The early days of Cuba are characterized by one of the historians of our village in a non-favorable manner. He says: “the settlement of this town commenced in 1815, by a few families of the northern and eastern portions of the state. They are said to have been loose in principle and practice.” The statement might cause us to blush painfully for forebears, were it not for the comforting inference; for the same historian adds for our consolation another fact, mainly that “they were followed by others in 1819 and 1820, some of whom were pious.” It would be odious to say that all this early piety was Presbyterian; sufficient to say that the first organized piety was affected of that deep true color.

For some time evidently there was no organization affected, but the Spirit of Christianity, which is a spirit of endeavor, could not rest content while all the community was in spiritual chaos. The fever of organization was in its infancy or even in embryo, in those days. For seven or eight years, probably, meetings were held without perfecting any organization, and were under the leadership of Reverend Hubbard, who delivered the first sermon ever preached in the village in the year 1818.

The minutes taken from a meeting on July 17, 1827: “A meeting was held in the Town of Cuba, County of Allegheny, State of New York, agreeable to public in previous notice for the purpose of forming a church. Present were Reverend Hurd and Captain James Davidson, delegate from the Presbyterian Church of Haight, New York.  (Presently the town of Black Creek, New York.) Besides these two were five other men and five women.

The meeting was opened with prayer. After strict examination of these individuals, “in doctrine and experimental religion,” these men and women formed the Presbyterian Church of Christ by their entering into a Covenant and were consecrated by prayer.  The early worship services were held in the Baptist Meeting House in Friendship, New York, and session meetings were held in many places, especially schoolhouses.  There was evidently no relationship with any ecclesiastical body until February 14, at 1829, when, at a meeting presided over by Reverend Reuben Hurd, it was decided to “join this church with others forming the Presbytery,” and Kendal Wilder was appointed as the first delegate to Presbytery.

During its earlier life this church was in connection with what is now the Congregational Church of Friendship, and we know that the services were held sometimes in Cuba and sometimes in Friendship.  During the formative period, the theory of the people was “to make haste slowly” and while they were Presbyterian in name, it was “by slow degrees, by more and more,” that they reached the point where they were Presbyterians in fact. 

Under the date of February 8, 1833, at some “Seventh-Day Baptist Meeting House,” where it is not stated, “it was decided,” as the resolution words it, “that the interests of the Church evidently require that two members of the church be chosen and ordained to the office of ruling elders in the church.” The two chosen, who thus became the first elders in this church, were Kendal Wilder and Josiah Bond.  The following Sabbath, a sermon was preached by Reverend S. W. May, on the “office and duty of the ruling elder,” and after the sermon the two elders elect were ordained.  The first meeting of the session was in connection with the congregation on February 23, 1833.   A place of worship had not been erected, and on the eighteenth of May, 1833, the session had its first meeting without the congregation at a school house near Esquire Johnson’s. 

Beginning with a meeting, held “in Mr. Smith’s stone building” on the 12th of February, 1835, a discussion as to what the government of this church should be made itself decidedly prominent.  Misunderstandings seemed to be very general, but the difficulty was bridged by the passing of resolutions at this meeting, settling on the question by proclaiming a Presbyterian-Congregational polity. 

On March 28, 1835, the first measures relative to the separation of the two branches into individual churches was taken, and during the year the separation was accomplished.  In September, 1837, the name of Reverend A. S. Allen appeared as the first pastor of the Cuba Church.    The first Church edifice was erected and the building was dedicated in 1838.  It was a wooden building measuring 50 X 36 feet.

In 1842, a recurring problem of Church government arose and at a regular church meeting in June, a committee was appointed to canvas the congregation and report the decision of the people.  The question was asked as to the preference for a Presbyterian, Congregational, or mixed form of Church government.  On June 18, 1842, the committee reported that most members leaned toward a congregational form of government.  A committee was formed to draw up a confession of faith and covenant and rules for discipline.  On July 19, 1842, in a report to the congregation, every article was challenged by those present.  In October the congregation met and did an about face, adopting the Presbyterian form of government. 

The first church building was lost by fire.  On July 4, 1871, the cornerstone of the present building was laid on the same site.  The first pledges of money for this church building yielded approximately $10,600.00.  The entire building cost nearly $20,000.00.  The new church building was dedicated on Thursday, June 13, 1872.  The Reverend Corliss B. Gardner was pastor at the time.  The mortgage is paid in full in 1879. 

The present pipe organ was placed in the church in 1884, costing $1,850.00.  Extras, probably the case and installation, were $400.00—total $2,250.00.  It is said that the fund for this organ was started by the sale of a quilt made by Mrs. Eddy B. Wilson.  Said quilt remains presently in Westminster Room.  The organ was made by Steere & Sons in approximately the year 1883.  The number of ranks is 11.  Charles P. Luce, was pastor at the time of the installation of the organ.  The organ was refurbished in 1997.  The lovely baptismal font was presented to the church during this period by Mrs. Russell Smith, in memory of loved ones. 

In 1956, the balcony above the Westminster room was extended across the entire room, making our present Sunday school rooms.  Previously the balcony was divided into classrooms by movable screens. The large room upstairs was used for the opening Sunday School exercises.  It was renovated in 2004 in memory of Mae Warren and is a welcoming nursery for our littlest ones.

Our Church has been served by the following twenty-nine pastors. 

Rev. Reuben Hurd                  At organization              

Rev. Samuel May                   1833-35

Rev. A. S. Allen                     1837-46

Rev. N. Leighton                    1846-49

Rev. J. Mynkoop                   1849-52

Rev. N. Allen                         1853-59

Rev. M. C. White                   1860-61

Rev. John E. Baker                1863-65

Rev. C. B. Gardiner, D.D.     1865-74

Rev. John C. Taylor               1875-83

Rev. C. P. Luce, Ph. D.          1883-89

Rev. M. P. White                   1890-94

Rev. Robert Clements, D. D.  1894-1900

Rev. Thomas F. Archbold       1901-04

Rev. Edwin Hardin                 1904-08

Rev. B. F. Brundage, D. D.    1908-12

Rev. Lee Alan Gates               1912-16

Rev. Frank Leonard                1916-20

Rev. Robert Findlay, B. Th.    1921-31

Rev. Robert Pursley                1932-41

Rev. Milton Paul Seeger         1941-44

Rev. Henry Richmond            1945-48

Rev. Irving Flint Beal              1949-55

Rev. J. Ernest Jolly                 1956-65

Rev. G. Curtis Conklin           1966-81

Rev. Linda Hiatt Chase          1982-90

Rev. Michael Cantanzaro       1993-97

Rev. Jon Reiley-Goddard       1997-98

Rev. Kerry Bean                    1998-2000

Rev. John C. Woodring          2003-present