History, First Presbyterian Church Auburn New York
First Presbyterian Church was organized on July 14, 1811 in the long room of the Center House in Hardenbergh's Corners, which was incorporated as the city of Auburn in 1815. At once the church "began a work so inspired that its effect was immediately felt" (Rev. William H. Hubbard). In our past we find the seeds of our future.
In 1815 the church began work on a house of worship to be located at the corner of Franklin and North Streets, where the church stood from 1817 to 1973. The first building was a colonial church, which the congregation outgrew and replaced with a limestone structure.
The church donated the colonial structure to the Lansing Street Presbyterian Mission School. The building was dismantled and moved up the hill to land owned by Elder James Seymour, where it was rebuilt in 1869 as a smaller structure. The building, much enlarged, still stands as Calvary Presbyterian Church, the oldest church building in Auburn. The Calvary Food Pantry, a significant mission of First Presbyterian Church, is located there. This is the interior of the Old First Church at Calvary today.
This 1907 postcard shows the limestone structure on North Street.
The steeple of the limestone church was struck by lightning in 1947 and rebuilt in 1948, but it did not survive. In April, 1973 the steeple collapsed and the church was so badly damaged that it was demolished. After much deliberation the congregation built a modern church at 112 South Street, which is used today. In 1976, the church purchased the Case Mansion next door, to sustain Unity House. Here is a picture of the church made when the building was new.
Rev. Dennis Haines, pastor from 1975 to 1995, led the congregation and the Presbytery in working with the volunteers living in the mansion and sheltering 24 disabled men there, to incorporate the program, find an executive director, and secure all the approvals needed to operate mental health services in New York state. Today Unity House serves more than 700 clients a day in several counties and members serve on the board and committees. The Case Mansion is home to a new mission, Ministro Ministries, with members and Pastor Eileen Winter helping to build the program. Members provide significant volunteer support also to the Calvary Food Pantry, and to other missions as well, including an Alzheimers support service.
This work continues a long tradition. From the beginning First Presbyterian Church has had a profound impact on the local community and the worldwide Presbyterian community. You can learn more in the history of community involvement that follows.
201 Years of Service, First Presbyterian Church Auburn New York
Our first pastor, Rev. David Higgins, was a founder of the Auburn Academy, the first public school, located across North Street on land given by a trustee of the church. Our second pastor, Rev. Hezekiah North Woodruff, founded the Cayuga County Bible Society. Rev. Dirck Cornelius Lansing, pastor from 1817 to 1829, was the principal founder of the Auburn Theological Seminary which continues operation today in New York City. Rev. Lansing's sermons delivered in our church were published in 1825 as "Sermons on Important Subjects," now digitized by Google Books. This book includes a message to our congregation. Henry Addison Nelson, pastor from 1846 to 1856, was a founder of the YMCA. He was called from our church to First Presbyterian Church of St. Louis and is credited with saving Missouri for the Union. His many works are being digitized.
Rev. Charles Hawley, pastor from 1857 to 1885, was the Stated Clerk of our Presbytery for most of his ministry. He founded the Cayuga County Historical Society, which he served as President until his passing in 1885. He was President of the Seymour Library Association in its early days, and the good friend of Elder James Seymour who gave the money to found the library and the Auburn Memorial Hospital, in addition to giving the land for Calvary Presbyterian Church. Dr. Hawley wrote two histories of First Presbyterian Church, histories of Jesuit missions in our area, and many other books and papers. He was revered and loved by the entire community. Dr. Hawley's 1869 History of First Presbyterian Church has been digitized by Google Books.
Rev. William H. Hubbard, pastor from 1886 to 1911, was, like Dr. Hawley, an active evangelist who led the church to significant growth in membership. Dr. Hubbard founded the Hubbard Press which continues operation today in Ohio, printing forms for Presbyterian churches.
Rev. Malcolm MacPhail Ph.D., pastor from 1919 to 1940, wrote the acclaimed History of the First Presbyterian Church Auburn New York as well as other historical studies. Rev. A. Paul Wright, pastor from 1940 to 1953, became an executive of the American Bible Society. Rev. Alexander Meakin, pastor from 1953 to 1959, built the endowment and program of the church and when retired wrote several histories of Great Lakes shipping. Rev. Ralph Wagner, pastor from 1959 to 1974, was a founder of the prison visitors center, which began in the chapter house of the church, and the Cayuga County Action Program, now the Cayuga Seneca Community Action Agency.
Service by members continues a long tradition. In his history, Rev. MacPhail notes our street map resembles a list of members' names, including Beach, Bradford, Case, Dayton, Derby, Dill, Fitch, Foote, Hardenbergh, Holley, Lansing, Parsons, Perrine, Seymour, Steel, VanAnden, and Willard (page 61).
This faith community seeks to serve the community and the world, and to welcome you.