LeRay, Jefferson, NY

Churches, Part II

LeRay Churches, Part II

THE BAPTIST CHURCH OF LE RAY

The Baptist church of Le Ray was organized by Elder Maltby in 1814, two miles south of Evans' Mills, and was removed to that village in 1818. A corporate society was formed in November, 1823, with Ethni Evans, Asa Hall, Levi Read, John Macomber, Stephen D. Sloan, and Chauncey More as trustees. A stone church edifice was commenced and brought near completion, when it was partially destroyed by fire. The walls, however, remained but little injured, and were used in the rebuilding, in which the society was materially assisted by donations, the chief of which was from Mr. Le Ray. The building then erected was the present house of worship of the society. It is located in the south part of the village, on Main street, and is now also used by the Episcopalians. The pastors of this Baptist church have been as follows: Revs Matthew Wilkie, John Blodget, Martin E. Cook, Sardis Lyttle, John F. Bishop, Thomas A. Warren, Sylvester Davis, Lewis T. Ford, Henry Ward, Wm. P. Decker, Jacob Gardner, Daniel D. Reed, Preston K. Sheldon, Loren G. Brown, and Henry Ward, the present pastor.

THE FRIENDS' MEETING

The Le Ray monthly meeting of Friends was organized in 1816. The Pleasant Creek Preparative Meeting had been formed at an earlier date, and in conjunction with the Preparative Meetings of Indian River, Lee, and Lowville, formed the Monthly Meeting of Le Ray. Their meeting-house, a solid but plain and unpretending stone structure, was built in 1816, and having since that time received at least on new roof, with a modest projection and cornice, stand, as good as when first completed, about a mile northwest from Le Raysville, on the road to Evans' Mills.

In 1828 the Hicksite schism divided the congregation here, as elsewhere; but both wings worshiped in the old church, and in time afterwards healed their differences. Recently, however, a more serious disagreement has arisen on the question of vocal music at the meetings, and the difference of views seems to have proved irreconcilable, for the orthodox portion withdrew, and, in 1876, erected a new frame house of worship in the Quaker style at Le Raysville; while the innovating wing, or Progressive Quakers, as they are styled, meets in the old house of 1816.

In this, as in other Quaker communities, the rising generation show a disinclination to conform to the ancient usages of the sect, and as a result the numerical strength of the peculiar people is slowly but steadily diminishing.

THE M. E. CHURCH AT EVANS' MILLS

The organization of this church dates back to Nov. 20, 1824, the first trustees being Henry Churchill, Parker Chase, John Y. Stewart, Daniel Smith, P. S. Stuart, James Ward, Wilson Pennock, Elijah Smith, and William Taggart.

Their first house of worship was a small stone building, which stood about two miles from Evans' Mills on the road to Le Raysville, and neat the present residence of Henry Bryant. Some time after, being superseded by the new edifice, this was sold to the Methodists of Philadelphia. The present edifice at Evans' mills was erected, at a cost of about $3000, on a lot donated by Judge Evans. It was commenced in 1832, and advanced so that meetings were held in the basement in the fall of that year. It was dedicated in the summer of 1833, the services on that occasion being conducted by Rev. John Dempster, assisted by the pastor, Rev. Lewis Whitcomb, of Le Raysville, since whose pastorate the following ministers have served the church very nearly in the following order:

From 1862 to 1877 the following: S. M. Ward, Daniel Fulford, C. Manson, ------Trevaler, D. W. Aylesworth, W. S. Nichols, William S. Holbrook; and Rev. M. M. Rice since April, 1877.

The church as a Sabbth-school, with an average attendance of about 60, under George Vanderwalker, superintendent. A class of about 25 members, belonging to this charge, worship in the school-house at Le Raysville.

THE M. E. CHURCH AT SANFORD'S CORNERS

A Methodist class has existed at this place for more than half a century; Sanford's Corners having been one of the oldest preaching places on Le Ray circuit, and the location of its first parsonage. In 1847 and 1849 efforts were made to remove the location of the parsonage to Black river village; that place having given name to the circuit and become the geographical centre, but several years elapsed before this object was accomplished. The removal took place in 1876.

The church at Sanford's now numbers 49 full members and 30 probationers. The present minister in charge is Rev. W. M. Holbrook. Their place of worship is the Union church edifice at the Corners. In the early days, before this was erected, the worshipers met in the Jewett school-house. This church has a flourishing Sabbath-school, under the supertendency of Charles Ryder. Its numbers are given in the history of the Black river circuit, with the town of Rutland.

THE UNION CHURCH EDIFICE AT SANFORD'S CORNERS

The Union church edifice at Sanford's Corners was erected by a union composed of the Universalist, Methodist, and Christian societies, each owning a quarter interest, and certain liberal-spirited citizens of the vicinity, who furnished the remainder of the necessary funds, and held the other one-fourth interest. The edifice was dedicated in 1853, jointly by the three denominations, in order as follows: First, at 10 A.M., sermon by Rev. --------- Austin, of the Universalists; second, at 1 P.M., sermon by Rev. I. S. Bingham, for the Methodists; and at 4 P.M., by Rev. Mr. Ticker, of the Christian church. The new house has since been used by the above-named congregations as a place of worship.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH IN LE RAY

The Christian church at Le Ray was organized march 12, 1823. Among its earliest members are found the names of Elder Eli Denio, Edmund Allen, Elisha Allen Ebenezer Dunton, Fayette Herrick, James Rogers, and others, well known in this part of the county. The church is now in a prosperous condition. Its place of worship is the Union church at Sanford's Corners, and the present pastor is Rev. H. W. Pierce.

GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH

A church of this denomination was formed July 13, 1822, with Alexander H. Van Brockelin, Peter Hoover, Richard Hoover, and John C. Walradt as deacons and elders. For many years an aged preacher from the Mohawk, familiarly known as "Parson Devoe," came among them semi-annually to administer the rites of the church. They have now no pastor, and have never had a house of worship. Their meetings are held in the school-house near the northern corner of the town.

ST. MICHAEL'S (CATHOLIC) CHURCH

Services were held in dwellings at Evans' Mills and vicinity, by Rev. Father Guth, and other priests of the Catholic church, soon after 1840. The present church building at Evans' Mills was erected in 1847 on a lot of a quarter of an acre, purchased of Joseph Boyer for $80. It is a stone structure about 40 by 60 feet in dimension, and cost about $2500. The trustees at that time were James Kinney, Francis Bichet, and Augustus Grappot. The worshipers included about thirty families, under charge of Rev. Father McFarland, whose successors have been Fathers La Pic (who remained in charge for fourteen years), Turgeon, La Rose, Plunkett, Chappel, and Hogan; the last named assuming charge October 1, 1877. He officiates also at Watertown. (Jefferson County History, L. H. Everts, 1878)

Transcribed by Holice B. Young

Html by Debbie

December 26, 1999

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