Welcome. By looking around, you can see that our church has been here a very long time, it was built long before any of the people you see around you were born. This congregation was formed by enthusiastic, energetic people of faith who met in a farm house to dedicate their lives to Jesus Christ. But the faith that guides our lives in 2015 is not an ancient heirloom, it is fresh and alive in every way. We appreciate our past and those who have come before us, but your eyes are always on the future, and the new things Christ is doing in our hearts and community.
In Our Church
Sunday School:
The church has developed a new design for Christian education involving all ages. Programs are led by a team of volunteers.
Nursery Care:
Nursery care is available for all children under the age of three years.
Byron Youth Group:
The group usually meets regularly and is open to 6th graders and above.
Rest Rooms:
Restrooms are located on the second floor behind the front of the sanctuary.
Accessibility:
A self-operated elevator is available at the side entrance to the church. One of the second floor restrooms is wheelchair accessible.
Some History
It was during the administration of James Monroe, fifth President of the United States in 1818, that the Byron Presbyterian Church was organized. One year earlier, 1817, Governor DeWitt Clinton turned the first spadeful of earth on the Erie Canal. The organizer was the Rev. Herman Halsey, a minister sent out by the New York Evangelical Society; the date, November 20, 1818; the place, a home in Stafford. Samuel Moss, Martha Moss, Abigal Moss, Ezra Benham, Mehitabel Benham, Esther Campbel, Calista Hart, Elisha Prentis, Asahel Cook, Calvin Wells and Mr. Woodard constituted the charter membership. Their original articles of covenant are available today in old church records.
In 1819 the worship services were moved to a schoolhouse about one and a half miles south of Byron Center, with services on alternate Sundays. In 1827 the First Congregational Society of Byron was chartered. The pastor was the Rev. Lewis Cheeseman, salary $400 yearly. The church transferred to the Presbyterian denomination in 1845.
In 1830 the present church building was erected. Extensive renovations occurred in 1896 when the sanctuary was raised, and various rooms added at the ground level. The original window casings representing the old floor level are still visible on the outside of the building. Electric lighting replaced acetylene gas lamps in 1924. In the 1930’s a lot adjacent to the church was acquired and transformed into a beautiful park. In 1955 a new extension was added to the north end of the building, providing a large Fellowship Hall on the lower level, and classrooms on the upper level. To improve accessibility, a new side entrance and lift were added in 1999, made possible by generous pledges from church members and the community. Today, the church building is a striking presence in the center of Byron, with a tall white steeple and gray trim with dark blue accents.
Like the old rhyme “Here is the church, here is the steeple”, the most important part is the people! The church family includes people from all walks of life who have faithfully committed themselves to the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ by participating in weekly worship, Sunday School, choir, Bible study, women’s organizations, youth groups, and more. The church actively participates in the work of Genesee Valley Presbytery. In 1978 the Rev, Gail Ricciuti served as Vice-Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church.
From its earliest days, the Byron Presbyterian Church has had a strong commitment to Christian mission, and this continues to be a strong motivation in the present day. In the earliest days music programs were presented to raise funds of missionaries in the foreign field. More recently, youth from the church have enthusiastically participated in various hands-on mission projects in Watertown, Buffalo, and Orleans County.
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