North Guilford church offers glimpse into the past
GUILFORD – Nestled in the rolling hills of Chenango County sits the North Guilford Church, a step back into a simpler and more rustic time.
There are only a handful of buildings, let alone churches, that still operate without gas, electricity or running water in New York. Two wood stoves and a dozen kerosene lanterns illuminate and heat the building, which fits approximately 100 people at any given time.
The non-denominational church was built in 1843 by Pastor Nehemiah Cobb and a group of 18 Guilford residents as the Congregational Church, dedicated in 1844. Since that time, the only observable change to the interior of the church has been to move the pulpit from the back to the front of the room.
“It’s such a neat, old building with wavy windows and creaky floors, but it all just adds to the character and the ambience of being in a building like that,” said Committee Member Tim Ryan.
Ryan and a committee of 11 work to keep the church operational for July and August, the only two months out of the year it is open.
According to Ryan, it had been a year-round church but was switched in 1951 to just eight summer services.
“As a kid, I remember the pews used to be filled with 80-90 people,” said Ryan. “I know attendance has dropped down for quite a few churches but this one is so unique ... we want to have the community be able to take advantage of its beauty and rich history.”
Last weekend, members of the committee prepared the building for the annual opening by sweeping, mopping and dusting in the same manner that residents did 150 years ago.
The committee arranges for ministers and lay preachers from Norwich, Oxford and even as far away as New Hampshire to speak each Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m. Rev. Joe Connolly of the United Church of Christ in Norwich was the first guest preacher on Sunday.
“It’s a pleasure to hold a service in a building with this much history,” said Connolly. “It’s built in the style of the old puritanical churches even down to the lack of a center aisle because there is no center but the word of God.”
The North Guilford Church is located on County Road 36, approximately halfway between Norwich and Guilford.
“They offer a look at the old-fashioned way of life and worship and they sing the old hymns accompanied by the original pump organ,” said committee member Judy Ives.
There are only a handful of buildings, let alone churches, that still operate without gas, electricity or running water in New York. Two wood stoves and a dozen kerosene lanterns illuminate and heat the building, which fits approximately 100 people at any given time.
The non-denominational church was built in 1843 by Pastor Nehemiah Cobb and a group of 18 Guilford residents as the Congregational Church, dedicated in 1844. Since that time, the only observable change to the interior of the church has been to move the pulpit from the back to the front of the room.
“It’s such a neat, old building with wavy windows and creaky floors, but it all just adds to the character and the ambience of being in a building like that,” said Committee Member Tim Ryan.
Ryan and a committee of 11 work to keep the church operational for July and August, the only two months out of the year it is open.
According to Ryan, it had been a year-round church but was switched in 1951 to just eight summer services.
“As a kid, I remember the pews used to be filled with 80-90 people,” said Ryan. “I know attendance has dropped down for quite a few churches but this one is so unique ... we want to have the community be able to take advantage of its beauty and rich history.”
Last weekend, members of the committee prepared the building for the annual opening by sweeping, mopping and dusting in the same manner that residents did 150 years ago.
The committee arranges for ministers and lay preachers from Norwich, Oxford and even as far away as New Hampshire to speak each Sunday, beginning at 9 a.m. Rev. Joe Connolly of the United Church of Christ in Norwich was the first guest preacher on Sunday.
“It’s a pleasure to hold a service in a building with this much history,” said Connolly. “It’s built in the style of the old puritanical churches even down to the lack of a center aisle because there is no center but the word of God.”
The North Guilford Church is located on County Road 36, approximately halfway between Norwich and Guilford.
“They offer a look at the old-fashioned way of life and worship and they sing the old hymns accompanied by the original pump organ,” said committee member Judy Ives.
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