Churches of the Area Chemung County NY First Church in the Chemung Valley

	Historic Site: First Church in the Chemung Valley Township: Ashland, Chemung County NY Wellsburg to Wilawanna Road Year: 1789  Photos by Joyce M. Tice 15 May 1999 Home Page Ashland Township Page
Roswell Goff as first pastor is commemorated here with members of the First Church. See Wellsburg Baptist Church Records 1789 to 1833 and History of Baptist Church of Wellsburg

For well over a century and a half, these three churches have welcomed Ashland's faithful.  Three denominations.  Three distinctly different buildings of worship.  All standing within four blocks of one another.  What Sunday mornings of by-gone days when the bells of all three joyously pealed from three corners of the village calling parishioners to services.  Times have changed now, but all three churches are still active.
 

The Baptists - This lovely old building was built in 1814 on land purchased from Abner Wells for 50 cents.  It burned a century and a half later, in March 1965.  Since rebuilt, as true as possible tothe original, it was dedicated September 7, 1969.  (Hanmer Collection)
 

The Methodists - Originally Methodist Episcopalians, they purchased 2 lots in Wellsburg in January 1847 and erected a frame buildng.  In time this grand church replaced it and was dedicated Julu 1, 1875.  Heavily ravaged by the 1972 flood, it was replaced by the present building in April 1974.  (L&S Wilcox Photo)

The Episcopalians - By the end of the Civil War, early meetings of this church society were being held regularly.  Land was purchased for a church in the heart of the village, and the cornerstone was laid in 1869.  This is the only original edifice of Wellsburg's 3 early churches still standing, and is now on the National Register of Historic Places.  (Hanmer Collection)