Churches in Marcy

From "Town of Marcy Centennial History and Program 1832-1932"
Sincere thanks to Cathy VerSchneider for this submission!!




The Berean Baptist Church
    In the late 1830's John T. Owens secured teh services of Elder William Thomas to hold religious meetings in the school house and on January 13, 1843 delegates from neighboring Baptist churches met and helped organize the Berean Baptist Church with the Rev. William Thomas as pastor. The first deacons were William Potter and George C. Crane, John Treat, clerk and Wm. Mayhew, Sr., treasurer. In 1844 the present edifice was built on land donated by William Mayhew and dedicated. With the exception of a period from 1865 to 1870 the church throughout the years has had a permanent pastor and carried on an active program.
    In the summer of 1911 the Baraca and Philathea Classes realized the need of new windows and placed a window in the vestibule. The Junior Baraca and Philathea classes pledged a second window and through the efforts of these classes aided by Fred Ernst, Robert H. Jones and William S. Marson of the church trustees, memorial windows for the following were presented at a special dedication service in November, Rev. and Mrs. Charles N. Pattengil, Mrs. Elizabeth Salisbury, Mr. and Mrs. William Potter, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Whitten, Mr. and Mrs. William Mayhew sr., Mr. and Mrs. John T. Owens, Mr. and Mrs. Richard Thomas, Thomas Marson and Levi Tanner.
    The minister who served the church the longest was Rev. Charles H. Scholefield who became pastor in 1916 and remained until his death July 2, 1929. Rev. John C. Martin is the present pastor. The deacons are Fred Bogart and Everett A. Weaver. Mrs. Thomas Brown is clerk and Mrs. Homer Humphrey treasurer. The last two officers are grandchildren of one of the first deacons. The church roll shows forty-seven members.



Ladies Aid of Marcy Berean Baptist Church
    The ladies of the Berean Baptist Church met October 10, 1888, to organzie a society to aid in the finance of, the church, the same to be designate, "The Christian Ladies Aid Society." Officers for the first year were: President Mrs. H.J. Potter, Vice President, Miss Emma Marson, Secretary Mrs. John W. Potter, Treasurer Miss Lucia Pattengill. March 1, 1889, the society met at the home of Mrs. Richard Thomas and daughters, a quorum was present and so large a company of friend that the house could hardly accomodate them.
    April 8, 1893 the society presented Rev. and Mrs. E.E. Knapp a set of silver teaspoons as a token of their esteem and love.  This party was held at the home of Mrs. H.J. Potter. A flower fund enables a cheering greeting to be sent to homes in times of sickness. Financial conditions enables contributions to be made to the minister's salary and the missionary fund.  The present officers are: President Mrs. Edith M. Jones, Vice President Mrs. John Rahn, Treasurer Mrs. Edna Dobbins, Secretary Mrs. Isabelle Benton, Treasurer of Flower fund Mrs. Dorothy Jones.



Salem Church and Cemetery
    Located in the southeast part of the town of Marcy, a parcel of land for the purposes of a church and cemetery wa given by Cadwalader Richards from his farm in about the year 1815. The first meeting of the Welsh Congregational Society of Deerfield was held at the School House of School District No. 26 on the 18th day of October 1830. Mr. Rowland Griffiths and Mr. William Vincent were called to preside and Rev. Robert Everett to be scribe of the meeting. The first trustees, seven in number, chosen by ballot to be called, "The Trustees of the First Welsh Congregational Society of Deerfield." were Ellis Roberts, William Vincent, Rowland Griffiths, Cadwalader Richards, John Meredith, John Edwards and Humphrey Jones. At this time this society was incorporated as the "First Welsh Congregational Society of Deerfield, Oneida County and State of New York." Mr. William Vincent was chosen Treasurer, and Mr. Humphrey Jones, Secretary of the Board of Trustees.
    The first minister was Rev. David Hughes, living at that time on the Mallory Road, later followed by Rev. William D. Williams who led the parish for many years after. About 1840 the name Salem was adopted. In the late part of 1859, the first church, a small frame structure was moved on to the Plank Road and used for a cheese factory until about 1880. The church was replaced by the structure which now stands there. The burials in the cemetery are mostly Welsh or of Welsh descendants. The first burial wa Griffith Jones in 1819. In 1932, the Trustees were: Isaac Evans, William D. Winston and William D. Williams.



The Welsh Churches of Marcy
    In or about the year 1839, a Welsh Calvinistic Methodist (Presbyterian) church was built on the west side of the Glass Factory Road, on the farm later owned by David Edwards and later still by William D. Edwards. This building was destroyed by fire in or about the year 1863. One year later another church was built directly across the highway on land then owned by Evan H. Morgan. This served the Welsh people of the community for many years, but the congregation at last became so small the services were discontinued about 1900 and the building was later torn down.
    There was a Welsh Baptist Church on the east side of the Cavana Road near the entrance to the Kennedy Road. Regular services were not held there after about 1860, but an English Sunday School was conducted there for several summrs by the Reverend William Lane, the father of Mrs. Henry Seavy.



Bethania Church
    By deed August 8, 1836 Barnhardt Nellis and his wife conveyed a parcel of land on the Hutchinson Road to the trustees of the Calvinistic Methodist Church of Marcy. The Calvinistic Methodists built a church house here, but on July 28, 1840 they sold the property for forty-five dollars to Joseph Ellis, who on September 15, 1840, for one dollar, sold it to the First Welsh Congregational Society of Marcy. This society had been organized two weeks earlier (August 30, 1840) and Richard Jones, David Jones and Andrew Jones had been elected the first trustees. The original church became too small and a larger one was erected in 1859. The first trustees of the new church were Andrew Jones, John Edwards and Lewis Lewis. The Rev. John R. Griffith served as pastor for many years. The gradual withdrawl of the Welsh from the community caused services to be discontinued about 1910, and the church has been torn down. There remain only the cemetery which was just west of the building.



Marcy Community Church
    It seems to be one of God's ways of extending His Kingdom either in the life of the individual or the community to let that life wander so far from them that at last it feels itself lost and is willing to undergo great sacrifice in order to return to His paths of peace and beauty.
    Such at last was the case in this town when this church was organized. It was, we must remember, before the days of modern conveniences that we now have. There were, of course, no railroads, Post Offices, good roads, electricity or automobiles; there was listtle or no communications with the outside would. The one bright spot remaining was the schoolhouse. This was the center for good; it was here that for years Rufus Carpenter tried unsuccessfully to form a Sunday School. It was not until the late 1830's that anything spiritual was accomplished. Then through the efforts of John T. Owens, Elder William Thomas was persuaded to come here. For months he held services in the schoolhouse until the people who had ben brought together felt themselves strong enough to form and independent church. On the 15th day of October 1842 it was unanimously resolved "that we form ourselves together into a Church of the Baptist Faith and Order."
    On January 13, 1843 a council consisting of delegates from Whitestown, Deerfield, South Trenton and Trenton Square proceeded to constiture the church to be known as Berean Baptist Church. The Church was built on a site, near the schoolhouse, which was donated by William M. Mayhew. The Church prospered until 1865 when a time of dark and gloom came to our little church and it was closed for nearly five years. At various times during this period a Sunday School was maintained. The faithful members did not give up and in January 1870, Evangelistic meetings were held for several weeks and an ear of porsperity followed and the church has had a contineous program every since.
    In the summer of 1911 stained glass windows were placed in the vestibule and in November of the same year, beautiful stained glass windows were placed in the Sanctuary.