The Baptist Church

"History of the First Baptist Church of Nelsonville"
by Stephen G. Smith (1955 Centennial)

In the year 1800 the Baptists accepted an invitation to join the Presbyterians and Episcopals in Union Services to be held in the loft of the pattern shop of the West Point Foundry. Each week a minister from one of the denominations preached the service. An elder, John Warren by name, preached for the Baptists. About 1826, a meeting was held with the idea in mind of raising money to build a Union Church. It was greeted with enthusiasm and the church was built of stone and cedar wood on high ground on a promontory near the river. Years later, after the conclusion of services this building became a pickle factory and still later it was torn down and parts of the original building made into a private dwelling by the Joseph Pensiero family.

In the year 1828 the Baptists sensed the need of a meeting house of their own and plans were inaugurated. On January 14, 1830, a meeting was held at the home of Miles Brunell (now the home of Thomas Jaycox) for the purpose of erecting a house of worship. Thadius Baxter was appointed chairman and Miles Brunell secretary. A committee of nine was selected to draw up the Constitution. The Constitution was drawn up and approved on Jan. 28, 1830 and they called themselves the First Baptist Society of Philipstown. Through the untiring efforts of William Davenport a valuable piece of property was donated by Samuel Gouveneur and Mary his wife. The property deed was dated April 1, 1831 and is that parcel of land at the crest of the hill lying partly in Cold Spring and partly in Nelsonville. At this meeting it was agreed that the Trustees should raise the money by subscription.

On April 19th of the same year another meeting was held to award contracts and William Bowne was hired to build the church at a cost of $825.00, a sum hardly sufficient to erect a very pretentious building today. In 1854, the steeple, with bell and lecture room in the rear, were added at a cost of $1,200.00. Through the years repairs were made until today the value of the property is approximately $15,000.00. The first paid pastor was Rev. Isaac Bevan. From that day forth in 1831 to the present, continuous service worship has been held under the same roof, a monument to faith and devotion. The Baptists have the distinction of having the oldest house of worship in which services have conducted in the same structure for 124 years...(now 168 years).