Hinsdale United Methodist Church

 

 

History

 

The history of this church is more than an account of the building of a physical structure.  Instead, it is the record of people who have struggled to have a place to worship God and to make a church, which would become a powerful influence for good in the community.

 

The first religious services were held when there were only a few log buildings and when the surrounding country was an untamed wilderness.  Theses services were held in 1807 in a log barn owned by Zachariah Noble.  This was before Hinsdale had been formed as a separate community.

 

In 1819, twelve years after these first recorded religious meetings, the first Methodist Circuit was formed and a year later, in 1820, the first regular preacher, the Rev. Ruben Aylesworth, was appointed.  One year after this in 1821 the first religious association was formed.  Within twenty-four years after the first association was organized, there were enough people interested in religious work to undertake the building of a church.  In 1849 the present church was built.  Although history does not record how this was accomplished, $2,500 was somehow raised from a church membership of only 110 people.  Most of the members were undoubtedly quite poor and contributing money for the church fund was a real sacrifice for them.

 

In a historical sketch read on the occasion of the semi-centennial anniversary of the founding of this church, the Honorable Nelson I. Norton said, “Your church edifice was completed in 1849 and was dedicated on such a Christmas Day as becomes a Cattaraugus winter …….The building of your church in a community where none were rich and most were poor was effected by numerous small contributions, not all confined to those who were members.”

 

A parsonage was built in 1865.

 

The Hinsdale Methodist Church has not been without a “stated supply” for its pulpit since the Methodist Circuit was formed in 1819.  The church was incorporated in 1848 and until 1863 was a part of the Olean and Cuba Charge.  Since 1863 it has had an independent existence.

 

The site on which the church stands is held by a warranty deed executed by Emery Wood and Permelia, his wife, which for the sum of $1,000.00, conveyed it to John White, William Morris, Wells Lyman, Seymour Noble and Lorenze Yates, as trustees, with the understanding that the house when not occupied by Methodists should be free to any other denomination.

 

In 1899 at the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the church, a beautiful communion service was presented to the church by the children of John D. and Sarah White who were among its first members.  

 

In 1863 Hinsdale Church separated from its mother church, Olean and continued to exist independently until 1927 when Hinsdale became part of the Cuba charge.  It remained in this connection until 1965 when Hinsdale was again assigned its own pastor.

         

Until the building of the Central School, the church served as a community center.  Memorial Day services, school plays, programs and commencement were held there, as well as Lyceum programs and home talent plays.  When the old school burned in 1906, classes were housed in the church until the red brick school was built.

 

On September 14, 1930 the present windows were dedicated.  In 1949 the sanctuary was redecorated and the pipe organ was dedicated.  Throughout the years many new pieces of pulpit furniture and accessories, as well as lights and other items have been given as memorials.

 

Several members engaged in Christian ministry were present at the 125th Anniversary.  They included Frieda Morris, a deaconess of the United Methodist Women, serving churches in the vicinity of Pikesville, Tennessee; Donald Ingram, who presented an organ recital, organist and choirmaster of St. Peter’s Church in Albany; and the Rev. Dr. Norman A. Baxter, son and grandson of former members,  president of the University of Fresno in Fresno, California.

 

In 1999 observance of the 150th Anniversary members of the congregation were invited to renew their membership vows during the Sunday’s service.  Highlights of the year long celebration was to be the visit of Bishop Hae-Jong Kim but she was unable to attend; Debra Cronin was at the service instead; a memorial service to honor members and friends of the church; a sesquicentennial organ recital by organist Don Ingram.

 

After the morning worship service on January 2, 2000 a time capsule was sealed concluding the year long celebration.  Such items as family trees, newspaper clippings, photographs and many other items were placed inside.  Mark your calendar to be there when the capsule is opened on December 19, 2049.

 

The recent completed addition was dedicated in a special service on October 29, 2005.  This is the first addition to the church since it was built.  The congregation has realized for some time the need of additional space and facilities.  The Administrative Board and Trustees planned this structure under the leadership of a Building Committee whose members were Norman Emerson, (Chair), Bill Clayson and Paul George.  This new addition will be multi-purpose in its use, serving community, social and educational purposes.

 

Note:  The early history came from Lila Cooper.

 

 

Past Pastors

 

The Hinsdale Charge was formed from Olean and Cuba in 1863 and comprised Hinsdale and Haskell Flats.

         

The ministers serving the charge:                                                                    

                                                                      

Rev. McInyre

1863-1865

Rev. Drake

1865-1865

Rev. T. Parker

1865-1867

Rev. Lathem

1867-1869

Rev. Barnhart

1869-1872

Rev. R.R. Pierce

1872-1874

Rev. C.S. Daly

1874-1876

Rev. I.L. Bowen

1876-1877

Rev. A. H. Johnston

1877-1881

Rev. Jackson

1881-1882

Rev. Peterson

1882-1884

Rev. W. J. Janes

1884-1887

Rev. Wallace

1887-1889

Rev. G.W. Howland

1889-1891

Rev. J.M. Leach

1891-1893

Rev. McGovern

1893-1895

Rev. J.G. Hann

1895-1896

Rev. T. H. Carryer

1896-1901

Rev. Hill

1901-1904

Rev. D.C. Irvin

1904

Rev. G. Robinson

1904-1906

Rev. J.E. Tallent

1906-1907

Rev. W.L. Moore

1907-1910

Rev. A.A. Craw

1910-1913

Rev. J.W. Archibald

1914-1916

Rev. Mark Shenton

1916-1918

Rev. W. Harrington

1918

Rev. F. Asquith

1918-1919

Rev. David Angue

1919-1921

Rev. Richard Brookes

1921-1923

Rev. Perkins

1923-1926

Rev. William C. Edmunds

1926-1927

Rev. C.H.M. Whelan

1927-1928

Rev. Elmer Belknap

1928-1931

Rev. Homer Evans

1931-1936

Rev. Fay H. Chapman

1936-1943

Rev. Glenn Brewster

1943-1947

Rev. A. John Amundsen

1947-1951

Rev. Ralph Hutchinson

1951-1958

Rev. Earl Bell

1958-1963

Rev. William Horn

1963-1965

Rev. Wayne Byham

1965-1966

Rev. Arland Rees

1966-1971

Rev. Dr. Carl Schultz

1971-