LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 225th Anniversary of First
Presbyterian Church of Oneonta, New York

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
225th Anniversary of First Presbyterian Church of Oneonta, New York; and
WHEREAS, The First Presbyterian Church at 296 Main Street, Oneonta,
New York, began life in 1786 when a group of people in the tiny settle-
ment on the banks of the Susquehanna River gathered to worship; 13 years
later, in 1799, they applied to the Dutch Reformed Church in Albany to
form a ministry, and Abraham Van Horne came to preach his first sermon
in January 1800; and
WHEREAS, The congregation was grateful to farmer Frederick Brown for
allowing them to worship in his barn during the warm summer months as
well as in his home throughout the cold winter months; and
WHEREAS, Subsequently, Frederick Brown donated land for the church and
a graveyard, the present site of the church and the adjacent Riverside
Cemetery; the congregation built a church there in 1816; and
WHEREAS, For some years, the church was known as the Second Presbyte-
rian Church of Milford, due to the fact the community was not known as
Oneonta until 1830; in 1849, the congregation reorganized and took its
present name, First Presbyterian Church of Oneonta; and
WHEREAS, The community of Oneonta began to grow, particularly after
the arrival of the railroad in 1865; in 1887, the congregation, itself
growing, built a new church, the present structure on Main Street; and
WHEREAS, Five years later, the congregation constructed a manse as a
residence for its pastor, and in 1910, it added a social hall with adja-
cent classrooms to deal with the growing Sunday school; and
WHEREAS, First Presbyterian Church of Oneonta has an active program of
mission in the community and, working with the Presbyterian Church
(USA), throughout the world; and
WHEREAS, Teams of volunteers from the church have journeyed, at times
many miles, to work on needed mission projects such as to Appalachia,
Colorado, and the Caribbean; and
WHEREAS, During one summer in the 1980s, a First Presbyterian Church
of Oneonta group traveled the 12 miles to Milford, New York, to paint
its First Presbyterian Church; and
WHEREAS, A major mission project that continues today is one that
supports the Pringle Home, an orphanage in Jamaica; nearly each year
since 1992, a group from the church has gone to Jamaica to work and
conduct special activities for the children; and
WHEREAS, As First Presbyterian Church of Oneonta observes its 225th
Anniversary, it is in numbers a smaller congregation, approximately 200,
but its dedication and service remain vibrant in the community; and
WHEREAS, The church is no longer at the edge of the city, but indeed
at its very center, with its tall steeple visible from miles around; in
its beginning years, First Presbyterian Church was the only house of
worship in Oneonta; now it is one of many in a continually growing group
of houses of worship; together these religious institutions proudly
offer the citizens of Oneonta a meaningful community of faith; and

WHEREAS, First Presbyterian Church of Oneonta 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 225th Anniversary of First Presbyterian Church of Oneon-
ta, New York, 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 Presbyterian Church, 296 Main Street, Oneonta, New York
13820.