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The First Presbyterian Church Houses of Worship
When, as
it was founded February 2nd, 1812, by the Missionary, Reverend
Thaddeus Osgood, “The First Congregationalist and Presbyterian Church of the
town of Buffalo” was a small, but devote group of pioneers, who could not afford
a building of their own. Thus, services were held in various locations around
town such as the Old Court House which was
situated on the site now occupied by the Public Library, or at other
times services were held in either a
schoolroom on Pearl St. near Swan, or at the home of Mrs. Esther Pratt,
whose home was on the southwest corner of Main and Exchange St. (then called
Crow St.) After the War of 1812, public worship was resumed as the work of
reconstruction began. The faithful met in Landon's Tavern, or at the unfinished home of Deacon Amos Callender,
on the east side of Pearl Street (south of Swan). On December 5th,
1815 the Church was formally incorporated as “The First Presbyterian Society of
the town of Buffalo”
This first church building, really only a lecture hall was only forty by fifty feet in size, it was a wooden building constructed per a contract with Mr. John Stacy, a church member. Authorized on December 24th, 1822; and built on land donated by Joseph Ellicott (1 November 1760 - 19 August 1826) of the Holland Land Company on December 12th, 1820; the total cost of construction was $874, Mr. Stacy, however, deducted the cost of a pew for his own use. Thus, money raised from pew sales totaled $100 in excess over the cost of construction. This humble edifice, located on the northwest parcel of land at Main, Church & Niagara Streets was completed in May of 1824. The front of the building faced east, it had two doors in the front with the pulpit standing between those doors. Inside, the pews were square and were lit by candles supplied by the worshipers in the evening.
With the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825, and the powerful sermons preached by Rev. Gilbert Crawford, the church and city experienced a rapid growth in population which was mirrored by attendance growth in worship. With membership increasing from pre-Canal numbers of 120 to 203 after its opening, the church quickly outgrew this building and plans were obtained for a larger building.
The wooden frame structure was sold to the Methodists in 1828, which moved it to the corner of Pearl and Niagara Streets; they had been using an even smaller building. Later, this original First Church building was sold around 1835 to a German Evangelical St. Peter's society congregation, who in turn moved it to their lot on the corner of Genesee and Hickory Streets before it finally ended up being moved to Walnut St around 1878. This little building saw successive service thereafter as a school-house, a tenement and as a cooper’s shop, before it finally fell completely from grace to become an icehouse for a brewery. It was destroyed by fire in 1882; no photographs of this structure are known to exist.
The Brick Church also known as “Old First” Church (1827-1890)
The Brick Church, dedicated in March 1827, with a seating of approximately 800, was at the time of its dedication, the largest church building west of the Genesee River. An imposing, square red structure, trimmed in immaculate white, with a balustrade around the roof and a clock and bell tower surmounted by a golden ball that blazed in the sunlight, it served as a landmark for mariners on Lake Erie. Early church members, Foster Young broke ground for the building with an oxen drawn plow starting at Main Street and working his way towards Pearl Street. Theodore Coburn furnished the mason work which began June 23rd, 1826 and was completed by September 22nd before the inclement weather set in, thus, work could continue undisturbed inside during the winter months. Henry Brayman provided the wood work; the total price for the construction was $17,500.00.
On the day of the buildings dedication, the dedication day service, which was three hours in length, was led by Rev. Gilbert Crawford, D.D., assisted by former pastor Rev. Miles P. Squire, D.D. who traveled from his home in Geneva, NY to attend the event, both offered prayers. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Ansel D. Eddy, the text from Luke 10:20. The choir, believed to have been led by William Ketchum, sang “I Was Glad” and “Lord, From Thine Inmost Glory, Send”[i] During those early years, pews were “sold” to families or individuals subject to a pew tax of seven per cent, of the original valuation. The pew rental rate was increased several times during the years until it reached seventy-five per cent.
The 50th Anniversary of the church was a celebrated event where the longest surviving church member, Dr. Bristol, (although not the oldest member of the church) addressed the congregation during the service; Dr. Bristol was also a member of session at that time. Prayers were led by Dr. Steilman of Dunkirk and Rev. Dr. Walter Clarke. Letters were read from former pastors Dr. Squier and Dr. Thompson who were unable to attend in person. The choir sang “Every Star-Thirty-Four” with music by the organist, Mr. Degenhard.
The building exterior was in later years painted a warm grey as shown in existing photographs. This was performed during an ambitious remodeling of the building between June through August of 1870 where the original high pulpit was cut down and in its place, a platform added three feet high, twenty feet wide and between eight to ten feet deep. This platform was supported by two Corinthian columns. Matching curving banistered stairways were also added on each side at that time that led to the pulpit backed by a crimson curtain. All pews were lowered by three inches, black walnut railings added and the pew seats were upholstered in a crimson color. The ceiling was in a fresco painted by Sig. Garibolda. Anyone entering the church came through one of three great doors opening into the spacious vestibule, and visitors walked up the circular stairways at either end to the balcony around three sides of the high, square sanctuary. Such heat as there was came from wood stoves; the building was illuminated by oil lamps. Foot-warmers containing hot coals were indispensable for comfort during winter months. One such coal foot warmer that was used can be viewed in the Historical Hall.
The
church bell, known as the "town clock bell," weighed approximately 2500
pounds and had a clear, sonorous tone that could be heard great distances. The
bell served not only the congregation, but the whole town as its fire alarm, it
was while sounding an alarm of fire in 1833, in this capacity that the bell
cracked. However, it was soon recast and continued to serve in that capacity
until 1891. The bell was presented to a church in Tonawanda and the front clock
face was preserved before the property was sold to the Buffalo Savings Bank.
The congregation experienced tremendous growth during these early years, especially during the leadership of its first five pastors; it was in 1852 during the pastorate of Dr. Matthew La Rue Thompson that congregation first considered moving to a new location. Funding was obtained through a subscription project and by January 1854 over $100,000.00 was raised, by April plans for a new building were selected and bids were advertised. However, no responsible architect or builder was found that would undertake the project, so the plan was abandoned and the funds were returned to the subscribers.
By the mid-19th century music played an increasing role in many churches and the decision was made to install an organ in the church, this was done in 1860, but not without some controversy among the congregation, many who still held the puritan belief that organs were tools of the devil and had no place in a church building. Up until that time, the congregation was traditionally accompanied by a trio of musicians playing bass viol, violoncello and flute. The new organ was built by Garrett House of Buffalo and dedicated August 26, 1860. Mr. Sykes, the organist at Central Presbyterian Church, played for the opening anthem, “Praise the Lord” and to close the service, “Old Hundred”. When in 1891 after the congregation moved to its present location, the organ was sold and the same builder relocated it to St. Stephen's (Shrine of Saint Jude) Roman Catholic Church at 193 Elk St. in 1891. This organ, the oldest Buffalo-made pipe organ extant, is still in service today. A wooden model of this organ stands in the Historical Hall near the Wadsworth Street entrance.
During the pastorate of Dr. David R. Frazer a proposal to sell the church building and to unite with Calvary Church on Delaware Avenue opposite Tracy Street was considered in 1879, but after some debate, that proposal was rejected. However, by the time that Rev. Samuel S. Mitchell, D.D. began his tenure as pastor, many members had moved from the central part of the city and had thus transferred their membership to other churches which became a cause of real concern.
“Old
First” Church was by now showing its age, the building, still beautiful and
impressive, was now almost sixty-years-old; its many limitations and design problems
were soon brought to light. It was deficient of a proper lecture room, Sunday-school room, Bible class
rooms and parlors. The ventilation of the Sunday-school room was considered
defective, and it was subject to dampness.
The main audience room opened on Main Street and not on Church Street, which was a complaint of many in the congregation. In summer the windows had
to be opened for ventilation, as the
ventilator in the ceiling was inadequate, and when the windows were
opened the congregation was to some extent disturbed by increasing noises from
the passage of street cars, carts, beer wagons and so on. At the time of the
construction, most of the church members resided near the church however as the
city expanded, a large number of members had moved uptown, many of these
families who formerly worshiped soon
joined congregations closer to their homes, leaving
Old First Church without proper financial support.
Dr. Mitchell wisely shared the view of his predecessor, in that the church should seek a location not so hemmed in by ever-growing businesses that had taken over the area. The trustees felt likewise; but still, many members of the congregation did not agree. The dispute was taken to Presbytery; eventually the matter was taken to court, and soon news of the discernment broke out in the newspapers. The matter was finally resolved, in favor of removal to a new location. In 1887, Mrs. Trueman G. Avery who lived at the site now occupied by Kleinhans Music Hall donated a parcel of land across the circle at the corner of Wadsworth and Pennsylvania Streets in memory of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen G. Austin. The matter now settled; the days of historic “Old First” were now numbered. By April 1889 the congregation was ordered by the city to sell the property to Erie County Saving Bank and it was announced in July 1890 that the Old First Church would soon be demolished.
The
ruins of “Old First” taken in late 1890 from the west side of Pearl St.
below Niagara St. before the Erie County Savings Bank was erected.
Continued at this link: First Presbyterian Church at Symphony Circle