Croton Falls Community Church Croton Falls NY

Who We Are...

The Croton Falls Community Church is a dynamic community of faith that is composed of ALL the major Christian Faith traditions. We welcome all into our “church family” who are seeking a deeper insight into the relevance of Jesus Christ for their lives today. While historically this church has developed out of the American Baptist tradition, it currently is a reflection of believers who are seeking a broader understanding of faith issues for today. Lutherans, Methodists, Roman Catholics, Presbyterians, Unitarians and Orthodox all come together sharing ideas and understanding for living in the complex contemporary society. The worship style is as diverse as the congregation with traditional services with organ alternating with the contemporary sounds of new worship. Some services are as informal as a tent revival to the formality of a sung Mass setting at special times. As a diverse group, all ages are expressed within the congregation and children are especially welcome at our services. A creative Sunday School program meets during the second half of our morning worship service. While many churches are organized around committees our model is a can do attitude that “makes things happen.” Our governance is by a Church Council made up of Trustees, Deacons, and Staff Parish Relations. In the past we have served at “Ground Zero” providing relief and refreshments to rescue and recovery workers. More recently we helped a family who lost their home to Katrina in Mississippi. We are a small church and pride ourselves in calling ourselves “the little church that could.” Please visit us an experience the joy, sharing, and community first hand!

 

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The Croton Falls Community Church has a rich and interesting history.

As recorded by the Town of North Salem historian: The Croton Falls Baptist Church In the winter of 1868-69 there were a few Baptists in Croton Falls, NY. Deacon Joel B. Purdy, a member of the Laight St. Church of New York, N.Y. and Lewis Miller of Sing-Sing (now Ossining) were among the group. They felt that Meetings should be held in their own town. Before this time the Meetings had been held in the Cat-Ridge Meeting House established in 1833 and located on the South side of the Titicus Reservoir, near the pressent entrance to the Woolworth Estate and also at a Baptist Church in Brewster. Their Pastor was Rev. E. Edwards. It was then decided to hold Meetings in Barden Hall which was located in The Croton Falls Hotel on Main Street, the site of the present Fire House. Rev. Edwards was invited to preach every other Sunday, the alternate Sunday being used by the Methodists of the Ministry. This securing a preaching service every Sunday evening. This hall was rather small, so as the attendance grew it seemed necessary to have a new hall. Our dear Brother Joel B. Purdy from the goodness of his Christian heart built a large commodious hall to worship in and had it dedicated to the service of God. It was called "Union Hall" and had a seating capacity of 200 persons and was neatly furnished for the purpose intended. These meetings were so well attended that it was decided to form a Baptist Church. In 1870 a Council was held at Croton Falls consisting of the Carmel, Red Mills, Sing-Sing, Bedford and Brewster Churches. This a Baptist Church was formed in Croton Falls,, N.Y. after a dedication of Faith and Church Covenant was approved and accepted. The Croton Falls Baptist Church was Incorporated in March, 1875 at the County Clerk's Office. Likes B. of Religious Societies on page 375 and C. Odle Close being Notary Public. J. Malcolm SMith, County Clerk and Winfield S. Harris, Church Clerk. B.C. Romine an Evangelist preached for a time before a call was extended to Rev. Vicotr W. Benedict, then preaching in The First Church of Danbury, Conn. Oct. 9th, 1870 at a salary of $1000 Danbury encouraged Rev. Benedict to accept this position. Previous to this Rev. Benedict was foreman in the finishing room of the Henry Grafets hat factory. He was known there for his oratory and leadership. The politicians of Danbury wanted him to be Mayor of Danbury and he had been called to be Pastor of the Calvary Baptist Church in N.Y. Also to a church in Montclair, N.J. But these he refused as he thought his work was needed in Croton Falls. The church started with ten members. They were Joel E. Purdy, Lewis B. Miller, Benjamin McCollum, Sarah Adams, Rebecca Dean, Ferris Head and Julia Fuller. The first Board of Trustees were Joel S. Purdy, Thatcher H. Theal, David Adams, Isriel Pinckney and Gilbert F. Bailey. The Church was admitted to the Union Baptist Association at it's meeting in Paterson on October 9, 1870. On June 13, 1871, Lewis Misler, Jerry Keeler and David Adams were appointed to solicit for funds for the building of a Chirch Edifice. The first donation was from a widow woman of $2.00. This the fund was started to raise the $11,000 needed for building, $8,000 for the building, $3,000 for the furnishing. The church was made of wood with two steeples, Gothic style, one tower 80 ft. the other 60 ft. The building is a 36 ft. wide. 50 ft. transcript and 92 ft. overall in length. J. R. Hood of New York, N.Y. was the architect. The grounds for the Church were given by Deacon Joel B. Purdy. The horse-sheds were built back of the Church in 1881. The Corner Stone was laid April 16, 1878. The Church dedicated Nov. 12, 1878. In the Corner Stone is a copper box containing:

1. List of Officers and members of the Church 2. Officers of Sunday School 3. Officers of Ladies Aid 4. Building Commission 5. Sketh of Church Organization 6. Copy of the newspaper, "The Examiner." 7. Copy of the newspaper, "The Chronicle." 8. NY Daily paper 9. Minutes of Union Baptist Assoc. 1877 10. N.Y. Baptist Annual of 1878 11. Malloys Chronological Table of the Bible 12. Copy of Holy Scripture 13. Silver Dollar, year 1878, and other monies The main auditorium has a seating capacity for 244 and 100 in the Sunday School Room. To be continued......