First Presbyterian Church of Augusta & Vernon Center

  The history of our church began when a Congregational  society was formed in Augusta's log school on September 7, 1797, with nine charter members. Services were held in private homes until our present building was completed in 1816. The congregation became Presbyterian in 1828 when it joined the Oneida Presbytery. At that time we had 400 members.

  In 1866 our church became a member of the Utica Presbytery.  Three other churches have been formed out of our congregation: Second Congregational in Oriskany Falls (1833), Deansboro Congregational (1853) and Knoxboro Presbyterian (1872). Our building has been renovated several times including the installation of the basement in the 1880s. At that time a spire and bell were also added. The belfry was removed in 1952. In the 1990s the basement was extensively remodeled.

  Among the longest serving pastors of the Augusta Church were Rev. Orlo Batholomew (1836-1864) and Rev. Ernest Bittner (1975-1983).

  The history of the Vernon Center Church began in 1801 when 14 of that hamlet’s first settlers came together to organize the First Congregational Society of Vernon.  For nine years they worshipped in a log cabin on the village green.  Thereafter, in 1810 a small white New England style church was built near where the gazebo now stands.

The Vernon Center Church is noted for being the place where one of Charles Finney’s great revivals began during the 1820s.  Because of the revival the congregation grew to 200 and a new building was needed. In 1839 the church was dismantled, and a larger meeting house was built  on the Park Circle.  In 1851 the church joined the Presbyterian denomination.

  The Vernon Center building underwent significant renovations in 1866 and again in 1886, the later renovation being very substantial. In 1972 the church removed its spire as the Augusta Church had done. The church had 57 pastors during its 205 year history.  Two of its longest serving pastors were its most recent: Pastor Elden “Bill” Shaut (1984-1992) and Rev. Arthur “Pat” Brindisi (1992-2002).

  In 2005 the Augusta Church was approached by the session of Vernon Center regarding the possibility of a merger.  On January 1, 2006 the two churches merged to form the First Presbyterian Church of Augusta & Vernon Center with services held in the  church in Augusta Centre.

  In 2008 the former Vernon Center Church was converted into The Vernon Center Youth Center. Renovations have been made to the basement and a separate board now oversees the structure. Each week the center hosts “Kids for the Kingdom” which is a non-denominational Christian youth program.

 

  Over the last decade membership and church attendance has grown, the Sunday school has increased, and the church looks forward to new challenges in the future.