Historical Wyoming County April 1959 - Old Fulton History

Page 72
BENNINGTON CENTER BAPTIST CHURCH (cont.)
April 1959
driving" and upon arrival found herself two miles from her destination.
She had to wait for the road to he cut through the forest before
she could continue her journey,. Heretofore the Baptists had
worshipped with the Sheldon Church and now decided on the strength
of this bequest, together with a donation of land from the Holland
Land Company, to form a separate church. A vote having been taken
by the Sheldon church in September l8l3«, which favored the proceeding,
a church was organized at Bennington Center with these members:
Pelatiah Case,
Darius Cross
Justin Loomis
Ezekial Hains
Bela Bibbins
Apphia Case
moderator Betsey Cross
A.pphia Loomis
Anna Hains
Elizabeth Rockwell
Ezra Ludden, clerk and
after a member
In a month, four were added by baptism and in l8llj., Ellas
Gillett joined by letter. The following August, the Rev. William
Throop became pastor and was greatly beloved. In 1816, six, more
joined by letter, the Rev. L« Andrews being among this number and he
then became a pastor. At the same time they were recognized as a
church by a council, the members numbering eighteen. On Dec. 31,
1819, the tiny church had twenty-three communicants. Through the
seven-year pastorate of the Rev. Herrick, membership increased to
52.
The church record states that during the subsequent ten year
pastorate of the Rev. Jones "reveivals were 'frequent and God remembered
Bennington in His mercy. M He left May 1, 1836. A church was
constructed during this period, and a summary of memberships disclosed
that 79 had been received by baptism, 26 by letter, and four
restored; dismissions came to 1|.3, exclusions were deaths 10,
leaving 93 members. Among the pastors who followed after 1836 were
the Revs. Michael Colby, B. T. Burr, Nelson E with the Rev,
F. S. Holt, a visitor, delivering the dedicatory sermon.
In May 1857* the Rev. Stephen Keye.s and his bride came to the
Center and remained eight years. The pastor was beloved by young and
old for his genial, noble and great-hearted qualities. Seventy-eight
were added to the rolls. He then removed to Strykersville where he
died. In succession came the Revs. C. Berry, A. H. Todd, until 1873
the Rev. Darwin Wood, the Revs. Wiser Martin, Eliphalet Owjen, Cutler
(who died there), Roberts who supplied, and Rev. Lee of California
for a year until Feb. 2, 1886, when a rededication was held by the
Rev. Whitman of Buffalo's Cedar Street Baptist Church. A revival
followed during which the eight resident and five non-resident members
saw many added to the church. Those participating In this re~
newal of the church included the Revs. S. W. Lindsley, assisted by
the Revs. K. Nott .and D» H. Conrad of Cheboygan, Michigan, who were
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