FPC Back Then

FPC, Lowville, 1943

A few weeks ago, I was scouting around looking for information on Utica Presbytery, the presbytery that First Presbyterian Church, Lowville, belongs to, and came across a 1943 centennial history of the presbytery that contains historical sketches and photographs of the churches in the presbytery.  Although the FPC building, a.k.a. "The Stone Church," is widely photographed, I suspect that this is one that most of those connected with the church haven't seen before.  And, the historical sketch is interesting as well.  So, here they are.

THE LOWVILLE CHURCH

Founded 1803

In 1803 sixteen pioneers organized the Congregational Church of Lowville at Stow's Square, a mile north of the present village, meeting in homes and the school house. This church was connected with the Black River Association and functioned regularly. A church was built and dedicated in 1819, and in the same year the relationship with the Black River Association was dissolved, and the church, assenting to the Presbyterian form of faith, united with the St. Lawrence Presbytery
on February 23, 1820. Thus Stow's Square Church became the First Presbyterian Society of Lowville.

In the meantime, in the village of Lowville, a church was organized in 1807, and was known as the First Congregational Society of Lowville. The pastor of the Stow's Square Church also served this church. This condition continued until July 11, 1822, when twelve persons, members of either the Stow's Square Church or the Congregational Society of Lowville, constituted themselves into a branch of the Presbyterian Church. Out of this organization grew what is now the First Presbyterian Church of Lowville. The early reports of the church were made to the Presbytery of St. Lawrence under the name of the Second Church of Lowville, and it was not until 1870 that the church reported to Utica Presbytery.

The clerk of the Stow's Square Church recorded in 1850 that there had been no meetings of that church for a year, and that its members were all supporting the church in Lowville. The fact is that the Lowville Church had absorbed the Stow's Square Church, and called itself the First Presbyterian Church. A monument now marks the spot on which stood the original Stow's Square Church.

In 1826 the Presbyterian Society of Lowville purchased the building of the Congregational Society and used it for services until it burned in December of the same year. A new church was built and dedicated on January 15, 1829, and this church burned almost exactly one year later. Undaunted, the church which now numbered 82 members, built a new stone church, which was completed and dedicated in 1830. This is the building which still stands at the head of the park in Lowville and is still in use. Extensive alterations were made on this building in 1906 and again in 1937, and today it stands as a monument to heroic souls of a day gone by, and is loved and cherished by all its members.

The manse was purchased in 1848, and the Session House, now known as the Chapel, was built in 1853. Twenty-three ministers have served the church since its founding in 1822. The present pastor. Rev. O. Theodore Anderson, was installed in 1929, and serves a congregation of 406 persons.