05 Clarkson Community Church Marker

Clarkson Community Church (Clarkson Congregational Church)

8339 Ridge Road (Route 104), south side, viewer facing __?

Originally placed: 1979

By: Monroe County

According to local historian Helen Hastings, “the Church of Clarkson Corners was organized at a Council as a Congregational Society on the fourth of September, 1816, and it was not until the year 1825 that a house of worship was created.

At the Council the following presented themselves for the purpose of being formed into a Church: Joel Palmer, Theodore Ellis, Mary Perry, Polly Day, Phoebe Palmer, Patience Ellis, Ann Swift, John Phelps, Calvin Green, Mart McCrackon, Desire Wheland, Laura White, Charlotte Cummings, Sally Reed and Betsey Phelps.

They were examined as to their religious experiences and doctrinal knowledge. They gave satisfaction after agreeing to the Confession of Faith and Covenant. The constituting prayer was made by Rev Williams.

It was voted that Joel Palmer be clerk of the Church. The first Deacons were Joel Phelps and Levi Smith. The by-laws were adopted at the meeting held at the school house, Aug. 26th, 1817.

In 1830 the Church became Presbyterian, but in 1853 it returned to its original form of government. However, in 1869 Presbyterian form of government was adopted. In 1910 the Church became Congregational and has since so continued.

The first services were conducted in the School house until the edifice was erected. In 1825 a substantial building was erected 4th by 5th at the cost of $3,500. The bell was cast in 1846, and for many years besides being used for Church services it was tolled at the time of a personal death.

In the book, Erie Water, by Walter D. Edmonds mention was made of Clarkson in the following paragraphs on pages 482 and 483.

“As they rolled down on Clarkson village, they saw rigs hitched along the streets. The meeting house was a plain frame building with a double door. Jerry slowed down, not to disturb the horses, and they took the crossing at a walk.

Through the open window the exhorters voice came to them profoundly nasal in the closing prayer, and, as they went by, Jerry looked in.

The upright figure of the preacher, garbed in black – the white band outstretched above the bowing people – the closed eyes in the lifted faces with the sunlight full upon them – the voice sonorous down the tilted nose, came out to the passing wagon…’Bless and Prosper’…They carried the words with them.”

Helen Hastings, et.al., Old Houses of Monroe County (Brockport: Privately Printed, 1946), 32. https://dspace.sunyconnect.suny.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/65098bb8-ca65-4ded-80af-eb3290bb5096/content