Western
Presbyterian
Church

1791

§         Foster family purchases the western-most parcel of what was known as the Long Island Settlement[1]

1793 (December 5)

§         Foster home in what is now called East Palmyra, is initial meeting place for church services, held under the Congregational form of government and organized by Rev. Ira Condit.

1797 (September 28)

§         Jacob Gannet, David Warner, Jedediah Foster, Jonah Howel, Thomas Goldsmith & Stephen Reves [sic] met as trustees to agree upon incorporating a church called the First Presbyterian Church of Palmyra, N.Y.[2]

1797 (December 1)

§         Incorporation papers for the First Presbyterian Church of Palmyra, N.Y. are filed in Ontario County.[3]

1800

§         986 inhabitants in the town of Palmyra.[4]

1807 (May 26)

§         First meetinghouse was built in East Palmyra, “built in the style of the old meeting house in Southampton, L I.  The structure was enclosed but not finished for nearly two years and went unused.”[5]  Learn more about the Presbyterian Church in East Palmyra, including pictures.

1809

§         The “floorboards [from the meeting house built in 1807] were finally put down and ten of the twenty windows were crystallized (glass installed).”[6]

1810 (January 11)

§         “Although unfinished, the church was dedicated”[7] on this date.

1811

§         Presbyterians build a “meeting house” in the western part of the town.

1816

§         2187 inhabitants in the town of Palmyra.[8]

1817 (March 18)

§         David White, Joel Foster, Henry Jessup, Charles Braddish, James White, and Isaac Howell met as trustees to agree upon incorporating a church called the Western Presbyterian Church and Society of the town of Palmyra, N.Y.[9]

1817 (May 13)

§         Incorporation papers for the Western Presbyterian Church and Society of Palmyra, N.Y. are filed in Ontario County.[10]

1817

§         Constitution of the Female Bible Society is made.

1820

§         3124 inhabitants in the town of Palmyra.[11]

1822

§         Erie Canal has made its way through Palmyra.

1822-1824

§         Rev. Daniel C. Hopkins is pastor, coming from stated supply.

1823

§         Wayne County is set off from Ontario County and Macedon is set off from Palmyra.

1825

§         4613 inhabitants in the town of Palmyra.[12]

1828

§         Village of Palmyra is incorporated.

1832

§         The current, white-pillared church is built at the four corners in the village of Palmyra.

1834

§         The current church is dedicated.

1838 (November 14)

§         “The Presbyterian Meeting House caught fire and in one hour saw the large and spacious building level with the ground. Note that this building was called the Presbyterian Meeting House only because most of those who built it were Presbyterians. It was, in fact, a community structure owned by the Town.”[13] This structure was in the village on the west side of Church Street.

1849 (April 5)

§         Clarissa Hall and Leonard Jerome are married in the Western Presbyterian Church. Their daughter, Jenny, married Lord Randolph Churchill. They became parents of Winston Churchill.

1883 (October 21)

§         Rev. Horace Eaton dies in Palmyra.

1898

§         “Historical Sketch,” of the Western Presbyterian Church of Palmyra, N.Y. is published in the 1898 Manual.”

1907

§         Woman’s Society of the Western Presbyterian Church publishes a history of Palmyra.

1949 (October 7)

§         Motion was carried “that some capable person be employed on a part time basis to assist Mr. Coe with secretarial duties of the church, at an annual cost of $60.00.”[14]

1949 (October 7)

§         Preliminary proposed budge for 1950 states the Pastor’s Salary to be $3500.00, Pastor’s supply to be $75.00, and Pastor’s pension fund to be $325.00.[15]

1964 (December)

§         Memorial service is held in the church for the Breeden family of a mother and six children who died in a Market Street fire. Various Palmyra pastors officiated.

1967

§         150^th Anniversary. Sesquicentennial (1817-1967). History is published and pageant is written (and performed?), titled, “From Friendship to Faction to Friendship.”

1972 (July 14)

§         Mortgage of $75,000 is incurred for the building of Fellowship Hall. Monthly payments to be $554.25 per month.

1976 (July 7)

§         123 Canandaigua Street (Manse) is sold by Western Presbyterian Church and Society to Robert W. and Linda L. Ingram for $40,000.

1985 (December 13)

§         Mortgage on Fellowship Hall is paid off.