SOURCE:  Extracted from the book, "A Quarter of a Century," A Sermon, preached to The Bleecker Street Baptist Church, on the First Sabbath in January, 1867, by D. G. Corey, Pastor, Utica, N.Y., Griffith & Warren, Printers, 1867.

Just at the close of the last century, and beginning of the present, when our beautiful city was but a small village, a company of Christians, sustaining different ecclesiastical relations, established religious worship. They met in the school house of the place, located on Maine street.  But there was no regularly organized Christian church until 1801.  This church was founded September 12th, of that year, and was composed of twenty-two Welsh Baptists, who had recently emigrated from Wales.  It was not only the first Baptist church, but the first church of Utica. They met in a log house on Varick street, near the Globe Mills.  In 1806 they erected a chapel on Hotel street, ground now occupied by the Erie canal. This building was subsequently removed to their present location on Broadway, and in time gave way to a more convenient house of worship. In 1819, seventeen persons were dismissed from this church to form the Second Baptist Church of Utica, located on Broad street. The reason assigned for this step was, ignorance of the Welsh language.  In 1837, December 3d, the Second Church, (now the Tabernacle Baptist Church, of this city,) appointed a committee to superintend religious worship in West Utica, until the following May. This measure was prompted by the growth of the city, and the additional fact that a building known as the "Old Bethel," formerly occupied by the Third Presbyterian Church, was now unoccupied. During the winter of 1838, Utica was blessed with a wonderful revival of. religion. Under the preaching of the Rev. Jacob Knapp, a distinguished evangelist, hundreds were hopefully converted to God.  Some of the most useful christian men and women now among us, are the fruits of that great work.  And as a historical fact, it should be stated that this work of Divine grace commenced with this little company of disciples, and in their humble place of worship. So numerous were the converts anxious to find a home in a Baptist Church, it was resolved to effect a permanent organization. Accordingly, on the 21st day of March, 1838, eleven persons met for that purpose.  They met in the private dwelling of  Edward Bright, now publisher and editor of the Examiner and Chronicle. Then and there they resolved to be known as "The Bethel Baptist Church of Utica."  The name was suggested by the fact that the Presbyterian Church, who formerly occupied the building, were connected with the Bethel Society, and devoted more or less to the welfare of boatmen on our canal. It was also their purpose to prosecute the same work, which they did for a number of years.

Such was the origin of this Church of Christ.  The germ was planted when those eleven disciples met and consecrated themselves to the work of building up a New Testament Church.  I give their names: Dea. Asa Sheldon and wife, Dea Harlow Hawley and wife, Betsy Van Buren, Alma Anable, Cynthia Sheldon, Palmer Townsend, Edward Bright and wife, and Horace H. Hawley.   This was the nucleus around which so much precious material has gathered.
 

*As this sermon, by  D. G. Corey, Pastor, is quite long, I've extracted the following information on church members mentioned in other sections of the sermon:

----- Preceding Pastors of the church were, Rev. L. O. Lovell from October 1, 1838 and resigned January 27, 1840;  Rev. Edward Bright from January 3d, 1840 and resigned November 12, 1841; Rev. D. G. Corey from the 14th of November, 1841.

----- Among the number who have been connected with us, three are now actually engaged in the work of the ministry, or preparing for it, viz: Thomas M. Ind, John J. Lewis and David Watson.  Five of our members have left us to labor as missionaries among the heathen. Rev. Corodon H. Shafter and his wife, went to Siam in 1838, and died April 7th, 1841.  His widow is now the wife of Rev. Dean, Missionary in China.  Helen Crossman Chandler went to Siam in 1841, and is still living.  Emily C. Chubbuck Judson went to Burmah in 1846.  After the death of Dr. Judson, she returned to this country, and died in Hamilton, June 1st, 1854.  Lydia Lillybridge Simons went to Burmah in 1846, and is now spending a brief time in her native land.

-----It is proper that I speak also of some whose venerable age and eminent usefulness, deserve more than a passing notice.  I refer to Deacon Asa Sheldon and wife, Deacon Harlow Hawley and wife, and Father Seaton and wife, all lived to a good old age.  In addition, there was a man (a member of the Broad Street Baptist Church) who was our sincere friend, and contributed liberally for our support, Alexander M. Beebee, for thirty-three years editor of the New York Baptist Register, printed in this city.

-----The first death in the Church occured July 16th, 1839, and am told that brother John H. Peak, was the first one who went from this Church to glory, was held in high esteem.

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