Biographical Information on Former Pastors of 1st Presbyterian Church

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Biographical Information on Former Important Pastors of 1^st Presbyterian Church

Rev. Thaddeus Osgood: (24 October 1775 – 19 January 1852) He was the youngest son of Josiah Osgood and Sarah Stevens Osgood; he was born in Methuen, MA[i] and never married. His father, whom he was very close to died when he was thirteen years old, at first he had decided to become a tanner however, during the Evangelical movement that swept New England during the turn-of-the-century he decided to devote his life to God. He attended Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH from 1799 to 1803, studying under Drs. Lathrop, Worcester, and Dwight, Congregational ministers, and received his license to preach in 1804 and acted as a supply pastor to many poorer congregations in Connecticut before setting out in October 1807 to spread the gospel to the many Indian tribes and destitute settlements in New York and Upper Canada. He was ordained by the Council of Congregational Ministers on June 15, 1808, in North Wilbraham, MA. And was appointed a missionary by the Society for Propagating the Gospel among Indians and others in North America, preaching in settlements through which he passed. Initially, he concentrated on the distribution of religious tracts, although his interest turned increasingly towards the issues of illiteracy. His journeys, took him through Vermont into "The Canadas", crossing at Niagara before he came to Buffalo, after his visit to Buffalo, he went on to Pennsylvania, returning by a more southern route to Hartford, CT. In the course of his tours he held religious services in the settlements through which he passed, organizing churches, wherever it was desirable to do so, and rendering such service in distributing books, baptizing children, and in other ways, as the circumstances demanded. He first visited the village of Buffalo in 1808 as a traveling missionary preacher and it was during his fifth annual trip to Buffalo that he founded and organized with approximately ten members, what was then called the First Presbyterian and Congregational Church of Buffalo, NY. This original name was derived from the historical records that indicate that the Presbyterian and Congregational churches were looking at the prospects of joining together; this however was abandoned by 1815.

Following his 1812 visit to Buffalo, NY, he traveled to England where he organized support for mission work; he was remarkably successful in his efforts raising over $5000.00, returning to Quebec City in 1814 where he established a school for promoting the education of the poor in Canada. Reverend Osgood, a tireless worker, traveled seven times overseas to England and Scotland, most notably in 1825-26, 1829, 1835 to raise funds for missionary work throughout the areas that are now Ontario and Quebec finally concentrating his efforts in Montreal, which in his later years, became the focus of his work. Although a lifetime Congregationalist, he always stressed non-denominational aspects of his work and was throughout his lifetime, described as being a quiet, inoffensive man of earnest piety, always self-denying about his accomplishments and very much devoted to the spiritual welfare of the young. He died in Glasgow, Scotland in January 19^th, 1852[ii], near the start of his seventh overseas trip to secure funding for missionary work.

1^st Pastor: Miles Powell Squier, D.D.[iii] (May 4^th, 1792- June 22^nd, 1866) Pastor of 1^st Presbyterian Church from (3 May, 1816- 1 January 1824). Born in Cornwall, VT,[iv] the second child of Wait Squier and Hannah Powell Squier, who were both of English decent and natives of Berkshire County, MA, they were married in 1790. He was one of three sons and three daughters who survived into adulthood, the names of his siblings were Wait, Jr., Calvin, Laura, Lorinda, Aurelia, and Huldana, Laura and Lorinda. His parents, Wait Sr. and Hannah Powell Squier moved to New Haven, CT in 1794 where the elder Wait Squier took up farming.[v] Miles P. Squier, who was in his youth, a rather precocious lad, graduated from Middlebury College in 1811. There is evidence that he attended under a scholarship program for the poor.[vi] Miles Squier was especially interested and proficient in Greek literature. Following Middlebury, he then attended Andover Theological Seminary, graduating in 1814. Although he preached his first sermon to the parishioners of the First Presbyterian Society as a licentiate pastor in the service of the Young People’s Missionary Society in 1815, he so impressed the members that before he left, he was given a letter of invitation to serve as pastor for the then incredible salary of $1000 yearly. The then 24 year old pastor returned to Buffalo in December 1815 however, his installation was not until May 3^rd 1816. While living in Buffalo on 22 February, 1820 he married his wife, Catherine Seymour (8 October, 1792 – 6 December, 1873), then of Rome, NY but who was born in Hartford, CT.[vii] Miles and Catherine had no children.

First Presbyterian Church would be his first and only time that he accepted such a position as a “settled pastor”. During his pastorate the First Presbyterian Church membership grew, adding 158 members during his over seven years here. The first church building was constructed per a contract with Mr. John Stacy, a church member. The construction of this wooden building was authorized on Tuesday, December 24^th, 1822; the total cost of construction being $874, John Stacy however, deducted the cost of a pew for his own use. Money raised from pew sales totaled $100 in excess over the cost of construction. The edifice was completed in May 1824. During 1823, the congregation had fallen in arrears with his salary, so the then 32 year old pastor made the difficult decision that it was time to dissolve his relationship with the church, so on January 1^st, 1824, Rev. Squier preached his last sermon as pastor and moved on.

Following his ministry at First Church Rev. Squier left Buffalo to do missionary work and education. He was the original owner of lots 85 and part of lot 86 in Buffalo, NY which he sold on July 19^th, 1825[viii]. He and his wife settled in Geneva, NY where he established the Geneva Female Seminary and the Geneva Lyceum for young men, especially for those preparing for education for the Christian ministry thereafter; later he served as financial agent of Auburn Theological Seminary, where he served on the Board of Trustees from 1838 to 1845, and then, in 1849 he received and accepted the professorship of philosophy at Beloit College in Beloit, WI. In 1850 he was elected to the chair of Mental and Moral Philosophy following a $10,000 bequest to the college, this was a post he held until his death where in the 1865 catalogue he received from Beloit College, he is listed as “Professor Emeritus”[ix]. He maintained close ties with First Church through his long life and no doubt visited during his travels between Geneva, NY and Beloit, WI. In Rev. Dr. Walter Clarke’s “The First Church of Buffalo[x]” (1862) he mentions his close friendship with Dr. Squier and his assistance in providing information for that work. Miles P. Squier died June 22, 1866, in his old home where he lived, at 5 Lyceum Place in Geneva, NY located the heart of the Finger Lakes on the north end of Seneca Lake, at the age of 77. His wife, Catherine Squier, died December 6, 1873 in Geneva, NY at the age of eighty-two years[xi].

2^nd Pastor: Gilbert Crawford (May 1792 - 29 June 1848) Pastor from (May 1824- 16 September,1828) Born in Scotland and educated in Edinburgh and was a student of theology at Princeton, he was in fact, a genuine Scotsman, described as being impetuous, and at times impatient, he was however a serious, powerful and exemplary man of God. He accepted the call at a wisely adjusted salary of $600 yearly which was more in line with what the congregation could afford. It was during his ministry that 123 members were added to the rolls of membership, and that the “Old First” Brick Church edifice was built and dedicated, on 28 March 1827. He was a person of extreme personal economy, when he died; he left an estate valued at over $400,000.00, a considerable sum in the mid 19^th century. His earthly fortune was divided generously in 1851 according to his Last Will and Testament, the bulk of which went to many worthwhile organizations.

3^rd Pastor: Sylvester Eaton: (12 August 1790- 14 May 1844) Pastor from (9 April 1829– 2 September 1834) He was one of seven children of Nicholas and Katherine Eaton. Educated at Williams College and Princeton Theological Seminary was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of Albany in 1818. He served as pastor at Congregational Church in Norwalk, CT in 1820 until 1827, then at Albany, NY, until Feb. 1829, before he was called to the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church, Buffalo, NY. He was installed here on 9 April 1829, at a salary of $800 which was later increased to $1000. He served as pastor until September 2^nd, 1834, when he accepted a call to a church in Paterson, N.J. He remained in Paterson until 1837, and then served four years at a church in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. He died in Troy, NY May 14^th, 1844 at the home of his brother. Under his active leadership the Church continued to grow rapidly, despite continuance of the stern interpretation of membership requirements. He was universally loved and remembered for his preaching style that was polished, instructive, always practical and doctrinally sound sermons delivered with great earnestness and solemnity.

Mr. Eaton was a leader in organizing the Buffalo Female Academy, now Buffalo Seminary then located in Johnson Cottage near the corner of Delaware Avenue and Johnson Park. He also became concerned with the spiritual needs of the sailors on the Great Lakes and the Erie Canal. A Bethel Society was formed, and a chapel built at the corner of main St. and Dayton, with a chaplain employed; this chapel continued until 1848. During Mr. Eaton's pastorate, First Church continued its policy of encouraging the organization of new churches. Rev. Eaton preached his final sermon at 1st Church on Sunday, September 14, 1834. Following his death ten years later, his wife and daughter returned to live in Buffalo, NY. His older brother, Amos Eaton, was a noted geologist and botanist, and was also the first president of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

4^th Pastor: Asa Theodore Hopkins, D.D. (25 July 1805- 27 November 1847) Pastor from (17 February 1836- November 1847) Dr. Hopkins, was the son of Dr. Asa Hopkins and Abigail (Burnham) Hopkins[xii], of Wethersfield, CT, who were married October 16, 1793, he lived in Hartford, CT. along with his two brothers Edward and Charles A. Hopkins[xiii]. Dr. Asa T. Hopkins graduated from Yale College in 1826 and studied divinity in Ithaca, NY under a Dr. Wisner whose niece he married in 1828. He preached and served churches in Boston, Hartford, twice in Pawtucket, MA and Utica, NY and New York City. It was while he was in NYC that he was called to his ministry here at 1^st Presbyterian Church. Dr. Hopkins impressed himself deeply upon the community; he was considered genial, affectionate, and frank, a true gentleman. His sermons are remembered for their eloquence, aptness and sympathy by which he identified with the people in the community. He was a man of deep faith with a depth of vigor and love. During his tenure he became involved in the formation of the Young Men’s Association in Buffalo. In September 1839, due to ill health he proposed to the congregation that he relinquish his charge, instead by a motion of Hiram Pratt, he instead was granted a six month’s leave of absence. Dr. Hopkins was put on trial before the Buffalo Presbytery October 22 through October 31^st, 1844 because he supported the education of women. In the spring of 1846, he was again advised to go abroad, for his own health and the health of his wife to which he agreed. During this leave of absence he attending a meeting of the American home Missionary Society on May 12^th, 1846 in New York City at the Broadway Tabernacle Church where he and Dr. Walter Clarke, D.D. would both address the society and undoubtedly meet[xiv]. Following this, he and his wife traveled to Europe, Scotland & England and while there, attended the evangelical alliance in London. He returned in November 1846 with the body of his wife who died during the return voyage. Her funeral was held 27 November 1846. Bereaved, Dr. Hopkins resumed his duties as pastor with great earnestness and fidelity, until 7 November 1847 when he preached his last sermon. Dr. Asa Theodore Hopkins passed away three weeks later on Saturday November 27^th, 1847 at of age 43 years, one year to the day of his wife’s burial. His mother, Abigail Hopkins died in Buffalo, NY in 1857 at the age of ninety years old

5^th Pastor: Matthew La Rue Perrine Thompson, D.D. (1809 – 1887) Pastor from (1 November 1848-1860) Dr. Thompson was born at Broadalbin, NY[xv] in Fulton county and was greatly influenced in his youth by his uncle, Rev. Matthew La Rue Perrine, D.D. (1777-1836)[xvi], a Presbyterian minister from Freehold, NJ. He came to 1st Presbyterian Church from the Arch Street Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, PA; before that he was pastor of the First Congregational Church in Clifton Springs, NY from the spring 1836 to May, 1844. He was best remembered here as being a pastor of zeal, power, unflagging industry and intense energy in his devotion to his work. His directness, clearness of ideas and remarkable power of personal attraction made him a much beloved pastor. During his tenure, the church’s first organ was installed in 1860. This instrument, built by Garrett House of Buffalo, the same builder relocated it to St. Stephen's on Elk St. in 1891 where it is still in service. During Dr. Thompson’s pastorate, 384 members were received into the fold of this church. Because of the rapid grown experienced by the church, the subject of building a new church first was seriously considered in 1852. By January 1854 over $100,000.00 was subscribed for the project and by April a committee had completed the preliminary work and plans were agreed upon and procured, however, when bids were advertised, no responsible architect would undertake the project as set forth in the plans accepted by the building committee. The subscriptions for the project were returned and the matter set aside. Because the circumstances of Mrs. Thompson’s health required a change in residence, he was, with deepest regret, dismissed at his request in April 1860. He later accepted the call to be pastor of the Second Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, OH on June 1^st, 1861.[xvii]

6^th Pastor: Walter Clarke, D.D. (April 5, 1812- May 22, 1871) Pastor from (4 April 1861-1871) Dr. Clarke was the son of Warner B. and Abigail A. Clarke. He was born in Middletown, CT and moved with his family to Farmingham, CT in 1837. He went to school in Waterbury, CT, and studied law in Mobile AL before studying at Yale Divinity School in 1840. He was called in April, 1845 to the Second Church of Christ in Hartford, CT to serve as pastor where he was installed 4 June at a salary of $1200 yearly. There he married his first wife, Mary A. Clark, daughter of Cyrus Clark of Waterbury, CT. however; she died in Hartford, CT, 4 February, 1849. In 1850, he remarried, this time to Elizabeth Terry, daughter of Deacon Seth Terry[xviii]. He had one daughter by adoption and one son, Rev, Samuel Taylor Clarke. Following the Second Church of Christ, Dr. Clarke was installed at the Merced Street Church in New York City having accepted the call in February 1859 and stayed until he accepted the call to First Presbyterian Church in February 1861[xix].

While pastor here, he compiled the first comprehensive history of 1^st Presbyterian Church, published in 1862, it covers the first fifty years of church history from which much of the biographical information contained here on former pastors was obtained. This history, while sometimes flawed, was written with a delightful antiquarian flavor, and with the benefit of acquaintance with the first pastor, Dr. Miles P. Squire, D.D., and many of the early members who assisted in providing information based upon recollections and first-hand accounts. Dr. Clarke was a tall, dignified man, greatly beloved by his congregation. His untimely death at the age of fifty-nine, on May 23, 1871, was mourned by all. His body was returned to Hartford, CT. where he was buried in the North Cemetery.

7^th Pastor: David Ruddach Frazer, D.D. (10 July 1837 - 24 January 1915) [xx] Pastor from (May 1872 - 8 February 1880) Rev. David R. Frazer, D.D., was born in Baltimore, MD, the son of William R. and Eliza J. (Armitage) Frazer, he attended the Central High School of Baltimore, MD he attended Delaware college and Princeton, graduated from Princeton University in 1861 and continued his education at Union Theological Seminary earning his degree in 1864. He was bestowed an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Princeton in June 1880. He later served as a trustee to Princeton University from 1887 through at least 1908. He married the former Rose Thompson of Penn’s Manor, PA on 2 July 1866, they had five children, Francis MacDonald, born about 1867 in NY, Phoebe Elise, born around 1876 in NY, Harvey Thompson, born about 1878 in Buffalo, NY; Florence, born around 1879 in Buffalo, NY, and Henry F. Spaulding Frazer (ca. 1882 – 7 March 1940). Pastor Frazer previously served as pastor at the First Presbyterian Church, Clifton, NY, on Staten Island (1865-1867) and in Hudson, NY (1867-1872) before being called as seventh pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, NY on May 1872; he served here for eight and a half years, preaching his farewell sermon February 8, 1880. During his pastorate there had been some discussion of rebuilding or removal of the church to another part of the city, but at that time the majority favored remaining at Shelton-Square. After leaving our First Presbyterian Church, he was installed as pastor of the Classon Avenue Church in Brooklyn, NY(1880-1883), and then at the First Presbyterian Church in Newark, NJ, being installed there on February 21, 1883, where he preached until June 16, 1909 when upon retiring, he was bestowed the title Pastor Emeritus. He died of a heart attack, January 24^th, 1915 while visiting at the home of his son H.F. Spaulding Frazer, who was City Counsel for Newark, NJ and a nationally known attorney.[xxi]

Text Box: 8^th Pastor: Samuel S Mitchell, D.D. (16 August 1839 – 7 January 1919) Pastor from (1880-1904) Dr. Mitchell was born in Clinton, NY, the son of Armstrong and Jane (Mitchell) Mitchell where he was baptized by Reverend Wayne Gridley in the Congregational Church there, on 31 December 1839. On 7 April 1844 his parents were issued a letter of transfer to the Congregational Church in Platteville, WI[xxii] (then a territory). He was raised a Congregationalist and attended the Congregationalist Church in Andover, MA when, at eighteen he professed his faith. He attended Phillips Andover Academy in Andover, MA then did his undergraduate work at Princeton University, graduating in 1861. Then, that fall he attended Princeton Theological Seminary, graduating in 1864. He was licensed to preach by the Presbytery of New Brunswick, 21 April 1863 and ordained by the Presbytery of Carlisle at Harrisburg, PA 15 November 1863. He served first as pastor of the Pine Street Presbyterian Church in Harrisburg, PA from 15 November 1864 through 23 February 1869, where he met Theresa E. Wierman, a member of the Pine Street Presbyterian Church; they married on 25 June 1868. They had three sons and a daughter; James McCormick Mitchell, Esq. (1873-1948), Samuel Stuart Mitchell, George Mitchell and Emilie Mitchell Gratwick, who donated a baptismal font in her parents' memory to the Pine Street Presbyterian Church in 1926 as part of that churches renovation; that baptismal font is still in use to this day at that church[xxiii]. Following his tenure at the Pine Street Presbyterian Church, he accepted a call to the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C. where he was unanimously called at a salary $5,000 yearly (plus manse) as pastor on 26 January 1869. Dr. Mitchell preached his first sermon as pastor there on 14 March and remained there as pastor until 1878, serving with distinction. During this time he was conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity (DD), from Princeton University in 1875. Dr Mitchell was described in the History of The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church[xxiv] as being “…a man who rather flung the old conventions to the winds…due to his vigorous purpose towards life, seeing the point directly to be reached and going straight forward to it, and not caring so much about the form of things as getting them done… At one period Dr. Mitchell used to preach in a dress suit.[xxv]” Undoubtedly, during this time at least, he was a man who defied conventions and stood firmly on his principles. In 1878 he then accepted a call to the Dutch Reformed Church, in Brooklyn Heights, NY where he was pastor from 25 November 1878 until 19 October 1880 before coming to Buffalo, NY as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in 1880[xxvi].

Dr. Mitchell was pastor during our last period of discernment in 1882 regarding moving the church to a new location. This discernment process, generated quite a bit of opposition in the congregation, was well publicized in the press and in fact went through to the supreme courts for deposition before a resolution was settled. By this time many members had moved from the central part of the city and had transferred their membership to other churches, leaving old First without proper financial support. A proposal to sell the church building and to unite with Calvary Church on Delaware Avenue opposite Tracy Street was considered but rejected in 1879. The dispute was taken to Presbytery, which then broke out in the newspaper; and eventually was taken to court. When the dispute was finally resolved, in favor of removal, Mrs. Truman G. Avery, a member of the congregation, stepped forward and donated a site at the corner of Wadsworth and Pennsylvania Streets, in memory of her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen G. Austin. Dr Mitchell was pastor during the construction and dedication of our present edifice, and for the founding of Welcome Hall Settlement in 1894, a mission of our church located at 404 Seneca St. The Welcome Hall property site was deeded to the church by Mr. John J. Albright, where the mission work continued at Welcome Hall until the depression of the 1930's, when it was taken over by the City in 1932. The architectural rendering of Welcome Hall, designed by the renowned architectural firm of William Sydney Wicks and Edward Broadhead Green hangs outside the pastor’s study.

Dr. Mitchell was the second longest tenured pastor in our history; he served the church as senior pastor for twenty-four years. He was by accounts, a pulpit orator of commanding stature, gifted with deep spiritual power and poetic insight. During his pastorate in Buffalo he published his only book, a volume of sermons in 1890 titled, “The True Man.” He was acquainted with Theodore Roosevelt, possibly because of his time spent in Washington, DC and spent time with him before and after the assassination of McKinley. He breakfasted with Theodore Roosevelt the next morning following his inauguration. He then delivered a stirring address the following week at church. Following his retirement due to ill health in 1904 from First Presbyterian Church, he accepted a position at Princeton Theological Seminary, his old Alma Mata, where he was a lecturer on the English Bible. He held this position between 1904-1905, before finally retiring and returning to Buffalo, NY where he died 7 January 1919 of angina pectoris, also known as coronary heart disease. His wife, Theresa Wierman Mitchell, died 21 April 1915. He is buried at Harrisburg, PA. His middle initial “S” denotes only as a letter, not a given middle name[xxvii].

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9^th Pastor: Andrew Van Vranken Raymond, D.D. (8 August 1854- 18 April 1918) Pastor from (1907-1918) Dr. Raymond was a much beloved pastor during his tenure at 1^st church. Born in Visscher’s Ferry, NY (near Schenectady, NY) on 8 August 1854 he was the son of Rev. Henry A. Raymond, a minister in the Dutch Reformed faith, and Catherine Maria (Miller) Raymond[xxviii], he attended Troy High School in Troy, NY and entered Union College in 1872 as a sophomore. He was an earnest student and a talented athlete. He played baseball, edited the College Spectator, joined the Union Navy (boating club) and was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, graduating in 1875, he then attended New Brunswick Theological seminary in 1878[xxix]. Then on 24 September 1879 he married Margaret Morris Thomas of Middleville, NY, she died June 11^th, 1907[xxx]; they had two sons and a daughter, Morris Thomas Raymond, Miriam Hotchkiss Raymond, and Andrew V.V. Raymond Jr.[xxxi] He was pastor at the First Reformed church in Patterson, NJ from 1878 to 1881 before accepting a call that same year as pastor of Trinity Reformed Church in Plainfield, NJ from 1881 – 1887. It was at this time he left the Dutch reformed faith and became a Presbyterian minister; he accepted a call to the Fourth Presbyterian church in Albany, NY and was installed 10 March 1887. Now close to his old Alma Mata, he became much more active in college activities and soon became president of the General Alumni Association too, a post that he maintained until he resigned his pastorate.

Although Dr. Raymond felt ministry was his true calling, he struggled with a personal decision for several weeks; because he had been offered the position as Union College president. He finally came to a decision and accepted the offer as College President on May 5, 1894. On 8 June 1894 he resigned from both the General Alumni Association President and as Pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church and began his Presidency at Union College. He remained as president of Union College in Schenectady, NY from 8 June 1894 until 1907. While there, he was a member of the Schenectady Chamber of Commerce and not only was he able to restore Union College to sound financial health, but he boosted the science curriculum, by persuading General Electric's Charles Steinmetz to head the newly established Department of Electrical Engineering and Applied Physics. During his last year as president of Union College, Dr. Raymond published his only book; “Union University, its history, influence, characteristics and equipment”. Shortly after its release, Dr. Raymond’s wife passed away and he began yearning to return to the ministry. He resigned from the presidency on July 18, 1907 and accepted a call to First Presbyterian Church. Dr. Raymond was installed as senior pastor at 1^st Presbyterian Church on December 6, 1907. Dr. Raymond quickly became active here in Western New York; on 1 February 1910 he was named Manager of the Buffalo State Hospital to succeed the deceased William C. Krauss, to complete his
term which was to expire December 31, 1916. This was no doubt because while serving at the Fourth Presbyterian church in Albany, NY he was appointed in by Governor Higgins in 1905 as the manager of the NY State Hospital in Utica, NY. With the outbreak of World War I and the United States entry into the war in 1917, Dr. Raymond asked and received leave of absence to preach at military camps, leaving Rev. William M. Boocock, Associate Minister in charge. However, this schedule took its toll on Dr. Raymond’s health, under the strain of these duties. In January 1918 he visited Clifton Springs to better his health and on died April 15, 1918, he died of a heart-attack in Tyron, SC, (near Spartanburg, SC) while visiting his son. His death was a great shock to the congregation and the community. In his pastime, Dr. Raymond enjoyed fishing, golf and was involved a variety of social clubs.

Minister-in-Charge: William R. Boocock, D.D. ( - ) Pastor-in-charge from (1918-1921) Rev. William R. Boocock. He became the director of religious education and Associate Pastor in 1909, and then he was asked to assume the duties of minister-in-charge for an indeterminate period during Dr. Raymond’s leave-of-absence from the church. Following Dr. Raymond’s unexpected death in 1918, he continued to serve in that capacity for the next three years.

10^th Pastor George Arthur Buttrick, D.D. (23 March 1892- 23 January 1980), Pastor of 1st Presbyterian Church from (1922-1927) he was installed February 27, 1922, when only twenty-nine years of age; [xxxii]Born in Seaham Harbor, Northumberland, England, he was the son of Tom Buttrick, a “Primitive” itinerant Methodist clergyman, and the former Jessie Lambert who was a shop clerk from Aberdeen, Scotland. She was a little woman with wit and a splendid sense of humor. Rev. Buttrick wanted to be a minister while still young; however, his father, an eloquent if somewhat stubborn man, hoped his son would enter a prominent profession. His father forbade the choice and George Buttrick left home over the issue, leaving Methodism behind at the same time. Later, he and his father were reconciled. Dr. Buttrick was educated at Victoria [theological] College at Victoria University, in Manchester, England, graduating in 1915 with honors in theology, while there he was influenced by the brilliant Prof. Samuel Alexander (1859-1938). His education was interrupted during World War I, and although he was a contentious objector, he ended up serving with the front-line forces in the ambulance staff. Returning to England due to illness, he met his future wife, Agnes Gardener[xxxiii] and her father, a British congregational minister. Rev. Gardener, his future father-in-law, then in Hull, England was called to a church Chicago, IL. George Buttrick came to visit and decided to stay. While in Chicago, he and Agnes were married on June 27, 1916, soon he was called to a First Union Congregational Church in Quincy, IL, where he served as pastor from 1915-1918, and then at the First Congregational Church in Rutland, VT from 1918-1921 before accepting a call to the First Presbyterian Church here in Buffalo, NY.

He and his wife Agnes had three sons, John Arthur, born September 12, 1919 in Rutland, VT, who died July 15, 2007 in Gabriola Island, B.C., Canada; George Robert, born in Buffalo, NY, a Presbyterian minister ordained in 1952, who passed away on 22 September 2007 at the age of 87[xxxiv]; and David Gardner; born in New York City, the same year Dr. Buttrick left Buffalo, NY.

While he was here at First Presbyterian Church, he was soon recognized as being a pastor well endowed with unusual gifts as a preacher. Although he did not to have the dramatic sort of voice that generated pulpit electricity, in fact, he said of himself that he had an "odd sandy voice, the voice of an old nurse"[xxxv] Yet he was forceful in the pulpit; a master at sermon construction and orderly, powerful discourse.[xxxvi] Under his ministry the congregation grew and the program of the church was enlarged. During his pastorate the sanctuary was redecorated in 1924 under direction of Mr. William Francis Carson, a fourth-generation member of the congregation. Memorial windows of exquisite design and color were installed at that time. In 1925 the cornerstone for the Parish House was laid, the new parish house was dedicated in February, 1926. Dr. Buttrick was a protestant preacher-scholar known for his outspoken pacifism, liberal views and compelling oratory.

Although, he was pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, NY from (1921-1927) he won notice in the United States as pastor of Manhattan's Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, succeeding Rev. Henry Sloan Coffin where he was installed on 20 March 1927 serving there until 1954. Dr. Buttrick left Manhattan's Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church to become the Minister to the Memorial Chapel and the Plummer Professor of Christian Morals at Harvard University and as Preacher to the University (1954-60). From these pulpits he shocked fundamentalists by asserting that "literal infallibility of Scripture is a fortress impossible to defend" and infuriated others by opposing the U.S.'s entry into World War II and the subsequent arms race with Moscow, "a lockstep toward incineration that we do not know how to stop.”. Afterwards, he taught homiletics at Garrett Seminary, at Davidson College, Vanderbilt and at the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY

Through his mid-eighties, Dr. Buttrick, with the mind of a scholar, a pastor’s heart and a preacher’s passion, was a vigorous and creative thinker, who almost until the day he died could be found in his study, working on his next sermon and reading the latest theological material. During his life, Dr. Buttrick published twelve books, many of which are still in print.

In the book “To God Be the Glory – Sermons in Honor of George Arthur Buttrick” edited by Theodore A. Gill, published 8 October 1973 by Abingdon Press, Nashville, TN, written to honor the occasion of Dr. Buttricks’ eightieth birthday, Theodore A. Gill discusses in his Introduction, his love and gratitude towards “George” as he was known to those closest to him, describing him as being “…This brilliant, urbane, diffident man..”

In a recent survey Dr. Buttrick was named the third most influential preacher in 20th century America, after Billy Graham and Martin Luther King, Jr. A prolific writer, he also enjoyed teaching courses at Union Theological Seminary in New York. In 1947 he was named general editor of the 12-volume Interpreter's Bible and the 4-volume Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, works that became definitive resources for a generation of Protestant preachers and teachers. Dr. Buttrick preached his final sermon as pastor of First Church on March 13, 1927, yet he returned to preach at least once more at our 125th Anniversary in February 1937. He remained in contact with our church through correspondence throughout his long life. He was 87 years old when he died on 23 January 1980 in Louisville, Kentucky[xxxvii].

Dr. Buttrick and his wife Agnes had three sons, the late John Buttrick, was an emeritus professor who taught at Northwestern, the University of Minnesota, and finally at York University in Toronto, Ontario Canada. He was also a visiting professor all over the world. Rev. G. Robert Buttrick was a clergyman serving in five different parishes, most recently in San Antonio, TX. The two elder Buttrick sons died in 2007, the youngest son, the Reverend David Gardner Buttrick, D.D., born in 1927, is currently Drucilla Moore Buffington Professor of Homiletics and Liturgics Emeritus at Vanderbilt University, and has served on the faculties of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, St. Meinrad School of Theology, the seminaries of St Francis and SS. Cyril & Methodius in Pennsylvania, Southern Baptist and Lexington Theological in Kentucky and the Iliff School of Theology in Colorado. Still a very much-in-demand speaker, Rev. Buttrick has published in numerous journals and magazines. He has written or edited some 14 books, including his landmark work, on Homiletic, in 1987, and was chief writer and editor for the Presbyterians’ Worshipbook (1970) as well as a member of the Catholic Bishops’ Committee on the Homily. He is married to Betty More (Allaben) Buttrick.

Text Box: 11^th Pastor: Allan Knight Chalmers, D.D. [xxxviii] (1897- 23 January 1972) Pastor from (1927-1930) he was installed October 27, 1927. Dr. Chalmers was born in Cleveland, OH, the son of Dr. Andrew Burns Chalmers and Lillian Mary Knight, his uncle was Rev. William Allen Knight. Two uncles on his father’s side of the family were also ministers in the Congregational Church and his great-uncle, Rev. Thomas Chalmers, D.D., was the Presbyterian leader of Scotland. Allan Knight Chalmers was the second of six children. His family moved while he was quite young to Saginaw, MI and then later the New Haven, CT where he started school. His family later moved to Worcester, MA where they lived for fourteen years. He graduated high school there in 1913; he spent the next six months in England attending the Oxford summer School and matriculated to Johns Hopkins University in 1914 receiving his AB degree in 1917. He was quite athletic, participating in varsity football, lacrosse, track, and was the business manager of the baseball team, the business manager and associate editor of the university newspaper, a member of Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, and during his junior year, he was elected to the national senior honorary fraternity Omicron Delta Kappa.

In 1917 although he was an ardent pacifist, he answered the call of the French Army and for ten months served first in Verdun, France with the Foyer de Soldat and then was accepted into the Motor Transportation Corps of the US Army with the American Expeditionary Forces. For his services he was decorated with the Medaille de la Grande Guerre and the Verdun Medal. His original ambition was to become a history professor however, after his experiences during the First World War he decided that his calling was to the ministry. Initially following the war he accepted a teaching position for a year at Gilman School for Boys in Baltimore, MD teaching history. For the next three summers he was head councilor for a private boy’s camp in New Hampshire, and in 1919 attend Yale Divinity school, receiving his Bachelor of Divinity in 1922. He was ordained as a minister in the Congregational Church that same year and performed the duties as assistant pastor at the Dwight Place Congregational Church in New Haven, CT during his last two years at Yale. He received his first call to the Congregational Church in West Springfield, MA where the church grew by over 200 members, then two years later he returned to New Haven, CT, this time as pastor f the Dwight Place Congregational Church. He spent the next three years there before being called the First Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, NY. His wife Frances was the daughter of James A. and Adelaide Webb Kinghorn; she died while overseas at or near London, England on or about 22 July 1957[xxxix].

During his time at First Presbyterian Church, Dr. Chalmers was director of many organizations including the Urban League of Buffalo, the Council of Churches, and the Church Extension Committee. He was also a member of the Buffalo Club, and the Buffalo Tennis and Squash Club where he was a member of the squash team. He at first refused the call to leave First Presbyterian Church, but later reconsidered,[xl] leaving in July 1930 to become pastor at the Broadway United Church of Christ (then called the "Broadway Tabernacle" Church) in New York City on October 1^st, 1930, where he served for 17 years. While there, Dr. Chalmers formed the New York Ministers’ Peace Group Meeting in Riverside Church in 1935 and served at a trustee of Talladega (AL) University, Berea, (KY) College and the Wiltwyck School of New York. He resigned from the Broadway Congregational Tabernacle Church in 1947 to become professor of preaching and applied Christianity at Boston University Divinity School from 1948 until 1962. On Sunday, 28 January 1962 Dr. Chalmers once again graced our pulpit as our guest preacher during our 150^th year celebration. In 1963 he was awarded the Alper Award of the American Civil Liberties Union. Dr. Chalmers was a personal friend and mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King and following Dr. King’s death in 1968, remained active in the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and in other peace, religious, and political groups until his death. He was a past president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and served as a director of the American Civil Liberties union. Until 1970 Dr. Chalmers taught part-time at St. Francis College in Biddeford, ME, and conducted seminars at the Graduate Theological Union at Berkeley, CA, he received honorary degrees from Syracuse University, American International College and the University of Vermont. Following his retirement, he lived in Kennebunkport, ME and died in Portland, ME at age 74 on January 23^rd, 1972. His wife at the time of his death was the former Margaret Glenn Post.

12^th Pastor: Ralph Blake Hindman, D.D. (1883- 7 August 1983) Pastor from (5 November 1931-27 April 1958) Dr. Hindman came from a family of Presbyterian ministers, his father, Rev. William M. Hindman, served as pastor of churches in Chicago, Il, Lincoln, NE and Columbus, OH. His brother, Rev. William B. Hindman, D.D., was pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Uniontown, PA when he accepted his call here, and his brother was also guest pastor here as well. Dr. Hindman also had two uncles and cousins who were also Presbyterian ministers. The longest tenured pastor in our church’s history, Dr. Hindman was educated at Mercerburg Academy, Lafayette College and Ohio State University, he attended the McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, IL, from there he accepted positions at the First Presbyterian Church in Portage, WI, and during the First World War he served as Chaplin aboard the USS Georgia (BB-15), he came to First Presbyterian Church from the First Presbyterian Church in Danville, Illinois where he was called to serve on Jan 30, 1924 and was installed as pastor on March 1, 1924[xli] and served through that congregations centennial in March 1929. He resigned in 1931 to accept his call to First Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, NY. He was installed November 5, 1931 and served as senior pastor of 1^st Presbyterian Church for 27 years; seven years longer then Dr. Samuel S. Mitchell. Dr. Hindman with his wife Helen Michel Hindman, brought great talent and wise leadership that were needed during the period of the Great Depression. The difficulties resulting from frequent changes in the pastorate over the previous decade were quickly overcome, and the growth of the church was resumed. His preaching was rich in spiritual and philosophical content, combining .intellectual and emotional elements in rare balance, with overtones of good humor and a wide range of literary and historical allusions and illustrations. Despite the cares of a busy pastorate, Dr. Hindman found time for effective service to the community and to the Presbyterian Church-at-large. He served for a time on the city Board of Community Relations, and as a director of the Urban League of Buffalo. Always deeply interested in the recruiting of capable young men for the ministry, he became chairman in 1943 of General Assembly's Committee on Theological Education, and in 1957, chairman of the Council on Theological Education. On October 2^nd, 1945, Dr. Hindman traveled to Syracuse, NY, where he would give the installation sermon for a young pastor being installed at the Park Central Presbyterian Church, that pastor was the reverend Arthur W. Mielke, a position he would fill until 1962 when he would accept a call to Buffalo, NY

During his pastorate, the chapel underwent a complete renovation in 1949, reversing the layout of the chapel, enclosing the stairway to the balcony and installing new stained glass windows. Then, in 1955 the sanctuary was redecorated, and the Sunday-school facilities were enlarged, with a connecting passage to the Historical Hall balcony added, this was accomplished by lowering the ceiling outside the pastor’s study. In 1957 a new Schlicker organ was installed in the chapel. Following Dr. Hindman’s death on August 7, 1983 the decision was made to rededicate the Chapel in his honor and a service of rededication was held in December 1983.

13^th Pastor: Theodore Gaillard Lilley, D.D. (12 March 1906 - 11 February 1997) [xlii] Pastor from (25 June 1958 - 30 March 1960) Dr. Lilley was a native of Columbus, OH where as a boy he attended the Northminster Presbyterian Church where the pastor was Rev. William M. Hindman, father of Dr. Ralph Blake Hindman who inspired him to the ministry. Pastor Haas received his college education at Ohio State University and his seminary education at Chicago Theological Seminary. He also took graduate studies at Chicago University prior to being ordained by the Chicago Presbytery on April 27, 1930. He served first as assistant pastor at the First Presbyterian Church, in Chicago, IL and then at the First Congregational Church, in Evanston, IL, before accepting his first call as pastor at First Presbyterian Church, in Salt Lake City, UT. This assignment, where he served from 1932 - 1940, was one of his most challenging, because he also served as moderator of the Synod of Utah.

He married Bertha Hanson of Bismarck, ND during his Utah ministry. Miss Hanson, a talented instructor with secretarial experience, was also a school principal, and a most helpful partner in ministry. Her community activities included leadership in youth conferences and camp meetings.

Following his Utah ministry, he accepted a call as pastor at First Presbyterian Church, Sioux City, Iowa from 1940 to 1946, then to the First Presbyterian Church, of Cedar Rapids, IA, (1946 – 1958) where his assignments included trusteeship at Westminster College, Salt Lake City; Buena Vista College, Storm Lake, Iowa; and Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he also served as Professor of Religion[xliii]. He first preached at First Presbyterian Church on 1 June 1958 and then accepted the call here in Buffalo, NY on 25 June 1958 and was formally installed October 22, 1958. It was during his pastorate that, under his guidance a step of major importance was taken on May 10^th 1959, when First Presbyterian Church and the First United Presbyterian Church, nearby on the corner of Richmond Ave. and Summer St. were joined in an impressive Service of Union. This action followed merger of the two denominations a year earlier at Pittsburgh; and in January, 1959, the local Presbyteries united at a historic meeting in First Church. Soon however, Dr. Lilley found the burden of this large and widespread congregation too heavy for his strength, and on medical advice he resigned in March 1960 and accepted a call to the Greenwood Community Church of Warwick, RI where he remained until he resigned, he then accepted the position of Interim Minister at the United Presbyterian Church in Garden City, NY. He last served as supply and interim pastor in 1982 as a member of the Presbytery of Southern New England[xliv] until he was honorably retired from the Presbytery of Southern New England; he died at the ripe age of ninety on February 11^th, 1997.

Dr. Lilley is remembered as a man of great personal friendliness and broad sympathy, who quickly endeared himself to all who knew him. He last preached at First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, NY on Sunday, 2 August 1964.

14^th Pastor: Ralph Theodore Haas, D.D. (1911 - ) Pastor from (6 November 1960 - 24 June 1962) Dr. Haas was born in Scranton, PA and graduated from Hamilton College in 1937, during that time he was college correspondent for the Utica Press and the Utica Union-Dispatch . In 1938, he married the former Bernadena E. Bryant of Coffeyville, KS. He was for a time a newspaper reporter for the Scranton (PA) Republican. He attended Union Theological Seminary in New York, NY, graduating in 1940, magna cum laude and accepted a call to as pastor of the Hickory Street Presbyterian Church in Scranton, PA where he remained for five years before accepting a call to the First Presbyterian Church in Liberty, he stayed another three years, then for twelve years he served with distinction at the Crescent Avenue Presbyterian Church of Plainfield, NJ before accepting the call to First Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, NY. Dr. Haas was installed December 11, 1960 and was pastor during our 125^th anniversary. He resigned on 24 June, 1962 and accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church in Fullerton, CA where he remained until his retirement in December 1977[xlv]. He and his wife Bernadena have two children, Sharon Jane Haas, born about 1942 who attended Swarthmore College, and Sandra Ann Haas, who born about 1953.

15^th Pastor: Arthur W. Mielke, D.D. (1912 – 3 April 1978) Pastor from (1 January 1963 - 1 January 1978) was born in Danville, IL where it very likely that he attended the First Presbyterian Church while Rev. Ralph B. Hindman was the pastor. He graduated from the Danville High School in 1929, then attended the University of Illinois, receiving his B.A. (with high honors) and then attended Yale Divinity School where he earned his B.D. in 1936. He was conferred a Doctorate of Divinity degree in 1958 by Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. He served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Cooperstown, NY from 1938 – 1942 and then as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Middletown, NY from 1943-1945 and also concurrently as pastor of the First Congregational Church of Middletown, NY from 1943-1945. Dr. Mielke came to First Presbyterian church from the Park Central Presbyterian Church in Syracuse, NY, where he was installed October 2^nd, 1945 with Dr. Ralph B. Hindman preaching at the installation service. He served as senior pastor there until 1962. He was elected pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, NY on 2 December 1962, and assumed the duties as senior pastor 1 January 1963 and his installation took place 17 February 1963.

A gifted speaker and published author who wrote several books, he was much loved by his congregation. During his pastorate land was purchased adjacent to the church for a parking lot and playground, along with the property on St. John’s Place adjacent to the parish house & parking lot. In 1968 the sanctuary chancel was remodeled, the Youth Center redesigned which eliminated the third floor balcony and second floor stage in youth center. The redesign allowed for expanded classroom space on the second floor, and incorporated a new Youth Choir Room by installing a floor between the Sunday school rooms on the second floor, the new Youth Center on the third floor. This new Youth Center was a gift from the recently merged congregation of First United Presbyterian Church. The redesigned chancel was dedicated May 26, 1968, and on March 2, 1969 the Youth Center was dedicated. In 1969 the old church organ was dismantled, and work began on the currently installed Noehren Organ. This organ, with a greatly expanded and improved sound, was designed by renowned organist and builder Robert Noehren (1910-2001), a close friend of Squire Haskin, then organist and choirmaster. This new organ was dedicated on December 14th, 1969 although it was not completed until January 1970. After his wife Hazel Jackson Mielke’s sudden death from a stroke April 1^st 1973, funds were raised in her memory through contributions for a new cross to be hung in the sanctuary over the communion table. The large Tiffany designed chandelier that hung over the communion table since about 1897 was removed to hang in the Historical Hall until November 2006 when it was sold to a buyer in Texas. Because of recent health problems, Dr. Mielke made the decision to retire December 31st, 1977, preaching his farewell sermon January 1st, 1978. Following his retirement, Dr. Mielke was elevated the position of Pastor Emeritus, along with Dr. Ralph B. Hindman until Dr. Mielke’s untimely death from cancer April 3rd, 1978 in New Haven, CT.

16^th Pastor: Gilbert J. Horn (1941- 25 January 1998) Pastor from (1 August 1978- 1 July 1986) Born in Roanoke, VA was a graduate of Baltimore City High School and the College of Wooster in Wooster, OH. He earned his divinity degree at Princeton Theological seminary, ordained on 10 June 1965; he served churches in Pennsylvania and New Jersey before coming to Buffalo with his wife, Gretchen, and their three sons; John, Greg and Peter. He served as President of Lower West Side Ecumenical Ministries, a member of the Inter-Racial Task Force, chairman of the housing task force of Buffalo Area Metropolitan Ministries and was a founder of that Group. He established the Bread of Life food pantry, the Symphony Circle Child Care program and a toy-lending library. He gave the Buffalo Area Metropolitan Ministries office space at the church. A recognized prominent social-activist and leader within the entire community, he attracted many new younger members to the church, he possessed strong qualities as an administrator, teacher and counselor. A tall, articulate pastor with a ready smile and a booming voice, his last day at the church was 20 June 1986 and he resigned effective July 1^st, 1986 to accept a position as head of Council of Churches in Colorado. Later, in 1993, he also accepted the duo-role assignment as co-pastor of Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church in Denver, CO. Rev. Gilbert Horn died Jan. 25, 1998 in his Denver home after a battle with esophageal cancer. The day the Rev. Gilbert J. Horn died; he had preached two sermons and taught a Sunday school class, he was tireless to the end.[xlvi]

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17^th Pastor: John B. Smiley (1928- ) Pastor from (1 March 1989 - 30 June 1993) Pastor Smiley[xlvii] was a 1949 graduate of Princeton University and a 1952 graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, in Princeton, NJ. While a student at Princeton University he was a member of the varsity baseball and football teams, also editor of the daily “Princetonian”, he was also class president for three years. He married the former Maryellen Nelson on 25 August 1951; they have three children, Susan, Robert and Carolyn.

He was ordained a minister of the Presbyterian Church by the Monmouth Presbytery of the New Jersey Synod on 2 October 1952. His first assignment was in Jamesburg, NJ, where he served for four years as chaplain for the State Home for Boys; following that assignment, in 1956 he accepted a call to Beverly, NJ, which is a suburb of Philadelphia, PA, where he served for five years. Pastor Smiley was active in the New Jersey presbytery and served as commissioner of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1958, and as chairman of the evangelism committee of the New Jersey Synod. He then accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church in Watertown, NY, where on 1 August 1961 he began his pastorate and was installed as pastor on 28 September 1961. He remained in Watertown for over 24 years as pastor of the 1,000-member church, while there he was very active in the community bringing together many denomination together working on Urban Mission for families not served by government or Social Services, he was one of three pastors that in 1968 inspired that mission project. Pastor Smiley remained at First Presbyterian Church in Watertown, NY until announcing his resignation at the annual meeting on 22 January 1986 to be effective 31 March 1986, the day after Easter. This decision was prompted primarily by his length of service to the Watertown, NY community, he felt that it was time for new challenges and on 22 March 1986, he was honored by that congregation in a celebration in his honor.

Following his ministry in Watertown, NY, he accepted the position of interim pastor at the Orchard Park Presbyterian Church that same year and served there for the next three years before accepting the call to First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo, NY on 1 March 1989 where he was installed 9 March 1989. He retired on 30 June 1993, returning to New Jersey where he spent much of his youth. There he accepted the position of interim pastor of the Hammonton Presbyterian Church in Hammonton, NJ where he remained for the next 18 months, then he accepted a call as interim pastor of the Cape May Presbyterian Church in Cape May, NJ. He and his wife Maryellen, are now retired and live along the New Jersey shoreline in Princeton, NJ.

Text Box: 18^th Pastor: Langdon “Buddy” Chevis Hubbard III (27 July 1956- ) Pastor from (28 September 1994- 31 July 1996) A native of Washington, D.C., Mr. Hubbard was ordained in 1980 in the United Methodist Church and later ordained into the Presbyterian Church on 17 November 1994. He was a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N.J., and Houghton College and was interim pastor of a Presbyterian church in Chicago, IL before he accepted the call as senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo where he was installed on 27 November 1994; he is presently pastor at First Presbyterian Church in East Aurora, NY. He and his wife Janet met while attending Houghton College have two children Bethany, who was born in North Carolina; and Daniel, who was born in Rochester, NY.

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19^th Pastor: Geri Lyon, D.D. (8 September 1951 - ) Pastor from (8 January 2001- present) A native of New York City, pastor Lyon holds a Master of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, N.J.

Pastor Lyon was installed as pastor on Sunday, February 18^th, 2001 in a service held at the church; she earned the distinction of being the first woman to serve in any clergy position First Presbyterian Church of Buffalo. Before entering the seminary, she was director of pastoral care with AIDS Family Services in New York, NY; and prior to that position she was director of public relations and membership development for the Rockland County New York Girl Scout Council. Her husband, Carmine Grande died 14 October 2006; they are the parents of a son, James; and a daughter, Kristin.

If I might, at this point quote Dr. Walter Clarke, who in 1862 was at the same chronological age as I am at this writing when he wrote the following in the “The First Church of Buffalo – A Half Century Discourse” these words which were so eloquently phrased I think, still holds true today:

“…I have not thought it necessary to exhume buried infirmities, or give a second life to faults that have had their day already. Let the pall of forgetfulness cover all the frailties which the past has witnessed, and let us embalm only the virtues of the honored dead.”[xlviii]

I believe I have tried to draw attention to the virtues of these (undoubtedly) flawed human beings, without trying to either draw attention to, or cover-up any of their figuratively speaking, warts or blemishes of personality. This history is written as much for future generations as it is for the present reader in mind, in the hope that you will one day be inspired to embark on that “adventure of the discovery of the past” that is the rock upon which the present and future is built.

– Bruce Alden McCausland, First Presbyterian Church, Buffalo, NY, summer 2008

[ii] Dictionary of Canadian Biography by George W. Brown, David M. Hayne, Francess G. Halpenny,

[v] Chapter XXVII History of the Town of New Haven Page 539.