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Stone Church Presbyterian Church

7549 Lake Road South
585-494-1847

In the early part of the 19th Century people began to move to this part of Genesee County from Connecticut. After getting their homes built and crops planted, they decided to organize a religious society. They met on Sundays in homes and barns, but finally in 1828 they made plans to erect the building that became known as Stone Church. In trust for the future, they committed their money, labor and time, when they probably had little of these to spare. Although it was officially called "The Second Congregational Society of LeRoy and Bergen", it is suspected that everyone, from the first, called it "Stone Church", as is the case today. Originally affiliated with the Congregational denomination, Stone Church became Presbyterian in 1882.

Since that distant time this small church has been bringing the blessings of Jesus Christ to the community and wider world through the lives of its faithful people. Although its history and our building are an important testimony of trust in God, it is the way that church members live their lives in the light of the Gospel that is the best expression of faith. On the church's 175th Anniversary in 2003, the commitment of those church-founders, and all who have followed them, was recognized and honored.

Visitors to the church often ask: "If it's called 'Stone Church' where are the stones?" The original building was made of stone blocks from Fort Hill, but in 1865 it was replaced with the wood frame structure now in use. It is believed that the original stones have long since been incorporated into the foundations of the older homes in the neighborhood. The testimony of Scripture in I Peter 2:5 is also illustrative: the apostle urges followers of Christ to consider themselves as "living stones" in a spiritual temple. It asserts that this image of "living stones", for the significance of the church's ministry is not based upon the building, but upon the faith and commitment of the people that have gathered here since 1828.

In addition to the church, the hamlet features two other landmarks of historical interest: The old Stone Church school house now houses the Bergen Town Museum, and the Stone Church Rural Cemetery is nearby. The church has a web page (www.stonechurch.net), with many historical references and photographs.

Records from 1828 mention the names of the first trustees of the church: Ishi Franklin, Nathan Wilcox, William Ellis, Martin C. Ward, Luther C. Pierson, Abel C. Ward, Ichabod Curtiss, Martin Kelsey, and James Crampton. Current elders of the church in 2004 are: Grace Lathan, Paul Harvey, Dorothy Harvey, Ruth Stewart, Muriel Haymon, and Wendy Nupp.

Persons who have served as pastors since 1828: Elihu Mason, John Walker, William Bridgman, Abel Ward, Charles Foote, J.W. Fox, John Wood, William Johns, Nathaniel Hurd, Otis B. Waters, Nathaniel Elmer, Edwin Allen, Benjamin A. Bartolph, Lyman Hanna, , Theron L. Waldo, George S. Swezey, Joseph H. Hunsberger, Orton H. Carmichael, James A. Anderson, Joseph Sunter, John Van Tilburg, Marvin F. Hogenboom, Ernest T. Roney, Joseph Weston, A. Carl Dodge, Raymond H. Edwards, Lawrence D. Graves, David W. Ayers, Frank W. Twitchell, John B. Spencer, Grant A. MacMichael, Granville Greenwold, Earl R. Whipple, James H. Scott, Dewitt MacEachron, J. Ruport Kenny, James A. Morrison, Horace A. Dutton, Francis L. Strock, Gerrit J. Geurtsen, Harold Rosenberger, William Vallet, Stephen Roberts, Francis Drake, Bruce Tucker, Jacquelyn Starr Lewis, Lee Beckhusen, Gayle Roberts, and James R. Renfrew.


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