child of a family of six children. His father was a respectable farmer, and one of the first settlers of that county. Like the sons of pioneers, he knew what hardships meant; his hands were hardened with honest, honorable toil. He labored on his father’s farm until 24 years of age. When he was a boy, educational advantages were very meager, but by the spirit of our fathers, schools were established in the wilderness of Greene county. The scanty curriculum of the log school-house was all the course of study he enjoyed. Whatever proficiency he attained in letters was the result of study after leaving home, the result of thought and reading under many disadvantages. He made a public profession of religion in 1813. January 2d of that year, he was baptized by Jonathan S. Thompson. He was one of the first members of the Christian church at Charleston. Impressed with a sense of duty, he began preaching in August 1815. He labored with the church at Charleston with much success. At their solicitation he was ordained in June 1818, by Elders Ross, Thompson, and King.
He came to Freehold in October 1819. He had visited this place some years before, and many remembered his singing and praying; hence when the church at Freehold heard he was to be ordained, special word was sent for him to come.
The call was accepted. A revival at once began and it extended as far as New Baltimore. This work continued during four years, until the church at Freehold and its branches numbered 500 members. While a resident of Freehold and pastor of the church, Mr. Spoor organized the first Christian church in Dutchess county, churches in the towns of Berlin, Petersburg, and also at South Adams, Massachusetts.
No preacher of any denomination has left in this section a more honored record or has exerted a wide religious influence. In Freehold he baptized 470. During his life he baptized between fourteen and fifteen hundred. He solemnized about 1,000 marriages, and attended not far from 1,500 funerals. This is very unusual record for one whose labors were confined principally to rural districts, whose congregations were gathered from valley home and mountain side. He died March 30th 1864.
The church at Freehold had ever been considered a strong, influential church, numbering at the last annual report 212. It has a large well organized Sabbath-school, under the management of C. R. Lacey, superintendent. The church building is a model village church, neat and well furnished, and speaks well of the taste and growing intelligence of the large congregation that worships there.
The pastors since the
organization have been: Revs. Jasper Hazen, John Spoor, J. R. Hoag, J. G.
Holland, Henry Brown, Philip Couchman, J. G. Noble, Chester Coville, J. D.
Lawyer, Rev. Mr. Southwick, Elias Jones, Professor O. F. Ingoldsbie, principal
of Stakey Seminary, Eddytown, New York, M. W. Borthwock, and A. J. Abbot, the
present pastor (1883).
Old Greenville M. E.
Church
This church was built
in the year 1812 by Jason Mapes. The society was organized some years previous
to the building of the church, by Seth Crowell, who was succeeded by Gilbert
Lyons, John Bangs, and others. This church was the first, and, for many years,
the only Methodist church in the town. The first society consisted of about 20
members, among whom were the following: Stephen Benedict, James Waldron, Joseph
Waldron, William Lampman, Phoebe Lampman, Reuben Steven, Susie Rundle, Marianna
Waldron, Gilbert Ferris, Polly Ferris, Mary Finch, Molly Stevens, Elizabeth
Blaisdell, Joseph Blaisdell, Esther Jump, John W. Lampman, William Brandow, and
Jonathan Schofield. The society is at present in charge of the Rev. Robert F.
White, pastor of Asbury Methodist Episcopal church. Services are held on
alternate Sundays.
Asbury Methodist
Episcopal Church*
*By Robert F. White,
pastor.
The Methodist Episcopal
society of Greenville, was organized February 8th 1825, at West
Greenville, one mile west of Greenville village. For some years previous to the
organization, meetings were held in the school-house and in private houses. At
its organization, there were about 15 members, with the Rev. Joel Squire as
pastor. Immediately after the organization, a church was erected and dedicated.
It was a framed building, valued at $1,500. The services were held on every
alternate Sunday.
The following persons were members of the first board of trustees: Alexander Calder, Benjamin McCabe, John S. Raymond, Thomas J. Smith, and Benjamin Morehouse. When the Sunday-school was first organized William Coburn was superintendent.
In 1856, the church was removed to the village, enlarged, and rededicated by the late Bishop Janes. The building was valued at $4,000.
The Rev. James Birch, of New York conference, was the pastor during 1856 and 1857, while the removal of the church was effected. The following were among the prominent members at that time: Japhet Colins, A. J. McCabe, B. S. McCabe, and Joseph P. Hallock. For many years, A. J. McCabe was class leader, Sunday-school superintendent, and steward. Services were now held every Sunday morning and evening. It was a period of great trial, but of corresponding triumph, for the struggling society. The class and prayer-meetings were at times held in the church, but more generally in the house of some member.
February 2d 1873, the church was burned. Efforts were immediately put forth by the society, for the erection of another place of worship. A subscription of that purpose was started. Plans were inspected, and a new location was selected and purchased, a little to the south of the former one, on the west side of the street.
During the period between the burning of the old church and the building of the new, the society worshipped in the Presbyterian church which was kindly offered for the purpose. In the spring of 1873, the corner stone of the new church was laid with the usual ceremonies. In the stone was placed a box made of lead, containing church periodicals, Bible, Hymn book, and the names of the pastor and members. Just previous to the laying of the corner stone, some of the members living near Norton Hill desired to build a church at that place, and the growth of this desire finally led to the formation of a new class and the erection of a church at Norton Hill. About eight months after the laying of the corner stone, the church was completed at a cost of $10,000.
The church is well designed and commodious, with a lecture room opening into the main audience room by folding doors. The seating capacity is about 600. The church is neatly furnished inside and is a credit to the society and to the community. Services are held every Sunday morning and evening by its present pastor, the Rev. Robert F. White.
The Sunday-school has steadily kept pace with the vigorous growth of the society, and now numbers 135. Archibald Stone is the present superintendent and is successor to B. S. McCabe M. D., who resigned in 1880.
The following persons are members of the official board: B. S. McCabe, Ransom Ingalls, Pierce Stevens, Abram Hagaman, Archibald Stone, Reuben Gedney and Alfred Steadman.
On the east side of the main street, nearly opposite the church, stands a large and beautiful parsonage, built by the society in 1867 at a cost of $4,000.
The following are among
the ministers who have served the society: Revs. Joel Squire, William F.
Collins, O. G. Headstrom, Elbert Osborne, Aaron Rogers, William Goss, William
Bloomer, H. J. Fox, Cyrus Silliman, Bradley Selleck, John Bangs, Eli Dennison,
John S. Pease, Philip Hoyt, Daniel DeVinne, D. Boughton, S. Fitch, George
Taylor, J. Birch, A. M. Hough, C. M. Eggleston, J. M. Burgar, R. H. Kelley, N.
O. Lent, T. Elliot, D. E. White, and J. R. Vandewater. The present pastor,
Robert F. White, was installed in 1881.
Norton Hill Methodist
Episcopal Church
This church was
dedicated in the winter of 1873. Previous to that time, services were
occasionally held in the school-house. During the first year after its
organization, it was included in the Greenville circuit. Since that time it had
had a pastor of its own. The first pastor was Rev. John Wood. He was succeeded
by J. W. McConnel, who was in turn succeeded by Rev. Mr. Morrison, Next in the
line of succession was Rev. William Wilcox. Rev. W. F. Albrecht, principal of
the Greenville Academy, is the present pastor. It has a membership of about 50.
A Sunday-school of about 60 is connected with the church. Mr. J. W. Cowell is superintendent.
Christ Church
(Protestant Episcopal)
Christ Church was
organized at a meeting held at the house of Reuben Rundle, on the 4th
day of April, 1825, with the following official members: Reuben Rundle and
Shubel Newman, wardens; Robert G. Palmer, Reuben Rundle jr., Lewis King, Hardy
Rundle, John Bezel, Israel Palmer, Caleb Thompkins, and Aaron Hall, vestrymen. A
subscription was circulated for raising funds to build a house of worship, and
among the most liberal contributors were Reuben Rundle jr., Hardy Rundle, R. G.
Palmer, Jacob Bogardus, Philip Brigham, Aaron Hall, Shubel Newman, Abijah Reed,
and Lewis King. A sufficient amount was raised, and a plan was adopted for a
church, which was built in 1826. It was consecrated on the 6th of
September 1827, by Rt. Rev. John Henry Hobart, bishop of the State of New York.
The site for this church was donated by Major Augustine Prevost, and the cost of
the structure was $3,325. A clock and bell, which cost $381, were presented by
Reuben Rundle.
The present beautiful and commodious structure was built and consecrated in 1857, during the rectorship of Rev. E. B. Ellsworth. It stands on the east side of the street nearly opposite the Presbyterian church, and it is considered an ornament to the village.
The present rector is
Rev. Joseph W. Norwood, E. L. Palmer and T. L. Prevost are the wardens; and M.
P. Blenis, Elijah Roe, W. B Ward, George Robbins, B. Waldron, R. R. Palmer, T.
J. Rundle, and G. Ponsonby are the vestrymen. M. P. Blenis is the clerk.
Gayhead Baptist Church
In 1853, a neat and
commodious church building was erected at Gayhead, by the Baptist society of
Greenville. It remained under the jurisdiction of the Greenville Baptist church
for a number of years, the same pastor usually officiating at both places. At a
meeting held in the Greenville church, September 26th 1868, it was
resolved to dismiss 34 members, most of them living in the vicinity of Gayhead,
for the purpose of forming a separate church. On the10th of the ensuing month, a
meeting was held at Gayhead, and a Baptist church, consisting of the following
members, was organized: Cyrastus Betts, Maria Betts, Jacob Losee, Rosanna Losee,
William Thorn, Betsy Thorn, Cyrus Betts, Lucinda Betts, Levi Finch, Eunice
Finch, Perry Roe, Amelia Roe, Aaron Whitbeck, Rhoda Whitbeck, Jonah Blaisdell,
Hannah Blaisdell, William Howard, Hannah A. Howard, George Earl, Harriet Earl,
Gideon Brown, Laura Brown, R. W. Allerton, Letitia Allerton, William Betts, Amy
Mitchel, Mary A. Wicks, Margaret Palmer, Julia Betts, Lucy Betts, Lucinda Thorn,
and Sarah Thorn. Cyrastus Betts and Aaron Whitbeck were chosen deacons, and in
1869, the church was admitted into the Baptist association.
Their first pastor was Rev. George Slater. He remained but a short time, closing his labors March 20th1870. Since that time, except a short interval, the Rev. A. M. Cole has had charge, and he is present pastor, preaching once in two weeks. The number of additions since its organization is 36; dismissed by letter, 5; dropped, 12; deaths, 4. The present deacons are Cyratus Betts and Perry Roe. Trustees, Cyrenus Niffin, William H. Palmer, and Cyrus Betts. Clerk, Perry Roe.
They have usually sustained a prosperous Sabbath-school. The one now, under the supervision of Perry Roe, numbers 64 scholars. The church is a two-story frame building, will seat 300, and its estimated value is $2,000.
The only other church ever built in the town, was one built about the year 1800, near where Minor Stevens now resides. It was a frame building, and was taken down about 1820, removed, and converted into a barn. One of the early ministers, who occasionally occupied it, was a Mr. Ostrander of Ulster county, New York.