LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 200th Anniversary of First
Church Baldwin, United Methodist of Baldwin, New York, to be celebrated
on October 24, 2010

WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and
WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay
tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to
the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes pleasure in commemorating the
200th Anniversary of First Church Baldwin, United Methodist of Baldwin,
New York, to be celebrated at a Banquet on Sunday, October 24, 2010, at
Links Country Club, Rockville Centre, New York; and
WHEREAS, First Church Baldwin has shared in the growth of the Metho-
dist Church in America almost from its inception and is one of the
oldest living Methodist congregations in America; and
WHEREAS, In 1810 a local farmer, Christian Snedeker (who was an ardent
member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Hempstead), felt the need
for Christian work in the community; Snedeker conducted the first reli-
gious classes in an old one-room building (approx. 20' x 50') on his
father's farm, located near St. Luke's Place and Grand Avenue; today, a
stone marker designates the site; the building later became know as
Bethel Chapel, Baldwin's first church; this Methodist house of worship
later served as the first schoolhouse, and gave the area one of its
numerous names, Bethel; and
WHEREAS, Itinerant preachers from the Long Island circuit ("circuit
riders") brought the word of God and nurtured the Methodists who regu-
larly met at Bethel Chapel; the first trustees of the church were
elected in 1839; and
WHEREAS, It was William K. Stofford, one of the circuit riders, who
inspired the congregation to consolidate the Hicks Neck group of South
Baldwin and the Bethel group of North Baldwin; they laid plans for a new
church to be built on the south side of Merrick Road; and
WHEREAS, The new church, under the pastorate of Seymour Langdon, was
formally dedicated in May of 1844; it was a simple building with two
doors - one for men, and another for women; and
WHEREAS, As a result of the growth of the congregation and overcrowd-
ing of the sanctuary, Francis Baldwin (after whom Baldwin is reputed to
have been named) donated land on the north side of Merrick Road where
the church stands today; and
WHEREAS, In 1871 the cornerstone was laid, and construction completed
by Lorenzo D. Smith; the current sanctuary was dedicated in 1872 during
the ministry of Reverend Nathan Hubbel, the congregation's first full-
time preacher; and
WHEREAS, First Church Baldwin stands on the threshold of tomorrow,
prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while retaining
that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 200th Anniversary of First Church Baldwin, United Metho-
dist of Baldwin, New York, to be observed on October 24, 2010, fully
confident that this commemoration reflects the belief in those values
which enhance the dignity and purpose of life; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to First Church Baldwin, United Methodist, 881 Merrick Road,
Baldwin, New York.