History of Portville First Presbyterian

1849-June 17-11 members unanimously agreed that congregation should adopt the title “First Presbyterian Church of Portville

1849-July-resolved that the Lord’s Supper would be regularly administered at intervals of   months and hold monthly meetings for prayer, conference and transaction of business

1849-August 11-first monthly meeting

1849-September 9-nine additional members were accepted

1850-decided to unite with Buffalo Presbytery

1850-voted on Missionary Collection to be done for charitable and missionary work totaled $25 June through November and was divided between Home and Foreign Societies

1851-Missionary Collection totaled $53.37 and equally divided between Boards of Home and Foreign Missions

1852-Spring, decide to build a church (36 by 54 feet)

1852-November 25-the new Presbyterian Church was dedicated “with no outstanding debt to be paid”

1853-July 3-first baptisms

1860-a parsonage was built for $1,500

1864-January-congregation raised $5,000 for the family of Amos Humiston, who had been killed at battle of Gettysburg in July 1863

1870’s-church was remodeled, furnace installed and new carpets purchased at cost of $5,000

1878-membership was at 85 and Sunday School total of 90

1881-1885-new bell purchased for $500, new parsonage built costing $3,500, church frescoed and new windows purchased, two from J.R. Lamb of  New York City, two new missionary societies named The Young Ladies Missionary Society and the What So Ever Band-organized in 1893 for education of young girls 10 to 18 years old, for missionary work

1883-November 20-Thanksgiving Day, pipe organ used for first time

1886-1903-membership grew to 173 and Sunday School grew to 281

1886-October 10-Young Men’s Society, ages 18-45, organized for the promotion of moral, social, literary and religious interests

1887-Women’s Christian Temperence Union (W.C.T.U.) organized           

1889-flooded

1893-services established for the Swedish-speaking people of the village

1893-1896-quarterly news magazine Guide Board published by Rev. Clarke

1895-June 26-bolt of lightning struck the church and the wooden building was razed with the baptismal font, communion table, a few hymn books, some chairs, Sunday School books and a piano were the only things saved from the flames

1896-April 26-29-ceremonies dedicating and consecrating the new church building

1900-October 16-first wedding in new church (Miss Harriet Lowry to William R. Pooley)

1912-Rose Window installed behind pulpit

1922-June 13-Westminister Guild organized to stimulate greater interest in foreign and home missions and the study of the Bible

1930’s-basement floored to make additional rooms for the Sunday School

1942-flooded

1946-flooded

1966-Fall-new Sunday School addition, at a cost of $39,000, dedicated to accommodate expanding church school program

1972-flooded

2005-September 25-new wheelchair lift dedicated with side entrance to priority parking