WEEDSPORT CHURCHES

by Mary Lou O'Connell Bruton

First Methodist Church of Weedsport

The Methodist Church-of Weedsport began with five Macedontan laymen in 1816. Church services were held in a nearby schoolhouse. Rev. Samuel Bibbens is credited as being the first pastor. The church moved to Weedsport because the Erie Canal had brougth prosperity to the growing village and depression to Macedonia. The present Brutus Street site became the property of the Methodists in 1822. Rev. William W. Willet was the first pastor in 1827.

The white frame church erected near the center of Weedsport was very similar to the brick structure built later in 1862. The original house of worship, although smaller, had a tower, town clock and a bell. The 1862 building has been enlarged and improved several times to accommodate file Sunday School and other church activities.

Weedsport's four churches, 1976
Clockwise from upper left:St. Joseph's Roman Catholic; First Babtist; First Presbyterian; First Methodist.

Prior to the Civil War, the Weedsport Mehhodist Church trustees organized an anti-slavery union. This 1859 union may have aided numerous freed-negro families to move through the area in the following years.

The Weedsport congregation has given several workers to the missionary service in India as well as the honor of having a former preacher, the Rev. E. L. Waldorf, pastor in 1900, later became a bishop. The present pastor is Rev. William N. Walter.

Brick Church

The Methodist Brick Church which was located on the Weedsport-Cato Road was organized about 1820. The principal rounding layman was Amos Cowell and the first pastor was the Rev. Mr. Kinney. The Brick Church celebrated its 150th anniversary, but has since been removed from the countryside after having been closed by the congregation.

First Presbyterian Church

The First Presbyterian Church of Weedsport celebrated its 150th anniversary in 1975. The church was organized by thirty-seven members of the Sennett Congregational Church who joined with fourteen others living in the vicinity of Weedsport. The original wooden building built on the northwest corner of South Seneca and Hamilton Streets was destroyed by fire in March 1855. The Presbyterians decided to sell the property to St. Joseph's parish and to construct a brick church on the corner of South Seneca and Watson Streets. The new building site was donated by Peter Douglas and Moses Dixon. The cornerstone was laid in September 1855.

The new Presbyterian Church has stood in place for a hundred and twenty years, surviving both the removal of its magnificent steeple which was declared unsafe and a devastating fire in 1947 which destroyed an irreplaceable pipe organ. The enduring congregation remodeled their church in 1948 and added a brick-faced cement block wing to accommodate religious education needs in 1958.

R, ev. Justice Hough was the first minister to serve the Weedsport church (1825-1880) Rev. Aimon R. Hewitt holds the record as having the longest pastorate. He served thirty-nine years (1866-1905.) The present pastor is Rev. William Chegwin.

First Baptist Church of Weedsport

The First Baptist Church was organized in 1837. Nearly all of the thirty-one members of the new church were from the Sennett Baptist Church. Rev. T. Adsit, Jr. was the first pastor for the congregation.

The Baptist Church has been located in nearly the same location throughout the years. The initial meetings took place in a sins-!! schoolhouse near the church site. The first church the Baptists built on Liberty Street was opened for services in 1840. The chapel was enlarqed in 1854. The present church was constructed in 1870, using the retaining walls and foundation of the original church. A pipe orqan was added ten years later and beautiful memorial windows enhanced the church in 1909-1910.

In addition to updating their church buildinq from time to time, the Baptists built a fellowship buildinq in 1921. The fellowship building contained bowlinq alleys which were removed in 1962. School rooms took the place of the outmoded alleys.

Two women from the congregation have served in the world mission field. One in Rangoon and the other in China. The Baptist Church celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1962 when Rev. C. Wellington Hardy was pastor. Rev. William Fairhurst is pastor at the present time.

St. Joseph's Church

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church received its name from Bishop John Timon of the Buffalo Diocese in the mid 1850's. The sins.!! Irish "Shanty Church" was named in memory of a Jesuit Chapel at Cayuga built by the Indians in 1668. The little edifice was outqrown by the increasinq parish needs and was replaced by a new building at the present site of St. Joseph's in 1859. A centennial celebration in 1954 was held in the church on the corner of South Seneca and Hamilton Streets, but that wooden structure was succeeded in 1957 by the present brick-faced structure which is able to house all parish activities within its walls.

Rev. Daniel Moore became the first resident pastor in 1862. In 1868 the Weedsport church was included in the formation of the Rochester Diocese. Rev. David M. O'Donohoe had held the record as being pastor for the longest number of years (1881-1907,) but Rev. Leo A. Jones remained with the parish thirty years (19424972.) Rev. Elmer Heindl followed Father Jones and is the present pastor of St. Joseph's. Father O'Donohoe's term is best remembered for the acquisition of property on Oakland Road for the establishment of St. Joseph's Cemetery. The building of the new church in 1957 remains as a tribute to Father Jones' pastorate.

The 1854 Irish "Shanty Church" which began under the protection of Auburn churches has grown with the community of Weedsport and as St. Joseph's serves all the catholics in the area. The parish has given several sons and seven daughters to religious vocations to enrich the spiritual life of the Rochester Diocese.

The Baptist Church has been located in nearly the same location throughout the years. The initial meetings took place in a sins-!! schoolhouse near the church site. The first church the Baptists built on Liberty Street was opened for services in 1840. The chapel was enlarqed in 1854. The present church was constructed in 1870, using the retaining walls and foundation of the original church. A pipe orqan was added ten years later and beautiful memorial windows enhanced the church in 1909-1910.

In addition to updating their church buildinq from time to time, the Baptists built a fellowship buildinq in 1921. The fellowship building contained bowlinq alleys which were removed in 1962. School rooms took the place of the outmoded alleys.

Two women from the congregation have served in the world mission field. One in Rangoon and the other in China. The Baptist Church celebrated its 125th anniversary in 1962 when Rev. C. Wellington Hardy was pastor. Rev. William Fairhurst is pastor at the present time.

St. Joseph's Church

St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church received its name from Bishop John Timon of the Buffalo Diocese in the mid 1850's. The sins.!! Irish "Shanty Church" was named in memory of a Jesuit Chapel at Cayuga built by the Indians in 1668. The little edifice was outqrown by the increasinq parish needs and was replaced by a new building at the present site of St. Joseph's in 1859. A centennial celebration in 1954 was held in the church on the corner of South Seneca and Hamilton Streets, but that wooden structure was succeeded in 1957 by the present brick-faced structure which is able to house all parish activities within its walls.

Rev. Daniel Moore became the first resident pastor in 1862. In 1868 the Weedsport church was included in the formation of the Rochester Diocese. Rev. David M. O'Donohoe had held the record as being pastor for the longest number of years (1881-1907,) but Rev. Leo A. Jones remained with the parish thirty years (19424972.) Rev. Elmer Heindl followed Father Jones and is the present pastor of St. Joseph's. Father O'Donohoe's term is best remembered for the acquisition of property on Oakland Road for the establishment of St. Joseph's Cemetery. The building of the new church in 1957 remains as a tribute to Father Jones' pastorate.

The 1854 Irish "Shanty Church" which began under the protection of Auburn churches has grown with the community of Weedsport and as St. Joseph's serves all the catholics in the area. The parish has given several sons and seven daughters to religious vocations to enrich the spiritual life of the Rochester Diocese.

St. John's Episcopal Church was organized in 1866. Rev. John H. Rowlins was the first pastor. The cornerstone of their brick church was laid in 1866 on East Brutus Street. Membership decreased and the church building was sold to the Weedsport Library in 1929. It is the present location of the Weedsport Library.

Free Methodist Church

The Free Methodist Church was organized in 1892. Rev. C. E. Balch was the first pastor. The church, built on the south-west corner of South and Liberty Streets is now a residence. The congregation discontinued services in 1925.

Sennett Churches

The Sennett Federated Church was formed in 1928 by the two Sennett churches, the Baptist and the Presbyterian. The Baptist Church had been organized in 1799. The Presbyterian Church traces its beginning to the Congregational Church organized in 1805o The Sennett Federated Church uses the former Presbyterian building and is known throughout central New York as "The Church With The Lighted Steeple." The pastor is the Rev. Roy H. Massecar.

It is interesting to note that many of the rounding laymen of the Weedsport Baptist Church came from the Sennett Baptist Church and organizers of the Weedsport Presbyterian Church came from the Sennett Congregational Church.