Untitled Document

A History of the Rondout Valley United Methodist Church
Compiled by the Church Historian 2010

The first written history of the Stone Ridge Church was copied into the Church Records in 1882. This is substantially the one written by Kenneth Hasbrouck in his booklet in 1957. We see that the history was written by a committee of one, F.D.L Montanyea in 1865 and probably into 1866, having been charged to do so by the Second Conference of the Stone Ridge M.E. Church in December of 1865. Mr. Montanyea bemoans the lack of written records and relied heavily on the recall of older members of the church. It comes forward to us now as it was written in 1865.

The first Methodist Church in Stone Ridge was built approximately 1799, and it stood on land owned by the Clark family. The first Methodist Minister preached in the county in 1786 or 1788, about the time or just before the first session of the New York Conference, held in September of 1788.

Until the year 1832 when the first parsonage was built in Stone Ridge, all of the preachers were part of the familiar itinerant circuit type, and they most often resided in another part of their circuit.

In the year 1840, the Methodist Episcopal Church (as it was known then) was built on the present Route 209 in the hamlet of Stone Ridge. The church cost $3,300 to erect. The first preachers were Elijah and Morris D.C. Crawford. Rev. Jervis Nichols of Kingston preached the dedication sermon. The minister in charge, Rev. Elijah Crawford purchased the marble slab that then had the name Wesley Chapel and further inscription on it. It was placed over the front door to the church.

The panel, weathered and cracked reads: WESLEY CHAPEL, Erected A.D. 1840, and continues from John 3:16, GOD so loved the world that he gave his only begotten SON that WHOSOEVER believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

This memorial was moved from the Stone Ridge Methodist Church to the Rondout Valley United Methodist Church, and now resides in the Narthex.

In 1855 a Stone Ridge Circuit was formed, and took in the additional churches of High Falls and Alligerville. In the following year, the church at Kripplebush was built and in the year 1858-59, the parsonage on Route 209 was constructed.

Archives show that in 1867 and 1868, extensive work was performed on the church during the pastorate of C. Palmer. These works included lowering the building, removing the basement, adding the lecture room, and rearranging the auditorium. It was written that “fruitful revival meetings were held and the building was rededicated free from debt.”
There was a fire in the kitchen in 1874, and while John Rowe was pastor in 1875 it was replaced, using insurance proceeds. In 1878, it was written that “The fine orchestra was built at the left of the pulpit - - - and the choir was removed from the gallery.”

In the spring of 1933, the Accord and Kripplebush Churches were transferred from the Kerhonkson Circuit to the Stone Ridge one. This gave the Stone Ridge Circuit four points, i.e. Stone Ridge, Accord, Kripplebush and Atwood.

In the church’s centennial year, 1940, an informational and memorial booklet was created, and contains a listing of the Officiary of the Church at the time. It may be of interest to see the names given then:

Trustees
John H. Palen, George Weeks, Lansing Hunt, Archibald Lawrence, Mrs. Granville Lockwood

Stewards
Recording Miss P. Brink
Disbursing Roy Ransom
Connectional Mrs. G. Lockwood
Communion Miss P. Brink
District Charles Gerwin
Reserve District John Palen

Ladies’ Aid
Mrs. DeForest Bishop (President), Mrs. John Palen, Miss P. Brink, Mrs. G. Weeks

Women’s Home Missionary Society (Builder’s Guild)
Miss Della Clark (President), Mrs. J. Palen, Miss P. Brink, Mrs. G. Weeks

Church School
Roy Ransom (Superintendent), Oscar Wood, Mrs. P. Sickler, Miss D. Pine, Mrs. G. Lockwood

In 1960, the Circuit had changed to include Stone Ridge, Accord and Kripplebush, and the need for new and expanded physical facilities became evident. The three congregations engaged in discussions towards consolidation. Kripplebush decided to remain separate. In 1967 Stone Ridge and Accord officially merged with the combining of services and activities, and with the plans unfolding for the construction of a new church. This new building was to be known as the Rondout Valley United Methodist Church. A site was procured on the corner of US Route 209 and Schoonmaker Lane. Work on planning progressed, and on April 16, 1972 ground was broken in what was called Phase I, the Educational Building. The formal dedication for this segment was held on January 28, 1973. Services were held in this building from March of 1973.

At the same time, a building drive for Phase II, the construction of the Sanctuary, social hall and building unit was begun. On August 16th, 1973, excavation of the basement was begun, and shortly thereafter the basement was constructed. October 22nd and 23rd saw the arrival of building materials and the shell of the sanctuary began to be evident. Although not quite completed, the first service was held in it on December 2, 1973. A cornertone near the basement door fronts a time crypt, located in an airtight chamber behind it.

From time to time additional fund raisers have been held to complete the necessary unfinished items, and now we have a modern, comfortable House of Worship, open to and for all. A major project for the church was the purchase of a lovely organ, not in small measure due to the efforts of former organist Barbara Lottridge. A commerative plaque was added to the organ's face later.

All of the pastors that are known to have served the church are listed on a wall hanging donated by a church member in the 1990's. The following is a listing of the Ministers as given on the plaque (with notations in parentheses) of the differences recorded in the Centennial Booklet mentioned above. The latter listing was apparently compiled in 1935, though it was published in 1940. Those Pastors with links will have additional information listed on a separate page.

1845-46 William Blake, A. C. Fields, S. G. Stephens (Stephens not listed, instead I. H. Lent is recorded)

1847-48 William Bloomer, Joseph Ellicott, S. G. Stephens (given as Jos. Elliott)

1908-13 Charles E. Rignall*, George Washington King (Rev. King only latter 1913)