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 The
Methodist Episcopal Church was organized
February 10, 1851, by Rev. John
Abbott, with the following members: James Muse, Hannah Muse, A. Voorhies
and wife, H. C. Jewel, Eli Cole
and wife, E. C. Voorhies, Emaline
Voorhies, John Smith and wife, A.
Smith, Mrs. E. Moore,
and Pelina Cole. At
first the charge was the Cooperstown Charge, and then changed to that
of New Lebanon. The first building was a frame structure, 40x45 feet.
It was erected in the fall of 1851 and winter of 1852, and dedicated
May 21, 1852. The aggregate cost was $809.87. The first trustees were A. Voorhies, Eli Cole, H. C. Jewell, James
Muse and John Martin.
To the number have since been added Abel
Thompson, J. Smith and E.
C. Voorhies. The list of preachers has embraced Revs. John
Abbott, George Stocking, Robert Beatty, I. T. C. McClelland, A. L.
Miller, J. C. Sullivan, N. C. Brown, K Smith, Sherwood, R. C. Smith,
Robert Gray, J. Schofield, John Eckels, A. S. Goodrich, Robert Beatty,
J. B. Wright, C. W. Foulk, J. A. Ward, J. F. Mendenhall, R. A. Buzza
and W. A. Marriman.
The building was removed from the old to the present [1888] site in
1875, and repaired at a cost of $1,000. The congregation is in a
flourishing condition.
Source: The History of Mercer County, 1888, page
482
As
early as 1830 itinerant preachers of the
Methodist Episcopal denomination had stopped in New Lebanon, and
services were frequently held at the house of Abraham
Van Voorhies, and others. In 1846, a Sabbath-school was
commenced in an old log school-house, which stood on the west side of
the present borough, and has been continued
under the auspices of the Methodist Church ever since [1877].The
present [1877] building was erected in 1853, is situated in the western
part of the town, and is the most costly house in the plate. It is
valued at $2,300; is elegantly finished—carpeted and grained, and
furnished with costly chandeliers—and presents a fine appearance from
without, being the first object seen as the place is approached. There
are, at present [1877], about fifty members.
Source: The History of Mercer County, 1877, page 112
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