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History of Orange County
Town of Crawford
Page 5
About this time the congregation took measures to build a new house of worship. In carrying out these measures, they abandoned the old site, and selected another one—on which they erected a neat, commodious and firm building. This new building was commenced early in the Spring of 1831, and was finished and dedicated to the worship of God the following year.
The way being now open again for the administration of the word and ordinances, the congregation called the Rev. John H. Leggett to become their pastor. He was installed May 15, 1833, and continues to be their pastor up to the present time.
The following persons are their ruling elders, viz: Robert J. Crawford, Nathaniel Hunter, Nicholas Seybolt, Hieronimus Weller, David C. Bull, Alexander Crawford and Samuel K. Seybolt.
GRAHAM’S CHURCH, ASSOCIATE REFORMED.
This congregation was formed and church erected in 1799, and principally by the exertions of Mr. Robert Graham, who, at the time was an elder in the congregation of Goodwill.— The name was bestowed in honor of this individual on the day the building was erected. Mi. Graham resided within the bounds of this congregation. Soon after erection, and before being finished, it was opened by public worship on the fourth of August, 1799. The Rev. John McJimsey, of Neelytown Church, preached the sermon. Mr. Robert Graham died on the 22d of September, 1799, and by his will devised his farm of about one hundred acres, in the vicinity of the church, to the congregation, for the use of the pastor.— The individuals who composed this new congregation, principally, were of the number personally in the habit of worshipping at Neelytown. By an arrangement made with that church, the Graham congregation procured the half of Mr. McJimsey’s ministerial labors—preaching every alternate Sabbath for each. Before the erection of the church, Mr. McJimsey held meetings in private houses, and sometimes in the barns of the neighborhood.
When the congregation was formed it was in connection with the Neelytown church, and had no distinct organization separate from Neelytown till 1802, when the first elders were ordained. They were Samuel Gillespie and Andrew Dixon.
Mr. Wm. Crawford, who had previously been ordained an elder in the Little Britain congregation, became a member of the session and united with them. Though, by this act, rendered a distinct body, they still remained connected with Neelytown in supporting a common pastor. This was the most prudent and desirable course for each; for neither was sufficiently strong to give a good support to one pastor. At the first administration of the sacrament, there were twenty-eight members. The growth of the congregation, though not rapid, was progressive.
In 1809 Mr. McJimsey received and accepted a call from an Associate* congregation in Albany, and his pastoral connection with these churches was dissolved. This did not arise from any dissatisfaction between any of the parties, but was sincerely regretted by all. Within a year the Rev. Arthur J. Stansberry was called to this church in connection with Neelytown, who continued his services till 1816. From that time till 1819, the church was vacant, with occasional supplies; when she, in connection with Neelytown, recalled the Rev. J. McJimsey, who resumed his ministerial labors as before between the two churches. When he left, ten years before, there were fifty-seven members: on his return, he found but twenty-one, and the first elders dead. Death and removals had almost extinguished the whole.
In 1831 the Neelytown church was permitted to go down by building a new one in Hamptonburgh; and from that time Graham’s church had all the services of Mr. McJimsey, their present pastor.
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*Errata read Associate Reformed