Church
History
Woestina Reformed was one of the oldest churches in the
The stained glass windows
in the present church were given by several church families and remain some of
the most beautiful to be seen anywhere.
Thanks to God’s ever-present love and guidance “The Church In The
Wilderness” remains an active, vital part of his ministry in the community
today.
In the spring of 1936 the planning
committee of the Woestina Reformed Church presented plans for a new church
building. The committee, appointed by Reverend Pelon was made up of William T.
Turnbull, Andrew J. Schuyler, Frank A. Wilcox, Irving C. McAuley, and Edward L.
Pitney, Chairman. This same committee was appointed to continue as the building
committee. Nine bids were received for the general construction phase. The
contract was awarded to Andrew J. Schuyler. There were five bids submitted for
the plumbing and heating phase. Daniel Bennett was awarded the contract. Pember
& Demers of
Work began in early May. The
cornerstone was laid on September 14, 1936. The dedication service, led by Reverend
Pelon was held on December 11, 1936 and on Sunday, December 20th the
bell was dedicated. It was a gift from Frederick A. Stair.
About the only thing saved from the
devastating fire that occurred November 9, 1935 requiring the need for a new
church building, was the Communion Service. The congregation was fortunate in
the financing of the new church building besides the $14,000 in insurance
money, William T. Turnbull and his sister, Matilda Schermerhorn each
contributed $500, which was a large sum of money in 1936. Mrs. Schermerhorn
also donated the large stained glass window of Jesus and the children which is
over the front entrance.
The furnishings for the Pastor’s
study were given by Edna Rynex. The circular window over the pulpit was
contributed by the congregation, as a special gift in recognition of the many
years of faithful service provided by Reverend and Mrs. Alexander Hill
(1890-1932).
The present church building was
completed for a sum of $23,021.38 according to the Building Committee Report
dated March 1, 1937, submitted by E.L.Pitney, Treasurer of the Building Fund.
In just over a year the new church
building rose out of the ashes and continues its mission to this day. All
thanks to a faithful and dedicated congregation!
On
Friday, December 11, 1936 less than a year after the devastating fire that
destroyed the original Woestina Reformed church building a dedication service
was held for the current edifice. This was a testament to both the faith and
dedication of the Consistory and congregation at that time. In less than twelve
months they were able to secure the needed funding and put all the needed
pieces in place to once again have a church building of their own to worship
in. Thanks to their faithfulness "the light in the wilderness” still
shines bright today. A copy of that dedication program follows. I have chosen
to use the copy with handwritten notes that tell the names of some of the
people who took part in that service. Yes, some of us older church members do
remember some of those persons. J.W. Cox (no relation to Paulyn and Carolyn)
was the organist when I first began attending Woestina as a child. E.A. Smith
was a choir member with a deep voice any child would remember and Rev.
Alexander Hill’s daughter was a member of the congregation during my growing up
years and into my adulthood until the Lord called her home. I tell you this to
show the importance and the comfort of being able to trace your history. In the
coming months I will be writing about the many gifts dedicated to our church.
Elder
Fred A. Stair gave the bell to the Church as a gift to the congregation at the
dedication of the new church building. It was not a new bell but rather a bell
that was given a new home from which to summon God’s children to worship.
Meneely & Kimberly
“From
youth to age the sound of the bell is sent forth through crowded streets, or
floats with sweetest melody above the quiet fields. It gives a tongue to time,
which would otherwise pass over our heads as quietly as clouds, and lends a
warning to its perpetual flight. It is the voice of rejoicing at festivals,
christenings and marriages, and of mourning at the departure of the soul. From
every churchyard it summons the faithful of distant valleys to the House of
God; and when life is ended they sleep within the bell’s deep sound. It’s tone,
therefore, comes to be fraught with memorial associations and we know what a
throng of mental images of the past can be aroused by the music of bells.”
-
-
A distinguished English writer. (Quoted in “Meneely Bells”)
Next
Sunday take time to listen to the sound of the bell and take time to wonder
whom before you sat and listened to the bell. Who were they and what part did
they play in the life of
The
following is a list of the items that were placed in the church cornerstone at
the dedication service on September 14, 1936. It is a copy of the original list
as typed on church letterhead. As I again read through the items included in
the cornerstone I was reminded of the continuity of our church life and that of
our denomination. The importance of the items chosen for the cornerstone remain
important to us to this day. A Certified copy of the Original certificate of
Incorporation was one of the items included. I have included a copy of that
document in this article also. As you read through the items listed do not fail
to read the line at the bottom of the church stationary: “One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after.” Perhaps
that statement is a testament to the prosperity and longevity of our church.
Through good times and bad, prosperous times and lean the call to do the Lord’s
work has remained the focus of Woestina, the Church in the Wilderness.
Inserts
included:
Dedication
Service Pages
Certificate
of Incorporation
In 1984
Woestina Reformed Church celebrated it's 200th Anniversary of
service to the Lord. As a part of that
celebration the Anniversary Committee proposed the idea of each family in the
church preparing a quilt block to be assembled into a quilt. The quilt blocks
were distributed among the church families.
Completed blocks (either embroidered or appliquéd) were returned to
Janet Pickney who assembled them into a quilt. Helene Brogan, Janet Pickney and
Ginny Neff did squares that could not be completed for various reasons. The
quilt was tied off and finished by the Ladies Aide Group. It was hung in the
back of the church where it may still be seen today. The colors of the quilt
coordinate with the colors of the church's stained glass windows.
The year
2009 was an event filled year for the Woestina Reformed Church family. 2009
marked our 225th year of continuous service to our Lord. Our “little
church in the wilderness” remains very active both within our church family and
our community.
Planning
for the big event began three years prior. The nine member anniversary
committee was a cross section of our congregation. Each of us brought our
special gifts and talents to the celebration process. Dorothy Karl was our
honorary member being our oldest church member. Others on our committee were
Jim Baker, Garrett Cowsert, Kerian Cowsert, Carolyn Cox, Ginny Neff, Janet
Pickney, Skip Wilcox and Linda Young.
During 2008
members of the congregation were given muslin squares that had been prepared by
Mary Ann Jones. Everyone was asked to prepare their square as they chose. Those
completed by the announced deadline were given to Janet Pickney. Janet gave
them to Pat Braismaster who assembled them into a beautiful quilt.
Members
provided stories of church life through interviews and covered dish supper
gatherings. 2009 had three main events. The first was in May, on communion
Sunday, when a special dedication service was held to hang the new quilt. It
joined the one prepared for our 200th Anniversary. We also
celebrated with a special coffee hour prepared by the committee members.
On
September 12-13 we had our Homecoming Weekend. Five of our former pastors and
their families returned to take part in our celebration. Rev Peter Durkee, his
wife Anne and mother-in-law Iris Civalier came from Olmstedville, NY, Rev
Nicholas Vander Weide and his wife Doris joined us from Penn Yan, NY, Rev Stanley
Bomgarden and his wife Sylvia joined us from Fulton, IL, Rev Roger Eernisse and
his wife Sharon came from Grand Rapids, MI and Rev David Vander Laan, his wife
Lori and their triplets, Abby, Eric and Seth
came from George, IA. On Saturday we had a day of games, pie contests,
children’s drawing contests and a covered dish supper. After the supper we had
a time of remembrance and sharing. We have a remembrance book that was passed
around for individuals to enter their special memories in. That book remains
available in the church hall for anyone wishing to sign it. It was greatly
enjoyed by all.
On Sunday
our current pastor, Reverend Kent McHeard had a very special service prepared
for us. Each of the five pastors joined him in various portions of the service.
Some of us were transported to Sundays years before, while others had the
opportunity to hear these pastors for the first time. We shared a very special
coffee hour following the service. Pictures were taken and good byes were said
as most of them had to leave for home by plane, auto and camper.
In November
we held a very special communion service. Communion was served using the
communion set saved from the 1935 fire. It is the only thing saved that
devastating event. After service Pastor McHeard led the congregation outside
and a re-dedication of the cornerstone of our present church was held. We then
shared in a soup and sandwich luncheon as we ended our formal year long
festivities.
Garrett
Cowsert ordered beautiful commemorative coins depicting our church with
scripture on the reverse. These coins may still be purchased for $10.00 each
with a $5.00 mailing cost if needed. You may contact Ginny Neff at
518-887-5192, by e-mail at pneff@nycap.rr.com
or