The beginnings of the First Congregational Church of Riga were humble, but spirited. Dozens of faithful worshipped in the only barn in the area owned by one of Riga’s settlers, Elihu Church. Now, two hundred years later, the same spirit can be found in the congregation of the church located at Riga Center. In their bicentennial year, the church is small in number - averaging a little over 50 attendees a week - and the congregation is in search of a pastor. However humble the operation, there is a feeling that big things are happening in Riga’s little church. After all, a church that has stood for 200 years must be built on a strong foundation of faith. Nancy Jo Pimm is helping to lead the 200th anniversary celebration. She believes the bicentennial has been an important reminder to her fellow congregation members. “It is the congregation that keeps this church going,” Pimm said. “After 200 years this church is still very much alive.” First Congregational Church members have been active in all facets of the church this year, from coordinating the 200th celebration, to maintaining the facility that was built in 1823, to planning the church’s future direction. Pimm said the need for everyone to actively participate keeps the church members close together. “Our church isn’t fancy. It is for the person who is here for family, friendship and worship,” Pimm said. “I like the way the congregation comes together as a truly supportive family.” Pimm said one of the strengths of her church family is its younger members. The church has many active, young members and provides programming focused on the youth of the community. In their current transition, church members are meeting regularly to work through Rick Warren’s book The Purpose Driven Church. The book is a how-to-guide on building healthy churches and encouraging church growth. Pimm said studying this book has encouraged the members of First Congregational to determine the needs of the larger community and to make sure their own congregation is healthy and strong. Pimm said they hope to review the book again as soon as they have a new pastor. History shows resolve of families To organize this development, the Congregational Society of West Pulteney was formed. The trustees were Brewster, Nehemiah Frost, Samuel Church, Amasa Frost, Samuel Baldwin, and Elihu Church. Worship began in the barn of Elihu Church in 1806 and a school was erected three years later. It would take until 1823 to build the church, which was one of the first church buildings west of the Genesee River. One recollection of the early church is from Simon Pierson, a pioneer of LeRoy, who was quoted in the Rochester Republican. “We wanted to send our children to school, and when Sunday came wanted to go to meeting (some of us I mean), but we had no meeting house and no minister. After a while a minister arrived, and we wanted funds, for we were but a feeble band; and finally, by meeting with a few pioneers in West Pulteney (now Riga) we succeeded in securing the services of a minister; and then we wanted him ordained in the good old way …” The school, which was located next to where the current church parking lot is, served the community up until the 1960s. - Taken from information provided by Ron Belczak, Riga historian. In celebration
April 30, 2006 |
