The Western Presbyterian Church was the second of the four churches constructed on “God’s corner.” It is the oldest church building still in use (ca. 1832) in Palmyra and has a seating capacity of 800. It is located at 101 E. Main Street (phone number is (315) 597-9171). This church was believed to be a stop on the Underground Railroad. It is the site where two of Winston Churchill’s great-grandparents, Clarissa Hall and Leonard Jerome, were married.
On February 26, 1817, the Western Presbyterian Church separated from the East Palmyra Presbyterian Church. Near that time a decision was made to construct a Presbyterian Church in Palmyra. Architectural plans for the building were drawn by Abner Lakey, a prominent cabinet maker. Asa Millard was hired to be the contractor. The rafters for the roof were acquired by Guerdon Smith.
Within the Presbyterian Church was the Society of the Presbyterian Church which was responsible for the Palmyra Sabbath School Union, a branch of the Wayne County Sabbath School Union. Sabbath School meetings were held in the church as well as the stone schoolhouse. The first Sunday school dates back to 1817 with 57 “scholars.” Although Lucy, Sophronia, Samuel, and Hyrum Smith attended the Western Presbyterian Church, their names do not appear on the Sunday School records (JS- History 1:7). By 1836 there were 94 teachers and 575 students enrolled in the Palmyra Sabbath School Union. At that time, they had 1184 books in their library. By 1837 the annual report listed 369 Sunday school “scholars” with an average attendance of 200.
When the 116 pages were stolen, Alfred E. Campbell served as the pastor of the Western Presbyterian Church (“The Sunday School Minute Book” Second Edition, Philadelphia, 1826; Loreen Jorgensen, The First Hundred Churches of Wayne County, New York, 2018; The Woman’s Society of the Western Presbyterian Church, Palmyra: Wayne County, New York, Rochester, NY: The Herald Press, 1907, p. 47; “Bicentennial Celebration 1817-2017: Gleanings From the First 200 Years,” Western Presbyterian Church, Palmyra, NY).
North, Linus – minister
Townsend, Jesse – pastor
Gannett, Jacob – trustee
Goldsmith, Thomas – trustee
Howell, Jonah – trustee
Warner, David – trustee
Ensworth, Azel – elder
Hurlbut, (Mr.) – elder
West, Pelatiah – elder
Williams, George – elder
Beckwith, George – deacon
Lakey, Abner – helped restore the Western Presbyterian Church
Millard, Asahel – helped build the Western Presbyterian Church
Beckwith, George – vice president and later director of the Palmyra Presbyterian Society; librarian for the Sabbath School.
Dagget, Levi – member
Ely, Giles S. – member
Foster, Jedediah – member
Grandin, E. B. – member
Howard, Luther – member (according to the Sunday School Minute Book, he was in the class on January 2, 1831; librarian for the Sabbath School).
Jackways, David – member
Jenner, James – member
Jerome, Hiram K. – member (he was on a visiting committee of the Presbyterian Society; Assistant to the librarian of the Palmyra Presbyterian Society; he became a director of the Presbyterian Society)
Jessup, Henry – member (He was president of the Palmyra Presbyterian Society)
Linnell, Haskill – member
McIntyre, Alexander – member
North, Linus – member (corresponding secretary; he’s superintendent of the village schools established by the Presbyterian Church; served one year in office and then declined for the second year; secretary of the Presbyterian society)
Reeves, Stephen – member
Robinson, Gain – suspended
Robinson, James – member
Rogers, Thomas – member (he was a teacher but was dismissed on March 28, 1838)
Saunders, Lorenzo – member
Sheffield, Frederick – member
Shel, Harvey – member
Smith, Robert W. – member (He was a director of the Palmyra Presbyterian Society; teacher of the Sunday School)
Stockton, (Mr.) – member
Strong, Theron R. – member (he seconded West’s motion to establish a Presbyterian Sunday School)
Thayer, Levi – member (according to the Sunday School Minute Book, he was in the class on January 2, 1831).
West, Pelatiah – member (moved that they establish a Presbyterian Sunday School; Director of the Palmyra Presbyterian Society; he’s superintendent of the village schools established by the Presbyterian Church)