First Presbyterian Church welcomes Christians and those who seek to understand Christianity in the Gowanda area. Our aim is to make contact with and encourage others to join us in our life-enhancing Christian journey.
First Presbyterian Church in Gowanda, New York is a friendly Christian community where we welcome ALL people to join us in our worship and service to God. Our emphasis is honoring Jesus through the love and acceptance off all people. The vision of First Presbyterian Church is to make an impact for God, here in Gowanda, New York by helping people understand the enriching messages of eternal hope given to us by Jesus Christ through His words and deeds. Come just as you are - we'd love to get to know you better. |
Isaiah 1:17 says;
“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows”
“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed.
Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows”
Our History
The land on which our church stands is part of the ancient homeland and traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee people. We pay respect to First Nation peoples past, present and future, and their continuing presence in the homeland.
In 1823, the first Presbyterian to locate in Gowanda ( or Lodi, as it was called), was Ralph Plumb. Plumb and his brothers began worship services above their local store, and in the local school.
The church became part of the Presbytery of Buffalo and on January 28, 1828, was represented there by Joseph Plumb.
The first regular minister of the church was a supply pastor. He was rev. Erastus Gillett, who arrived here in 1828.
The initial growth of the church was slow, with only one initiating in 1828, four in 1829, and six in 1830. The year 1831 saw great growth with eight uniting by letter and fourteen by profession. Membership of the church now totaled 45 people.
The church and the village were honored on January 31, 1832, when a meeting of the Presbytery of Buffalo was held here at the old school house in the village.
Under the pastorate of he Rev. T.S. Harris (1832-1834) the church saw phenomenal growth with the addition of 66 new members, 54 of which were converts. Many of them were baptized under the covered on the Cattaraugus Creek. The are was lined with people to see the sacrament performed and to hear the word and sing hymns.
On June 28, 1835, John B. Preston became the first installed pastor of the church, having been called by the church on January 28th of the same year. The first church building was also erected and dedicated in that same year. It was said to have been the finest church building in Western New York.
On February 13, 1842 the church caught fire and was totally destroyed, along with all the records and session minutes.
Though the depression of that Era had brought great loss of membership to the church, Ralph Plumb and the remaining members raised enough money to rebuild. Erection of a new church building was soon started, and during that time worship services were held in the ballroom of the Eagle Hotel on the corner of Buffalo and Perry streets.
The basement held the first worship services at the cite. The Rev. Sylvester Cowles presided and later said of the first service, "Never did I preach to a congregation which appeared so humble and thankful, as did the first Sabbath of December, 1842. At the close of service, no one seemed inclined to leave the house. Each shook hands with each other, with reddened eye, and choked utterance. The spirit of God was with us, and the church resolved to hold a series of extra meetings, which they did accordingly, and God blessed them for their efforts."
During the Civil War (1861-1865) the pastor was Claudius B. Lord. His sermons attracted much attention, as he was an intense Union man.
In 1886 the building, which had been erected in 1843, was completely rebuilt through the generosity of Franklin F. Spencer of Chicago at an expense of about $12,000. He was a former resident and merchant of the village. In what is now called the upper room he established the Mary Spencer Library in memory of his daughter , who had died i 1869. This was the first library established in the village. Volumes of permanent value from this library were later placed in the Gowanda Public Library.
The church building was dedicated on February 24, 1887. The presentation of the church and the delivery of the keys and the trustees were done by Mr. Spencer on behalf of the children of Phineas Spencer and Zebedee A. Macomber. The Rev. Albert H. Plumb D.D. of Boston, Massachusetts, a former pupil of the Sunday school and the son of Joseph Plumb, gave the dedication sermon.
On March 11, 1888, the "Dorcus Giving Alms" stained glass window was unveiled. It was given by Franklin F. Spencer in memory of his wife, Rachel Gifford Macomber, who had passed away on March 18, 1887. Those who new her considered the subject matter of the window very appropriate, as she was an extremely giving woman, particularly to those in need.
In 1906 the members of the congregation expressed a desire for a new organ, as the old one was not of sufficient variety and was unable to give good tone quality. The Rev. J.A. Purdy thought and prayed about it and, without informing anyone, wrote a letter to Andrew Carnegie in New York City. Mr.Carnegie was one of the leading industrialists of that time and was a great philanthropist. Mr. Carnegie responded quickly and helped finance the organ by donating 750$.
On March 10, 1910, the Rev. James Craig Buchanan came from Scotland to become the pastor. His pastorate continued until 1929.
On December 5, 1910, a Men's Fellowship was established. It initially consisted of 18 men of the church. By 1929 it had grown to 210 men of all races and creeds. Men of all churches met regularly in the lower hall of the church for dinner, fellowship, and to hear outstanding speakers from all over the country. Organized and built by the Rev. Buchann, it was one of the strongest groups of its kind in New York State.
In 1912, Boy Scout Troop 41 was organized under the sponsorship of the church. Lord Baden-Powell of the British Isles founded the Boy Scouts in 1909. When Rev. James Buchanan came here from the British Isles he brought the idea with him.
There was a Young Women's Society of the Presbyterian Church established in 1914. It promoted the good success of the congregation, the community and helped in the mission work of the church. It was very active in the community, sponsoring carnivals, plays, and musicals in the Gowanda Opera House(later became the Hollywood Theater). The money raised was donated to various organizations, and was rendered at all times to those in need.
The Rev. Buchanan also wrote a volume of his sermons called "The Imperishable Heart".
Between 1951 and 1955 the pastor was Rev. Lewis Hutton. In 1952 the church was extensively renovated. The center aisle was constructed, the chancel and the choir loft remodeled, the organ rebuilt, the kitchen remodeled, and a new furnace installed. New ceilings and lights were installed in the lower hall and sanctuary. In addition, the church extended its ministry to the Cattaraugus Native American Territory, and established scholarships at Wooster College in Ohio and Princeton Theological Seminary. It also supported missions in Lebanon, Tripoli, and Brazil.
In 1956, during the pastorate of the Rev. Harris T. Lang, electronic carillons were installed at the church. The instrument consisted of 25 miniature bell tone generators of bronze bell metal, which when struck by metal hammers, were amplified more than 100,000 times by specially designed electronic equipment. The bells weighed only a few pounds but provided the equivalent of 79,462 pounds of cast bells. In that same year, the family of the late Robert S. Toal illuminated our Rose Window as a memorial.
In 1958 the property and the house at 35 Orchard Place in the village was purchased from Mrs. Thomas Mills to be used as the manse.
In 1959 the Rev. Gideon Von Galambos became pastor. His pastorate continued for over 32 years, ending in 1991. He graduated from John Hus Theological Seminary of Charles University in Prague, Czechoslovakia. After many hardships, he escaped the Iron Curtain to Western Europe, eventually coming to the United States.
In 1959 the front entrance of the church was rebuilt with the narthex and lavatory added. Adjoining properties were bought, two buildings were raised nd a parking lot was built. This would later become the construction site of the Christian Education Building.
On October 8, 1967, ground was broken for the Christian Education Building. It was constructed of brick ad masonry and consisted of classrooms, a pastor's study, an office, a Christian education office, and lavatories.
On May 12, 1968, 200 people witnessed the laying of the cornerstone of the Christian Education Building. A special ceremony was part of the worship service to commemorate the event. The cost of the entire building project was $100,000.
In November 1968 class began in the new building, and on May 11, 1969 the building was dedicated during worship service. The Rev. Donald D.M. Jones, Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Western New York, preached the sermon and presided over the dedication ceremony. After the service, tours of the new building were given.
In significance of the 145th anniversary of the church in 1972, the Rev. Lewis J. Hutton, pastor from 1951-1955 was guest preacher. The women of the church held a tureen dinner after the service.
On January 23, 1973, the Rev. Gideon Von Galambos was elected moderator of the Presbytery of Western New York. At the time the presbytery consisted of 75 churches with 42,000 members.
On October 23, 1973, the Presbytery of New York held its stated meeting in the sanctuary. 150 ministers and and elder commissioners attended. Dinner was served in the lower hall, and also some rooms of the Christian Education Building. This was the third time the Presbytery met in our church(previously in 1965 and 1969). The Presbytery met again in the sanctuary on April 26th, 1977, followed again by a dinner.
In May and June 1976 substantial work was completed in the sanctuary. A new ceiling was installed, and the east and west sides of the church were insulated and covered with dry wall. The interior was painted and several stained glass windows were repaired.
On April 26, 1977, the church celebrated its 150th anniversary. The worship service commemorating the event was followed by a lunch with a special 150th anniversary cake.
In 1980 the church was led to sponsor a refugee family from Indochina and relocated them from Southeast Asia to Gowanda. On January 28, 1981, the Phommahaxay family landed at Buffalo International Airport. The Laotian fanily of seven was met by an enthusiastic group of Gowanda Presbyterians. The family resided at 255 Buffalo Street. On February 1st the congregation paused to recognize Mune and Pheng Phommahaxay and their five children during the service of worship and Holy Communion. The entire sponsorship program was extensive, and many committees were set up to deal with administration, community services, education, employment, financial affairs, health, and housing.
In 1982 the "yellow house" was removed from the church triangle. It was taken down to be re-erected outside Springville. While dismantling the structure, old beams emerged with the markings of 1842. The well built little house had many uses over the years. Between 1940 and 1958 it served as the manse. From 1959-1969 as many as six classes of Sunday school were held in the house. In 1971 it was refurbished and rented as income property under the trustee-ship of the church.
During the coffee hour on March 11, 1984, the congregation surprised the Rev. Gideon Von Galambos with a silver anniversary celebration to mark his 25 years as a pastor.
Also in 1984, the church was sided in vinyl-steel. At the same time the copper crown, which was attached to the steeple by an ornate iron rod, was removed and replaced with one made of aluminum. The copper crown was thought to have hung there since 1886, when the building had been completely rebuilt.
On August 27, 1984, the Phommahaxay family relocated from Gowanda to Amarillo Texas. The seven Laotian refugees spent three years and seven months under the sponsorship of the church. They moved west to be with their family which had settled there. The sponsorship was a memorable time for the church.
On September 1, 1984, the church entered into a contractual relationship with CAO, Community Action Organization of Erie County to house the federally- funded Head Start program for children and families in the southern most townships of the county.
In 1985 the church installed a FM wireless sound system. It consisted of many components, including omni-directional microphones, a walking wireless microphone, two amplifiers, 12 battery operated receiving units for the hearing impaired, an speakers in the kitchen, and the nursery to allow services to be heard in those areas. In November of the same year, the triangle became an instant garden as 6,750 square feet of living grass was rolled out like a carpet. It was professionally landscaped, with walkways and flower gardens.
In 1968 the restoration and protection project for the stained glass windows was started. The windows had been a part of the church since its reconstruction 100 years prior in 1886. Later that same year, a grand piano was installed in the sanctuary.
In 1992 Gideon Von Galambos was awarded the title of "Pastor Emeritus". No other pastor of the church has been so honored.
In 1994 the Deacons of the church started an audio tape ministry. Copies were delivered to shut-ins or anyone who wished to hear the Sunday service.
In the summer of 1996 the quality and performance of the sound system was improved. I addition to the already existing system, the new system added a power mixer and equalizer components through technical speakers with voice reinforcement. Also added was a drop microphone over the choir loft and peripheral surface mounts for boundary microphones.
In 1998 The Food Pantry of Gowanda Ministerial Association began operating out of the Christian Education Building. The pantry is an ecumenical effort of the association, assisting families in need in our area.
Also in 1998, the Presbyterian Women's Group was formed and met monthly for Bible study.
On June 30, 2002, a worship service commemorating the 175th anniversary of the church was held. Pastor Emeritus Gideon Von Galambos led the liturgy, and the Rev. Donna Lewis delivered the sermon. Former members of both the Junior Choir and the Chancel Choir were invited to participate and join with the present Chancel Choir to form an Anniversary Choir of some 30 members. Gary Sprague, a former choir director of many years, was the conductor. Doris Jones, the current director and organist, played the organ. Doris composed a special introit for the occasion. The anthem was appropriately titled "From One Generation to Another", and was very well received from the largely attended congregation. The benediction was "The Blessings of Aaron", an old favorite of the church that had not been playd in quite some time. Following the service, a reception was held in the dining hall, hosted by the Presbyterian Women's Group. The Silver coffee and Tea service was used and beverages were served by the members of the group. Finger sandwiches were served along with a celebratory 175th anniversary cake. Among the guests present were Western New York Presbytery's General Presbyter, the Rev. Dr. David McKee, and former pastors, Rev. Gideon Von Galambos, Rev. Peter Weaver, and Rev. Carolyn Grohman. The former pastors along with the current Rev. Donna Lewis gave remarks at the reception Each was presented with a wooden replica of the church as a gift. The same replica was available for all to purchase as a memento of the celebration. On July 1, 2002 the ringing of the bells took place to commemorate the actual anniversary day. Thirty members of the congregation, ranging in ages from three months to 87 years gathered at 5 pm to take turns ringing the church bells 175 times.
On July 13, 2002, an anniversary celebration was held. A catered dinner in the dining hall, was followed by a program in the sanctuary. The program consisted of the remembrance of the 12 charter members of the church, In addition, reflections of former pastors, both installed and interim, were read. Pastor Emeritus Gideon Von Galambos presented a slide show concerning the recent history of the church in his famous "travelogue" style. A brass crown, which hung over the church steeple for almost 100 years, was restored and presented to the congregation as a gift. A crescent shaped stained glass window, which had been hidden from view since the addition of the narthex in 1959, was removed and restored and was also presented as an anniversary gift to the church.
The Rev. Donna Lewis served until the year 2021 when she retired. The Rev. Evon Lloyd was installed in 2021 and served until 2022 when she also retired from preaching.
In 2022 we welcomed our beloved current preacher the Rev. K.C. Clark-Porter. He can be heard preaching the word of God every Sunday in the Sanctuary at 10:30 am.
PASTORS OF THE CHURCH:
Erastus J. Gillett 1828-1832
T.S. Harris 1832-1834
John B. Preston 1835-1842
Sylvester Cowles 1842-1844
L.A. Skinner 1844-1846
R.S. Goodman 1847-1848
J.H. Rice 1849-1850
J.C. Knapp 1850-1851
L.S. Morgan 1851-1854
S.G. Orton 1854-1857
A. Cooper 1857-1859
C.B. Lord 1860-1865
S. Warren 1866-1867
Sylvester Cowles 1867-1874
J.V.C. Nellia 1875-1878
W.W. Nason 1878-1879
John A. Wells 1879-1881
M.F. Tripp 1882
O.L. White 1882-1883
Albert B. Robinson 1884-1892
Frank H. Cofran 1893-1895
J. Emory Fisher 1895-1901
J.A. Purdy 1901-1908
M.S. Fales 1908-1910
James Craig Buchanon 1910-1929
William J. Semple 1930-1932
A.E. Thurston 1932-1940
Myron Kinney Hume 1941-1949
Lewis J. Hutton Ph.D. 1951-1955
Harris Thompson Lang 1956-1958
Gideon L.E. Von Galambos 1959-1991
James Goodbow 1993-1997
Donna K. Lewis 200-2021
Evon Lloyd 2021-2022
K.C. Clark-Porter 2022- present
*along with these installed pastors were interim pastors
Peter Weaver 1991-1993*
Carolyn Grohman 1997-2000*
In 1823, the first Presbyterian to locate in Gowanda ( or Lodi, as it was called), was Ralph Plumb. Plumb and his brothers began worship services above their local store, and in the local school.
The church became part of the Presbytery of Buffalo and on January 28, 1828, was represented there by Joseph Plumb.
The first regular minister of the church was a supply pastor. He was rev. Erastus Gillett, who arrived here in 1828.
The initial growth of the church was slow, with only one initiating in 1828, four in 1829, and six in 1830. The year 1831 saw great growth with eight uniting by letter and fourteen by profession. Membership of the church now totaled 45 people.
The church and the village were honored on January 31, 1832, when a meeting of the Presbytery of Buffalo was held here at the old school house in the village.
Under the pastorate of he Rev. T.S. Harris (1832-1834) the church saw phenomenal growth with the addition of 66 new members, 54 of which were converts. Many of them were baptized under the covered on the Cattaraugus Creek. The are was lined with people to see the sacrament performed and to hear the word and sing hymns.
On June 28, 1835, John B. Preston became the first installed pastor of the church, having been called by the church on January 28th of the same year. The first church building was also erected and dedicated in that same year. It was said to have been the finest church building in Western New York.
On February 13, 1842 the church caught fire and was totally destroyed, along with all the records and session minutes.
Though the depression of that Era had brought great loss of membership to the church, Ralph Plumb and the remaining members raised enough money to rebuild. Erection of a new church building was soon started, and during that time worship services were held in the ballroom of the Eagle Hotel on the corner of Buffalo and Perry streets.
The basement held the first worship services at the cite. The Rev. Sylvester Cowles presided and later said of the first service, "Never did I preach to a congregation which appeared so humble and thankful, as did the first Sabbath of December, 1842. At the close of service, no one seemed inclined to leave the house. Each shook hands with each other, with reddened eye, and choked utterance. The spirit of God was with us, and the church resolved to hold a series of extra meetings, which they did accordingly, and God blessed them for their efforts."
During the Civil War (1861-1865) the pastor was Claudius B. Lord. His sermons attracted much attention, as he was an intense Union man.
In 1886 the building, which had been erected in 1843, was completely rebuilt through the generosity of Franklin F. Spencer of Chicago at an expense of about $12,000. He was a former resident and merchant of the village. In what is now called the upper room he established the Mary Spencer Library in memory of his daughter , who had died i 1869. This was the first library established in the village. Volumes of permanent value from this library were later placed in the Gowanda Public Library.
The church building was dedicated on February 24, 1887. The presentation of the church and the delivery of the keys and the trustees were done by Mr. Spencer on behalf of the children of Phineas Spencer and Zebedee A. Macomber. The Rev. Albert H. Plumb D.D. of Boston, Massachusetts, a former pupil of the Sunday school and the son of Joseph Plumb, gave the dedication sermon.
On March 11, 1888, the "Dorcus Giving Alms" stained glass window was unveiled. It was given by Franklin F. Spencer in memory of his wife, Rachel Gifford Macomber, who had passed away on March 18, 1887. Those who new her considered the subject matter of the window very appropriate, as she was an extremely giving woman, particularly to those in need.
In 1906 the members of the congregation expressed a desire for a new organ, as the old one was not of sufficient variety and was unable to give good tone quality. The Rev. J.A. Purdy thought and prayed about it and, without informing anyone, wrote a letter to Andrew Carnegie in New York City. Mr.Carnegie was one of the leading industrialists of that time and was a great philanthropist. Mr. Carnegie responded quickly and helped finance the organ by donating 750$.
On March 10, 1910, the Rev. James Craig Buchanan came from Scotland to become the pastor. His pastorate continued until 1929.
On December 5, 1910, a Men's Fellowship was established. It initially consisted of 18 men of the church. By 1929 it had grown to 210 men of all races and creeds. Men of all churches met regularly in the lower hall of the church for dinner, fellowship, and to hear outstanding speakers from all over the country. Organized and built by the Rev. Buchann, it was one of the strongest groups of its kind in New York State.
In 1912, Boy Scout Troop 41 was organized under the sponsorship of the church. Lord Baden-Powell of the British Isles founded the Boy Scouts in 1909. When Rev. James Buchanan came here from the British Isles he brought the idea with him.
There was a Young Women's Society of the Presbyterian Church established in 1914. It promoted the good success of the congregation, the community and helped in the mission work of the church. It was very active in the community, sponsoring carnivals, plays, and musicals in the Gowanda Opera House(later became the Hollywood Theater). The money raised was donated to various organizations, and was rendered at all times to those in need.
The Rev. Buchanan also wrote a volume of his sermons called "The Imperishable Heart".
Between 1951 and 1955 the pastor was Rev. Lewis Hutton. In 1952 the church was extensively renovated. The center aisle was constructed, the chancel and the choir loft remodeled, the organ rebuilt, the kitchen remodeled, and a new furnace installed. New ceilings and lights were installed in the lower hall and sanctuary. In addition, the church extended its ministry to the Cattaraugus Native American Territory, and established scholarships at Wooster College in Ohio and Princeton Theological Seminary. It also supported missions in Lebanon, Tripoli, and Brazil.
In 1956, during the pastorate of the Rev. Harris T. Lang, electronic carillons were installed at the church. The instrument consisted of 25 miniature bell tone generators of bronze bell metal, which when struck by metal hammers, were amplified more than 100,000 times by specially designed electronic equipment. The bells weighed only a few pounds but provided the equivalent of 79,462 pounds of cast bells. In that same year, the family of the late Robert S. Toal illuminated our Rose Window as a memorial.
In 1958 the property and the house at 35 Orchard Place in the village was purchased from Mrs. Thomas Mills to be used as the manse.
In 1959 the Rev. Gideon Von Galambos became pastor. His pastorate continued for over 32 years, ending in 1991. He graduated from John Hus Theological Seminary of Charles University in Prague, Czechoslovakia. After many hardships, he escaped the Iron Curtain to Western Europe, eventually coming to the United States.
In 1959 the front entrance of the church was rebuilt with the narthex and lavatory added. Adjoining properties were bought, two buildings were raised nd a parking lot was built. This would later become the construction site of the Christian Education Building.
On October 8, 1967, ground was broken for the Christian Education Building. It was constructed of brick ad masonry and consisted of classrooms, a pastor's study, an office, a Christian education office, and lavatories.
On May 12, 1968, 200 people witnessed the laying of the cornerstone of the Christian Education Building. A special ceremony was part of the worship service to commemorate the event. The cost of the entire building project was $100,000.
In November 1968 class began in the new building, and on May 11, 1969 the building was dedicated during worship service. The Rev. Donald D.M. Jones, Executive Presbyter of the Presbytery of Western New York, preached the sermon and presided over the dedication ceremony. After the service, tours of the new building were given.
In significance of the 145th anniversary of the church in 1972, the Rev. Lewis J. Hutton, pastor from 1951-1955 was guest preacher. The women of the church held a tureen dinner after the service.
On January 23, 1973, the Rev. Gideon Von Galambos was elected moderator of the Presbytery of Western New York. At the time the presbytery consisted of 75 churches with 42,000 members.
On October 23, 1973, the Presbytery of New York held its stated meeting in the sanctuary. 150 ministers and and elder commissioners attended. Dinner was served in the lower hall, and also some rooms of the Christian Education Building. This was the third time the Presbytery met in our church(previously in 1965 and 1969). The Presbytery met again in the sanctuary on April 26th, 1977, followed again by a dinner.
In May and June 1976 substantial work was completed in the sanctuary. A new ceiling was installed, and the east and west sides of the church were insulated and covered with dry wall. The interior was painted and several stained glass windows were repaired.
On April 26, 1977, the church celebrated its 150th anniversary. The worship service commemorating the event was followed by a lunch with a special 150th anniversary cake.
In 1980 the church was led to sponsor a refugee family from Indochina and relocated them from Southeast Asia to Gowanda. On January 28, 1981, the Phommahaxay family landed at Buffalo International Airport. The Laotian fanily of seven was met by an enthusiastic group of Gowanda Presbyterians. The family resided at 255 Buffalo Street. On February 1st the congregation paused to recognize Mune and Pheng Phommahaxay and their five children during the service of worship and Holy Communion. The entire sponsorship program was extensive, and many committees were set up to deal with administration, community services, education, employment, financial affairs, health, and housing.
In 1982 the "yellow house" was removed from the church triangle. It was taken down to be re-erected outside Springville. While dismantling the structure, old beams emerged with the markings of 1842. The well built little house had many uses over the years. Between 1940 and 1958 it served as the manse. From 1959-1969 as many as six classes of Sunday school were held in the house. In 1971 it was refurbished and rented as income property under the trustee-ship of the church.
During the coffee hour on March 11, 1984, the congregation surprised the Rev. Gideon Von Galambos with a silver anniversary celebration to mark his 25 years as a pastor.
Also in 1984, the church was sided in vinyl-steel. At the same time the copper crown, which was attached to the steeple by an ornate iron rod, was removed and replaced with one made of aluminum. The copper crown was thought to have hung there since 1886, when the building had been completely rebuilt.
On August 27, 1984, the Phommahaxay family relocated from Gowanda to Amarillo Texas. The seven Laotian refugees spent three years and seven months under the sponsorship of the church. They moved west to be with their family which had settled there. The sponsorship was a memorable time for the church.
On September 1, 1984, the church entered into a contractual relationship with CAO, Community Action Organization of Erie County to house the federally- funded Head Start program for children and families in the southern most townships of the county.
In 1985 the church installed a FM wireless sound system. It consisted of many components, including omni-directional microphones, a walking wireless microphone, two amplifiers, 12 battery operated receiving units for the hearing impaired, an speakers in the kitchen, and the nursery to allow services to be heard in those areas. In November of the same year, the triangle became an instant garden as 6,750 square feet of living grass was rolled out like a carpet. It was professionally landscaped, with walkways and flower gardens.
In 1968 the restoration and protection project for the stained glass windows was started. The windows had been a part of the church since its reconstruction 100 years prior in 1886. Later that same year, a grand piano was installed in the sanctuary.
In 1992 Gideon Von Galambos was awarded the title of "Pastor Emeritus". No other pastor of the church has been so honored.
In 1994 the Deacons of the church started an audio tape ministry. Copies were delivered to shut-ins or anyone who wished to hear the Sunday service.
In the summer of 1996 the quality and performance of the sound system was improved. I addition to the already existing system, the new system added a power mixer and equalizer components through technical speakers with voice reinforcement. Also added was a drop microphone over the choir loft and peripheral surface mounts for boundary microphones.
In 1998 The Food Pantry of Gowanda Ministerial Association began operating out of the Christian Education Building. The pantry is an ecumenical effort of the association, assisting families in need in our area.
Also in 1998, the Presbyterian Women's Group was formed and met monthly for Bible study.
On June 30, 2002, a worship service commemorating the 175th anniversary of the church was held. Pastor Emeritus Gideon Von Galambos led the liturgy, and the Rev. Donna Lewis delivered the sermon. Former members of both the Junior Choir and the Chancel Choir were invited to participate and join with the present Chancel Choir to form an Anniversary Choir of some 30 members. Gary Sprague, a former choir director of many years, was the conductor. Doris Jones, the current director and organist, played the organ. Doris composed a special introit for the occasion. The anthem was appropriately titled "From One Generation to Another", and was very well received from the largely attended congregation. The benediction was "The Blessings of Aaron", an old favorite of the church that had not been playd in quite some time. Following the service, a reception was held in the dining hall, hosted by the Presbyterian Women's Group. The Silver coffee and Tea service was used and beverages were served by the members of the group. Finger sandwiches were served along with a celebratory 175th anniversary cake. Among the guests present were Western New York Presbytery's General Presbyter, the Rev. Dr. David McKee, and former pastors, Rev. Gideon Von Galambos, Rev. Peter Weaver, and Rev. Carolyn Grohman. The former pastors along with the current Rev. Donna Lewis gave remarks at the reception Each was presented with a wooden replica of the church as a gift. The same replica was available for all to purchase as a memento of the celebration. On July 1, 2002 the ringing of the bells took place to commemorate the actual anniversary day. Thirty members of the congregation, ranging in ages from three months to 87 years gathered at 5 pm to take turns ringing the church bells 175 times.
On July 13, 2002, an anniversary celebration was held. A catered dinner in the dining hall, was followed by a program in the sanctuary. The program consisted of the remembrance of the 12 charter members of the church, In addition, reflections of former pastors, both installed and interim, were read. Pastor Emeritus Gideon Von Galambos presented a slide show concerning the recent history of the church in his famous "travelogue" style. A brass crown, which hung over the church steeple for almost 100 years, was restored and presented to the congregation as a gift. A crescent shaped stained glass window, which had been hidden from view since the addition of the narthex in 1959, was removed and restored and was also presented as an anniversary gift to the church.
The Rev. Donna Lewis served until the year 2021 when she retired. The Rev. Evon Lloyd was installed in 2021 and served until 2022 when she also retired from preaching.
In 2022 we welcomed our beloved current preacher the Rev. K.C. Clark-Porter. He can be heard preaching the word of God every Sunday in the Sanctuary at 10:30 am.
PASTORS OF THE CHURCH:
Erastus J. Gillett 1828-1832
T.S. Harris 1832-1834
John B. Preston 1835-1842
Sylvester Cowles 1842-1844
L.A. Skinner 1844-1846
R.S. Goodman 1847-1848
J.H. Rice 1849-1850
J.C. Knapp 1850-1851
L.S. Morgan 1851-1854
S.G. Orton 1854-1857
A. Cooper 1857-1859
C.B. Lord 1860-1865
S. Warren 1866-1867
Sylvester Cowles 1867-1874
J.V.C. Nellia 1875-1878
W.W. Nason 1878-1879
John A. Wells 1879-1881
M.F. Tripp 1882
O.L. White 1882-1883
Albert B. Robinson 1884-1892
Frank H. Cofran 1893-1895
J. Emory Fisher 1895-1901
J.A. Purdy 1901-1908
M.S. Fales 1908-1910
James Craig Buchanon 1910-1929
William J. Semple 1930-1932
A.E. Thurston 1932-1940
Myron Kinney Hume 1941-1949
Lewis J. Hutton Ph.D. 1951-1955
Harris Thompson Lang 1956-1958
Gideon L.E. Von Galambos 1959-1991
James Goodbow 1993-1997
Donna K. Lewis 200-2021
Evon Lloyd 2021-2022
K.C. Clark-Porter 2022- present
*along with these installed pastors were interim pastors
Peter Weaver 1991-1993*
Carolyn Grohman 1997-2000*