CHRISTIAN BREAKING NEWS: What’s Happening at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church? New Hartford, NY | Church Celebrates 200th Anniversary [#NewHartfordChurch #StStephensEepiscopalNHNY]
ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH? NEW HARTFORD, NY – HISTORY:
https://ststephens-newhartford.org/about
In early June 1824, the Rev. Amos Cotton Treadway, an Episcopal priest, arrived in New Hartford to visit his sister. Finding a number of Episcopalians in the area, he conducted services in a variety of places including the Presbyterian Church, a schoolhouse on Seneca Turnpike and the Masonic Temple. By fall, this faithful community committed to forming the second oldest church in New Hartford, and the fifth Episcopal Church in Oneida County.
With the generous financial support of Judge Jedediah Sanger, founder of New Hartford and a member of the founding Vestry of St. Stephen’s, the land at 25 Oxford Rd, was purchased for $150 and a building fund established with a $2,000 donation. The actual construction was begun in 1825, probably to the specifications of master builder N. Caulkins. The design is that of Federal ecclesiastical building with gothic detail on both the interior and exterior. While no direct design link has been documented, St. Stephen’s is unusual within the Diocese of Central NY for the similarity of its louvered triple lancet tower window to the tower of Trinity Church, New Haven ( 1814 -17). Many of New Hartford’s first settlers came from Connecticut and could have been familiar with this church. St. Stephen’s is particularly important architecturally, as well, for its nave where Gothic clustered columns and simple vaulting are the earliest known interior references to medieval structure within the Diocese.
With a very small number of original contributors, construction was a splendid effort embodying the faith, hope, and optimism of its founders. After more than a year of labor, Father Treadway wrote:
“Through mingled emotions of hope and despondency, against the popular consent of powerful and secretarian prejudice, our little band, like an army clad with strength, has pushed their pious purposes till victory has crowned the mighty efforts.”
The Rt. Rev. John Henry Hobart, Episcopal Bishop of New York, came to New Hartford on Sept. 4, 1826, and consecrated the new church.
Although its history is substantial, we are most pleased to continue to worship God and minister to many from throughout the Greater Utica area as we have for almost 195 years. In addition to regular Sunday services, we offer a Sunday and Wednesday night Compline Service on-line. We are pleased to offer meeting space to many community groups which have included AA, Girl Scouts, Embroiders Guild of America, Third Order, Society of St. Francis, and many others.
We believe that our parish community is the living Body of Christ which grows as our members grow and develop their spiritual lives. Come and grow with us.
Our parking faculties behind the church are spacious and convenient. Come up the wheelchair ramp to enter the parish hall.
As it celebrates its 200th anniversary, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in New Hartford, NY reflects on its past while also looking forward.
The historic church, located at 25 Oxford Road, may be traced back to New Hartford’s founder, Jedediah Sanger.
In 1825, Sanger paid $150 for the land where the church now stands and contributed more than $2,000 to its construction.
It is New Hartford’s second oldest church, behind the New Hartford Presbyterian Church, which was founded in the 1790s.
The main celebration is scheduled for 2 PM ET on Sunday, June 2, at 25 Oxford Road.
All are welcome to attend, especially those with a connection to St. Stephen’s, such as present and former parishioners, former clergy, members of local faith communities, Masonic families, those who were baptized or married at the church, and groups that hold meetings there.
There will be a birthday cake and ice cream as well.
Over the years, the church has participated in several outreach and community service projects; it is named after St. Stephen, one of the church’s first deacons, who was tasked with reaching out to people and expressing Christian beliefs.
Last year, parishioners held monthly spaghetti dinners to get to know more people in the community, and for the past few years, the church has offered “Ashes to-go” on Ash Wednesday, when anyone could drive into the parking lot and have the ash marked on their forehead.
The church also supports and donates to local charities and organizations that help underprivileged people.
NEWS SOURCE & LINKS:
Rome Sentinel
What’s Happening at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church? NH, NY | CHURCH CELEBRATES 200TH ANNIVERSARY… | Christian Breaking News!