Town of Lexington Churches
As Identified in J.B. Beers' History of Greene County, published in 1884
Retyped by Arlene Goodwin
Lexington Flats
The Baptist Churches
The Old School Baptist
church of Lexington is the pioneer society of the region, having been organized
as the church of Windham, the result of a council that was convened October 25th
1790 by the Baptist churches then included in the Rensselaerville Association.
Among the delegates to this council were Elder Hervey, from the church at
Freehold, and Joseph Arnold, William Warren and others from the church at
Stamford. This council agreed that it was necessary that a church should be
organized at Lexington, and the records show that this was done with much
solemnity, October 25th 1790. Elder Warren, of Stamford, preached on
this occasion from the text “In whom ye have builded together for an
habitation of God through the Spirit.” The first elder placed in charge was
Thaddeus Bronson with Derrick Schermerhorn as first church clerk. He was
followed by Jerome Barber in 1801; he, by Amos Pettit. Their records show that
Elder Hezekiah Pettit was preaching a portion of the time, in 1801, and that
permission was soon granted him to officiate alternately between the Flats and
the Heights—now Jewett. He held the pastorate over this church for 50 years,
and under his care it is said to have had a very prosperous career. Some of the
records show that the old Adam spirit was not wholly extinct in the early days,
and that even deacons became angry. An instance upon these books depicts how
this was developed. The first clerk above mentioned was also a deacon, who, once
losing his temper at an insult, took the law into his own hands and deliberately
knocked his opponent down. Upon complaint he made a confession of repentance to
the church, and was re-instated. The charter members of this church were
recorded as follows: Thaddeus Bronson, Adanijah Ford, Daniel Gregory, Elijah
Moore, Nehemiah Roswell, Jesse Whitcomb, Hezekiah Pettit, Sarah Bronson, Mary
Moore, Rhoda Peck, Elizabeth Cornish, Annie Bushnell, and Amos Whitcomb. Many
who soon after joined were long well known individuals, who were town officers
many years, and whose names appear in their proper place in these annal. This
church was evidently the arbitrator in a great many instances, if its records
are correct, where now the courts would be the resort of the plaintiff. Like the
old Connecticut days, the church was the court, the elder the judge, and stern
justice was meted out to any delinquent who was complained of at this tribunal,
and the pages are full of confessions and promises by those who through wisdom
had owned up to their shortcomings. This church continued to be the leading one
until 1827, when through differences it was divided. At present there are three
of this denomination in the town. Its pastors have been: Hezekiah Pettit, and
English gentleman named Simpson, Joseph L Perrington, Harvey Allen, Samuel
Moore, and Israel B Whitcomb. (Photo courtesy of Pam Moore Leitt. The church was
destroyed by fire in 1940)
By the records of the
“New School” Baptist Church at Lexington village it is found to have been
organized July 19th 1870, and that by a resolution it was denominated
“The Regular Baptist Church,” and that it was received into the Hudson River
Baptist Association August 31st 1870. The organization took place in
what was the old arsenal of the town in militia days. Jacob Hogaboom was chosen
chairman of the meeting; John H. Miller, Eber Clawson, Daniel C. Deyoe, Dennis
Hubbard, William Van Valkenbugh, and Jonathan Ford, were chosen its trustees,
and A. J. Briggs, clerk. A suiatble church edifice was soon erected which adds much
to the pleasant appearance of its picturesque village. Thus far it has had very
prosperous history. Its pastors have been Rev. Leonard Cox, H. Haines, John D.
Flansburg, and J. B. Van Houten, present pastor.
Methodist Episcopal
Church
Though the Methodist
Episcopal society was organized previous to 1845, they had no dedicated place of
worship. The class numbering fifty members, the necessity of a more appropriate
place of worship was felt and a suitable building was soon erected, Rev. Smith
Hubbard preaching the dedication sermon October 14th 1845. Of this
class, but Elizabeth Martin, Chauncey Williams and wife survive. Itinerant
circuit riders were the only clergymen who at first officiated.
West Kill Valley
Baptist Church
The organization of the
Baptist church of West Kill village was indirectly the result of the great
revival at Lexington Flats, in 1827. Other causes, however, had been slowly at
work tending to a segregation of the body corporate, consisting then of more
than 300 communicants, among which, and probably the most calamitous one, was a
strong desire by a portion of the church for a new and younger domine, and this,
coupled with the inducements urgently held forth to them by many of the citizens
of West Kill village, hurried the crisis. For more than a third of a century
Elder Hezekiah Pettit had presided over them. To many of this church his word
was law, as well as gospel, but the natural results followed so earnest and
incessant labors. He was declared to have become more of a judge than a priest,
and from his long standing privilege to have conceived a childish arbitrariness;
to have grown rusty, worn, and antiquated, and dull from senility. Such were the
causes and such the charges that directly created the division. But the division
was not accomplished without a struggle by the adherents of the elder, led by
himself, and a general council was convened before the contest ended, which
decided against the secessionist. They, however, believing in their right of
independence, would bow to no such decision, but proceeded to a new organization
which is recorded in their records as having occurred October 17th
1830. The following were the persons who were active in its establishment, and
who constituted its charter members: Elijah Bushnell, Myron Clark, Henry
Clawson, Darius Dryer, Jeremiah Martin, Alonzo Bushnell, Jacob Schermerhorn,
Jacob Van Valkenburgh, Kate Van Valkenburgh, Anna Bushnell, Elizabeth Dryer,
Sally Eastman, Polly Van Valkenburgh, Abi C. Newton, Ruth Schermerhorn, Harriet
Martin, Elizabeth Bushnell, Betsey Bushnell, Dorcas Clawson, and Maria Clark.
The first action taken was the appointment of a committee, February 5th
1831, to employ a regular pastor. They soon conferred with Elder Ormsbee, who
had officiated in this capacity on several previous occasion, May 18th
1831, delegates were appointed to confer with the Hudson River Baptist
Association, who received a fraternal welcome. The men who so independently
founded this church were of the staunch, earnest type, of original minds and
actions, as every entry in the church records prove, and by which a faithful
view of the absolute independence in this affair by these spirits can be had.
Large accessions were made soon after its organization, and it was not long
before the new-born was as strong as the parent church. From the first it has
prospered, and now in a convenient and neat church edifice is holding its weekly
meetings. Captain Aaron Bushnell left quite a bequest, the interest of which is
used in its support. The Sunday-school was organized April 12th 1834.
Methodist Episcopal
Church
The early settler of
this region was no hypocrite. If he believed in horse racing, whisky drinking,
card playing or anything of like character, he practiced them openly and above
board. If he was of a religious turn of mind, he was not ashamed to own it. This
religious element was such as to attract the attention of those living in more
favored places. Although they smiled at their rude earnestness, they yet admired
their bold enthusiasm, and praised the tenacity with which they clung to the
faith of their fathers. If he had been a Presbyterian, of Baptist, or Dutch
Reformed, they were too, and prided themselves on being one of the elect, and if
a Methodist, was one to the fullest extent. They prayed long and loud if the
spirit moved them, and cared nothing or the sneers of others.
Of all the various sects whose doctrines were given broad-sided to the generations now lying in village church yards, those of the Methodist Episcopal were among the later. The reason whereof is hinted at above. But the devout and hard working circuit rider appeared here as elsewhere, and, by dint of argument, succeeded in planting the seed of Methodism, though it was not until a comparatively recent date, and amid a strong opposition to his labors. But in 1866, after a number of years mission work, a class was formed by a Rev. Mr. Clement, who organized the Methodist church of West Kill. The first services were held in an old tumble-down building, dubbed by the opposition “The Tabernacle,” the site of which was a little east of the village, near the present residence of R. J. Clawson. They were soon deprived of this place for worship, and, not to be deprived of their religious consolations, worshipped in the private houses of the brethren.
These persevering founders were William Schermerhorn, Adam Montrose, Horace N. Winters, Charles Deyoe, and a few others. At the present writing, their services are conducted in the session room of the Baptist church, proving that the strong sectarian feeling is rapidly given place to a more Christianly one, and that the average “church member” is beginning to believe that the laws of Christianity preach a common salvation toward all believers in Christ. The society, for so small a one and in so small a hamlet, with the influence of the elder society, is quite prosperous, and expect, at an early day, to erect a comfortable and ornate church edifice.