On March 27, 1843 a portion of the congregation of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Seneca Falls seceeded and organized the First Wesleyan Society of Seneca Falls at the school house. They built a church costing $1770 on a lot costing $600 at the corner of Hynderse and Fall Streets. That same year, many congregationalists who had joined the Presbyterian Church after their church had disbanded, withdrew over the question of American slavery and joined the Wesleyan church. In 1852 an effort was made to revive the Congregational church, and Rev. B.F. Bradford, who had served the Wesleyan church for 3 years was called to the pastorate. For a year and a half the group worshipped in the concert Hall, but Mr. Bradford's health was impaired, and the group disbanded. Most of the group returned to the Wesleyan congregation where they remained until 1869 when Rev. Lyle, the minister, left the Wesleyans after being foiled in an attempt to transform that church into a Congregational church. Mr. and Mrs. Jabez Matthews and Abram Failing were prominent members who went back and forth between the two groups. The Congregational group called themselves the First Congregational Church of Seneca Falls, and met in the Good Templar's Hall in December 1869 with 63 members.
The split left the Wesleyans with only 60 members down from a high of 200 in 1862, but by 1875 the church was strong enough to dedicate a new church, valued at $14,500. The Sunday School was active, and the church possessed a library of 550 volumes.
Records of the Wesleyan Methodist Church consist of 7 numbered volumes containing trustee meeting minutes (book 1, 1843-71? book 5, 1880-1913); proceedings of the church's monthly business meetings, (book 2, 1858-1863, book 3, 1863-1870); and "clerk's records," 1874-1880 which are probably minutes of monthly business meetings (book 73 1874-80); and several miscellaneous papers including receipts, certificates of dismission and a subscription list. The records document the 1869 split, church discipline and finances, and reactions to the Women's Temperance Union and freemasonry. Records of the Congregational offshoots, though later expurged from the records are legible.
First Wesleyan Methodist Church of Seneca Falls records, #6049. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
statement on formation, call to build a church, election of trustees
subscription list
trustee's minutes commence. Resolution that the chapel shall not be opened for speaking on political parties
resolution that if the chapel is sold those who contributed toward it must be reimbursed
3 recended
resolved to insure the chapel, to build a sidewalk and culvert over ditches at the front of the lot
voted to charge $5.00 to open the house of worship for mass meetings
illegible
The president and secretary are directed to take legal proceedings against all or some persons who forcibly entered the church.
request by Bro. Denning to use the church for a Quarterly meeting of those "claiming to be of the Wesleyan Church" denied
resolved to protect the church property by having the church gate locked except during services and the classroom locked on Sunday and to buy furniture
special election of 5 trustees in place of 5 who resigned
2 trustees elected
begin to plan for a new church list of members of the Wesleyan Church (some marked with x's and dated, mostly 1869 printed roll of members notes, 2 trustees minutes, 1871
Proceedings of regular Monthly Meetings commence, resolved to hold only morning and evening services from now on, and to elect 5 stewards
resolution disapproving of a brother who burned the church's accounts, plans for a "donation visit" are made
many new members
many new members
many new members, some baptised by immersion, some by sprinkling
many new members, some baptised by immersion, some by sprinkling
many new members, some baptised by immersion, some by sprinkling
many new members, some baptised by immersion, some by sprinkling
trial for immoral behavior
charges of immorality brought
sisters are elected stewards resolution forbidding the use of the church to unorthodox ministers
requested that Sister Wright take charge of the communion service
bro. feels that the church and the U.S. Constitution are incompatible and withdraws
sister expelled for immorality
charge against a Member for immorality
a "festival" (ice cream social is planned, (earned $176.27)
resolved to buy an organ to replace the melodian
a parsonage is purchased
many records illegible
resolution to form an executive committee to take over membership duties
the group begins to call itself a society
resolution changing the name to the First Congregational Church
new trustees elected in place of those who had left the church
resolution calling for the termination of the Pastor's duties to the congregation
executive committee dissolved, stewards, treasurer and clerk dismissed, members dropped by the executive committee restored
recommended to consult a lawyer regarding the removal of the trustees and obtaining an injunction forbidding the trustees from paying the minister
in book 3
in Book 3 expurged
minutes continue
Bro. involved with the Odd Fellows agrees to leave the organization rather than be expelled
discussion on getting a lecturer on Free Masonry (C.A. Blanchar agreed to allow the Women's Temperance Movement to hold prayer meetings in the church. Five delegates appointed to attend the Syracuse meeting of the Christians opposed to Secret Societies Trustee Records commencing Apr. 5, 1871 discuss construction of the church
a list of probationers and members
"Book for Recording the doings of the Board of Trustees of Wesleyan Methodist Church Commencing 1880"
Seneca County Christian Association opposed to Secret Societies is granted permission to use the lecture room
Permission granted for use of the lecture room for a lecture to ladies on health
renters of the parsonage are given notice to leave since they drink beer bills for hardware dated 1907
first entry
resolution on the membership of Mrs. Susie Palmer membership book purchased because of a resolution passed July 6, 1874
lists name, received (when, how), dismissed (when, how)
baptisms, none listed
roll of probationary members
Voted to try to get the Saturday morning class to organize
list of trustees for 1872-77 and stewards
church to offer a place for the Women's Temperance movement to hold weekly prayer meetings appointment of 5 delegates to attend the National Christian Association opposed to Secret Societies meeting in Syracuse
members arrange to attend the Rochester Conference Camp Meeting
special meeting to devise ways and means of finishing the church
resolved to cease offering space for meetings to the Women's Temperance Movement because it refuses to identify itself as a Christian organization
appointment of delegates to the Anti-Secret Societies convention and to take a collection for the state agent
discussion of the resolution concerning the word "Christian" in the Women's Temperance Movement
2 men are appointed to protect the church from unruly young men and boys
resolution commending the pastor for his services is lost
Women's Temperance Union Resolution recended, they can meet in the church
report of the examining committee dealing with the unity of the church and its members
the pastor states his reason for wishing to leave
Annual Report to the Conference. Such reports occur every April from now on
motion on having an anti-tobacco sermon
resolved that the church opposes appropriating money from the Missionary Fund to any church in Farmington, N.Y.
plans to have a raspberry festival
George P, Seekill wrote to the church about his legal difficulties
member dismissed for Unchristian conduct and breaking Ecclesiastical Law
Contains receipts (1879, 1901), lists of members (1901, 1911), 2 certificates of dismission from Christ Church in Fayette, and a subscription list (1875) for completing construction of the church.