Rome Daily Sentinel
August 21, 1950

    Four persons “desirous of walking with God” signed a covenant Sept. 25, 1800, and thus brought into existence the First Religious Society of Rome.
     The Society, known for theological purposes as the First Presbyterian Church, will mark the sesquicentennial of its founding with a three-day observance next month.
     Actually the church had its beginning seven years before the 1800 covenant and confession of faith.  In 1793 nine men and women from Connecticut who had settled here prepared the way for forming a church “as soon as God in His providence may open the door for the Settlement of the Gospel among us.”  They kept their letters in their home organizations in Connecticut until a full-fledged incorporated church could be started.
     Signers of this first covenant were Willett Ranney, Thomas Wright, Ebenezer Wright, Joshua Willes and their respective wives, and Daniel W. Knight.
     Settlers continued to pour into the region during the last decade of the century and in 1796 the town of Steuben was divided and Rome was formed.
     The 1800 covenant was signed at Wright Settlement by Ebenezer and Grace Wright, Daniel Knight and Joshua Hathaway, the latter having drawn up the document.
     The Rev. Simon Waterman of Plymouth, Conn., officiated at a meeting three days later, when nine additional persons signified their consent to the covenant and confession of faith, the document beginning “We whose names are underwritten being desirous of walking with God in the enjoyment of all the special ordinances of the gospel and enjoying the comforts of Christian communion, agree to form ourselves into a church.”
     Mr. Waterman, the records state, declared the persons congregated were a church of Christ and in a very solemn, serious and affecting manner administered the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper.
     On Jan. 11, 1802, the church was incorporated as the First Religious Society of Rome, the name under which it still holds property and transacts business.  There was no religious organization here at the time, and as the settlers held diversified religious beliefs it was the purpose of the founders to make the new church available to all desiring to hear the gospel.  In keeping with this purpose, sectarianism was de-emphasized.
     In the period following the incorporation, supply ministers served the society.  Trustees in 1802 were empowered to engage clergymen at the rate of $5 per Sabbath “exclusive of horse hire.”  The ministers salaries that year totaled $212.  The following year they amounted to $191 and could be paid, according the contract, “in wheat, pork or money.”
     The church has had nine pastors.  The first was the Rev. Moses Gillett, who came in October 1806 and remained 30 years.
     Up to 1912 the church was Congregational and in that year it joined the Oneida Congregational Assn.  however, in 1819 this relation was dissolved and the church joined the Oneida Presbytery, becoming a Presbyterian church.
     Seven years afterwards, the Rev. Charles G. Finney, noted evangelist, carried on a series of revival meetings here.  At the close of his campaign, 184 persons united with the church in a single service.
     In 1831 a second church was formed under the name, “Second Congregational Society of Rome” with the Rev. Jacob Heffenstein as pastor.  Calling themselves “the New Lights” they erected a building on N. Washington St. where they worshipped until 1947, when the two churches were united.
     Mr. Gillett resigned in 1837 but continued to live in Rome until his death in 1848.  The second pastor was the Rev. Seldon Haines, who was installed March 10, 1811.  His pastorate ended in 1847 when both he and the Rev. George S. Boardman, pastor of the Second Church, resigned to facilitate the union.
     The Rev. William E. Knox was installed as the third pastor Aug. 2, 1848 and continued for 21 years.  He was succeed by the Rev. Peter Stryker, installed Nov. 16, 1870.  He resigned in 1876 and was followed by the Rev. James H. Taylor, who served until 1899.  The Rev. Charles G. Sewall came to the church in February 1900, remaining for seven years.
     Longest pastorate was that of the Rev. Dr. Philip H. Cole, who served from 1907 to 1940.  The Rev. Dr. Edmond G. Dyett was installed Sep. 17, 1940 and resigned in Sep. 1944, to accept a commission in the U. S. Navy.  The Rev. Dr. P. E. Radford, the present pastor, was installed March 20, 1945.
     In the early years worshippers gather in their homes and in school houses, a barn on Stanwix St., the store of George Huntington & Co., and a hotel ballroom.
     The first meting house was erected in 1807 on the Court St. lot purchased from Dominick Lynch.  It was built according to a plan drawn by Benjamin Wright.
     In connection the subscription for this building it was agreed that “as soon as may be after the erection and completion of said meeting house, the trustees shall offer for sale to the highest bidder at public vendue, the right of the pews respectively, subject to such rents, restrictions, conditions and regulations as said trustees shall direct.”
     The present church was erected in 1851-52 at a cost of $18,000 and dedicated Jan. 19, 1853.  The chapel was built in 1902 as a project developing from the 100th. anniversary celebrated in 1900.