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Central
Presbyterian Church
Geneseo, New York |
| The First Presbyterian Church of Geneseo began when the Reverend
Daniel Thatcher, a Presbyterian missionary, gathered settlers
together for prayer and Bible study in 1795. May 5, 1810 marks
the beginning of Central Presbyterian Church history. Missionary
Daniel Oliver came to Geneseo and organized a small group of
Congregationalists as a new church. In 1814 the Presbyterian
form of government was adopted. In 1815 our church was incorporated
under the legal title of Geneseo Gospel Society. |
| Our first house of worship was a plain, wooden structure located
on Temple Hill. The congregation soon outgrew the Meeting House
and in 1818 built the White Church near the south end of Main
Street. In 1858 the church divided into Old School and New School.
New School adherents continued to worship in the White Church
while the Old "Schoolers" built a small brick church
on the site of the present edifice. Rev. F. DeW. Ward was installed
as pastor on February 16, 1859. The Central Presbyterian Church
was incorporated on March 29, 1859. The two Presbyterian churches
coexisted in the village from 1858 to 1880 when they were reunited.
The White Church was abandoned and the Brick Church was greatly
enlarged. A disastrous fire completely demolished the 57 year
old cathedral style Brick Church on December 15, 1937. The building
in which we meet and worship today was dedicated on October
13, 1940. |
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| Ministers |
| 1810 |
Rev. Daniel Oliver |
| 1810-1817 |
Served by Missionaries |
| The Original "White
Church" |
| 1817-1819 |
Rev. Abraham Foreman |
| 1822-1832 |
Rev. Norris Bull |
| 1834-1835 |
Rev. John C. Lord |
| 1838-1841 |
Rev. John M. Lewis |
| 1843-1848 |
Rev. Benj. B. Stockton |
| 1850-1857 |
Rev. F. DeW. Ward |
| 1859-1868 |
Rev Geo. P. Folson |
| 1868-1870 |
Rev. I.N. Sprague |
| 1877-1889 |
Rev. J.E. Kittredge |
| The Central Church |
| 1861-1866 |
Rev. Henry Neill |
| 1866-1873 |
Rev. F. DeW. Ward |
| 1874-1880 |
Rev. Charles S. Durfee |
| The "United" Church |
| 1880-1906 |
Rev Josia E. Kittredge |
| 1906-1908 |
Rev. Walter E. Price |
| 1909-1923 |
Rev. Theodore M. Carlisle |
| 1924-1949 |
Rev. Joseph Sunter |
| 1949-1953 |
Rev. Alan J. Perrine |
| 1953-1966 |
Rev. William Henry Dilts |
| 1966-1991 |
Rev. Charles Fredrick Yoos |
| 1994-2002 |
Rev. Francois Lacroix |
| 2002-2005 |
Rev. Kathryn Stimson |
| 2005- |
Rev. Beth E. Godfrey |
|
| Historians |
| Membership information including baptisms, deaths, weddings,
changes of status and other pertinent facts are recorded in
the church register. We continue to provide historical information
to genealogists and others upon request. Pictures of the 1937
church fire were loaned to David W. Parish to be included in
his book, Ellen's Kitchen. |
| The Supply/Historian's office has been renovated. Computer,
printer and file drawers were donated. Files are being organized
and updated. Session minutes and membership records needing
repairs have been rebound. Pictures of various events and cam
cordings are used to preserve our Church heritage. A three-fold
bulletin board in the Social Hall displays new members, baptisms,
projects and historical information. The Memorial Cabinet in
the narthex contains an exhibit of the C. Frederick Yoos Memorial
Garden. Fifty year members of the Central Presbyterian Church
are honored yearly to commemorate the May 5, 1810 anniversary,
which marks the beginning of our church history. |
| The great-great grandson of the Reverend Ferdinand DeWilton
Ward, our minister from 1848-1858 (White Church), 1859-1861
and 1866-1873 (Central Presbyterian Church), visited Geneseo
from October 10-13, 2001. Geoffrey Ward is writing a book about
Ferdinand Ward. Our Historian files contained books, pictures
and articles pertaining to Reverend Ward. His diary was of great
interest to Geoffrey. |
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