Monday morning, July 7, 1817, a number of religiously inclined inhabitants of the village of Waterloo and its vicinity met in a school house on the present site of St. Paul's church, for the purpose of organizing a Presbyterian church. Rev. Henry Axtell was chosen moderator and S.M. Malby clerk. The following are members that day enrolled: Isaac Rosa, Joel Tubbs, John VanTuyl, Daniel Pierson, Jane VanTuyl, Lucretia Irwin, Elizabeth Turner and Rachel Parsons. November 10, 1817, the church was legally incorporated. Reuben Swift, John VanTuyl, Alexander Rorison, Dr. Jesse Fifield, Peleg Peirson and Parley Putnam constituted the first board of trustees. E.D. Whittlesey was chosen clerk, Dr. Jesse Fifield, treasurer, and Seth M. Maltby, collector. Thus started the Presbyterian church of Waterloo. For preachers, it depended for a time upon the pastors of neighboring churches in Geneva, Seneca Falls and Romulus. Reverands Chapman, Merrill, Wills, Axtell, and Chapin in turns filling the pulpit. In 1818-19 Rev. William Bacon of Seneca Falls served regularly as pastor. Rev. George Allen preached a short time in 1819, but declined a permanent call. On the 21st of March, 1821, Rev. Aaron D. Lane was installed as pastor and remained fifteen years. Rev. Ephraim Chapin, in these early years, often served as temporary supply. In February, 1836, Rev. Samuel Hart Gridley was called from Perry, N.Y., and was installed August 8, of the same year. Dr. Gridley was pastor of the church thirty-seven years, and pastor-emeritus thirteen years, resigning the active work of the ministry and becoming pastor-emeritus in the year 1873. The history of fifty years or this church life gathers about the personality of that godly man. His labors, marked with wisdom, fortitude and fidelity, were eminently successful. Rev. Cassius M. Dibble was for something over a year assistant to Dr. Gridley, respected and beloved by all who knew him. Rev. M.D. Kneeland was called the to the pastorate, May 19, 1873. July 1, of the same year, he was ordained to the ministry by Prebytery, and installed pastor of this church. His ministry here was vigorous and faithful, attended with many evidences of God's blessing. He resigned his pastoral office in 1882. July 1882, Rev. John McLachlan was called to the pastorate, and the following November he was beginning his busy two year ministry. Mr. McLachlan staid hardly long enough to make much history for the church. Only two years, yet long enough to win the affection of his people, and to demonstrate his fine pulpit ability and exceptional fitness for the pastoral work. He was called to the Central Presbyterian church in Buffalo. Immediately succeeding him came the present pastor, Rev. W.S. Carter, who commenced his labors April 8, 1885, and under his direction the church has enjoyed a continued season of prosperity.
      The church started with a membership of eight persons - just the number recorded as in Noah's Ark. Its average additions have been twenty-five each year. In 1831, two hundred nine were received on profession and by letter. In 1884, and again in 1890, one hundred and twenty-nine were added to the roll. In all about two thousand persons have been members of this church during the period of its organization, and its membership now is nearly five hundred. Its Sunday school is large and full of interest. It has a flourishing society of Christian Endeavor and of King's Sons and King's Daughters - all full of Christian activity. November 10, 1892, it celebrated the 75th anniversary of its organization, with an elaborate programme of exercises, fitting to the auspicious occasion. The old members at that time mentioned with honor, some living and some deceased, were: Julius C. Strong, Reuben Clar, Daniel W. Bostwick, J.T. Demarest, Job White, Ammi Pease, Dr. Amherst Childs, Horatio Warner, William S. Fancher, John Marshall, Platt Crosby, Ebert Taylor, Mrs. Larissa Childs, Mrs. Aurelia Fairchild, and Mrs. Sarah Marshall.
      The first effort to erect a suitable house of worship was made in the year 1822. Services had been held up to that time either in the court house or school building. In November, 1822, the trustees appointed a committee, with instructions to push the work on as fast as possible. The building lot was the gift of Elisha Williams and Reuben Swift. Quickly the work was begun, and by June of the following year, the corner stone was laid with appropriate services. In a little less than two years, on the 30th of September 1824, the house of worship was dedicated to the praise of God. It was erected at a cost of $5,000. The edifice still remains standing as a place of worship. It is now the property of the Methodist Protestant society. In 1850, the church edifice had become too small to accommodate the growing congregation. On the 8th day of April, of that year, it was decided to build a new edifice. Articles of the association were "made and agreed upon and entered into," by Platt Crosby, John Marshall, James R. Webster, John McAllister, Amherst Childs, Peleg Pierson, Jedediah Pierson, Isaac R. Kipp, edward Fatzinger, S.H. Gridley, Ephrahim Chapin, as building committee, together with Alexander Rorison, William Wood, Ebert Taylor, Julius C. Strong, Joseph Wright, Aaron D. Lane, Jacob H. Ackerman, Machael Thomas, Martin Pontius, Levi Elmendorf, Eleanora Glover, Joel Wilson, Job White, Horation Warner and others. These were all pledged to the building of the new edifice. The work was immediately begun and the corner stone was laid on the 21st day of August 1850. The edifice was completed and furnished at a cost of about $26,000. It was dedicated to the service of God, November 12, 1851. Two other buildings have within the last twenty years, been erected by this church - the birck chapel in South Waterloo and the chapel adjoining the church, at a cost of something over $7,000. In 1893, the church was repaired and renovated. A new roof was put on, its walls were decorated, and it was re-carpeted and re-furnished, the whole expense being about $2,500.
      This church has the honor of having furnished the gospel ministry with six of her sons: Rev. Joachim Elmendorf, D.D., pastor of the Harlem Reformed Church, New York city; Rev. Charles E. Stebbins, preaching the gospel of Christ, in Claremont, Virginia; Rev Charles E. Robinson, D.D., now pastor of the 2nd Presbyterian Church of Scranton, Pa.; Rev. Gilbert S. Huntington, pastor of the Presbyterian Church at Denver, Col.; Rev. William G. White, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Cuba, N.Y.; and Rev. Edwin Childs, pastor of a church at Anita, Iowa. All are eloquently and faithfully preaching the truth; honoring this mother church and adorning the Christian ministry. The present officers of the church are: Pastor, Rev. William Smith Carter; Elders - James M. Garrison, Edward Fatzinger, Dr. Orton W. Peterson, Augustus Clark, Edwin C. Peirson, Peter H. Cadmus, Henry Watson, O.P. VanRiper; Deacons - George D. Richardson, E.A. Cahoon, C.J. Redner, Walter R. Pasko, H.L. Cone, E. Fatzinger,Jr., J.H. Henion, Sidney Eshnour; Trustees = William B. Clark, George C. Thomas, Alfred S. Allen, Bainbridge Marshall; Stephen D. VanRiper, William A. Gibson; Clerk and Treasurer, Herbert W. Clark.

LIST OF MEMBERS. [in 1896]