In
Brief
We are a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A., a
reformed denomination born of the Church of Scotland (the home of
Presbyterianism). We are also part of the Presbyteryof Western New
York (our regional body of 66 churches that stretches from the Niagara
Frontier to Chautauqua County, and includes Cattaraugus and part of
Allegany counties).
First United Presbyterian Church was founded in 1831 as First
Presbyterian Church of Silver Creek. In 1969 the members of First
United Methodist Church in the brick church across the street merged
with First Presbyterian Church which changed its name to First
United Presbyterian Church to commemorate the merger. For
nearly 175 years First United Presbyterian Church has been the backdrop
of life in Silver Creek, striving to be a beacon of hope, love and
service to the community.
We are an open community of disciples of Jesus Christ, striving to live
out his example of love and compassion.
We strive to accept all persons as children of God, deserving of love
and compassion as God has shown such to all.
We hope you will be our guest and join our fellowship so we may work
toward peace together and fulfill God's purpose.
Our History
On December 8, 1831 a group of people from the Village of Silver Creek
gathered in an old brick school house to form a religious society under
the New York State Religious Corporations Law of 1813. In those
days only men could vote in such matters, so a vote was taken and the First
Congregational Society of Silver Creek, then known as First
Presbyterian Church, was formed - a member congregation of the Presbyterian
Church of the United States. They elected six men to serve as
the first trustees of the newly formed religious society: James Brace,
Ephraim Hall, John Reid, David Anderson, Daniel Rumsey, and William
Hall. They had no meeting house as of yet, but they worshiped
regularly in the old high school on main street.
In 1840 Daniel Rumsey deeded to the First Congregational Societya
plot of land sitting adjacent to his home and place of business which
rested on the village square. That land is the same space where
now stands our church edifice which was built in 1840 and has been added
to and altered many times since then to meet the ministry needs of each
generation. Next to the main sanctuary building in those days was
the Anderson Lee Library. Though the library building has since
been torn down, the foundation remains buried under the lawn of the
church adjacent to Main Street/Route 20.
In 1968 conversations began between the Reverend Donald Spear, then
pastor of First Presbyterian Church, and the Reverend Thomas Guerdat,
then pastor of First United Methodist Church of Silver Creek, to join
forces and unite the two congregations into one. The Methodist
church had only a few families and was finding it increasingly difficult
to maintain their property and ministry. On May 25, 1969 each
congregation held congregational meetings and voted approved the merger
under the corporate name of the First Presbyterian Church, which was First
Congregational Society of Silver Creek. The ecclesiastical name was
also agreed upon by both congregations to be First United Church of
Silver Creek.
In 1981, on the 150th anniversary of the religious corporation being
formed, a wooden box was found in the original cornerstone by Rev. Ed
Halldorson, then pastor of First United Church, containing some coins
and a piece of paper from 1840 when the cornerstone of our current
sanctuary was laid. The paper had long since deteriorated, but is
presumed to have contained a list of members at the time. In an
incredible 150th anniversary celebration Rev. Halldorson and the
congregation laid a new time capsule, containing the original coins, a
tile with a sketch of the church, and several other artifacts from 1981.
It remains there today to be opened in 2031 when more artifacts in the
history of our church may be added.
In January 2010, at the Annual General Meeting, the members unanimously
agreed to alter the ecclesiastical name of the Congregation to First
United Presbyterian Church, to reflect in our name our affiliation with
the Presbyterian Church U.S.A.
Today we are under the leadership of Session and Rev. Thomas Burian, our
current pastor. We cherish our history and are proud of
how this small village church has been central to the history of the
Village of Silver Creek. We look forward to many more decades of
worshiping God and fulfilling our ministry.