About AUGUSTA PRESBYTERIAN

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 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. A log school house stood on the west side of he road that runs north from what is now known as Newells’ Corners and it was In that schoolhouse that the Congregational Church was formed by Revs. Asabell North on Clinton and Joel Bradley of Westmoreland. 

Services were held in private homes, schoolhouses barns and the open air and occasionally had preaching from Revs Norton and Kirkland from Clinton. From 1805 until 1816 the congregation worshipped in the Town Hall. Our present building was completed in 1816 and the church was dedicated February 3, 1817. A bell weighing 1075 pounds was installed shortly thereafter. The acre parcel had a meeting house, horse sheds and commons.

Initially, the pulpit was high on the north end and had supporting pillars and a curved staircase. There were balconies on either side of the sanctuary. However, in 1844 the balconies were removed, and the pulpit was on the south side of the church where it remained until 1872 when it moved back to the northside, and the building was raised to install the basement. There was a Sunday school room in the basement, a session room and two parlors, kitchen and china closet.

The original steeple was 136 feet high. It was removed in 1911. Even though much shorter it was struck by lightning in 1936,1948 and 1949. The stain glass windows on the west were moved from the east side of the building in 1947 and new windows were placed on the east./

 The congregation became Presbyterian in 1828 when it joined the Oneida Presbytery. Those members who wished to remain Congregational could under the Plan of Accommodations. By November 25, 1832, we had 400 members! However, there was a long bitter feud between within the church which caused the church to leave the Presbytery between June 11. 1839 and 1866.

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). 

In 1886 the church caught fire from an overheated furnace. 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. 

The history of the Vernon Center 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 on the Park Circle. In 1851 the church joined the Presbyterian denomination.

The Vernon Center building underwent significant renovations 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.

Since 2005 the church has shortened its name to Augusta Presbyterian Church. There have been yearly Vacation Bible Schools, coffeehouses, an annual visit from the Hamilton College Brass Ensemble, a youth group, active Sunday school and bowling team, the creation of a mission committee and many renovations and improvements to the building.