1933 to Present
In 1933, a teacher looked into the faces of her pupils and yearned for their souls. So with the help of her pastor from
Rushford, she started a Sunday school, which she held at the small country school house in the Moulton District
where she taught.
By 1940, preaching services had begun too. Being in close proximity to Houghton College, ministerial students
came to preach. Later, the work moved from the Moulton Chapel to a rented space - Odd Fellows Hall in Cuba.
After several months of worshiping in the Odd Fellows Hall, the small congregation moved into an empty store on
Genesee Street. In March 1946, the church was organized there with ten charter members.
The move to North Park Street began when land was donated in the mid 40s. A house was purchased in Wellsville
for $203 and was dismantled and rebuilt on its present site as a parsonage. Excavation for the parsonage cellar
began in December 1948, and the walls were raised in January 1949.
In May 1951, the excavation for the church basement was begun. In November 1952, the first service was held in
the basement with a formal opening the following Easter Sunday. The upstairs interior was completed, and the first
service was held in the new sanctuary June 12, 1955. The church was bricked in 1957, and the completed church
was dedicated on August 2, 1959.
In 1970, extra Sunday school rooms were added by having dividers installed in the fellowship hall to keep pace with
the ever expanding Sunday school enrollment along with the other children and youth programs.
In 1975, property was purchased. The building was called the North Park annex and housed six Sunday school
classes and youth group facilities. This purchase also included a 30-car parking lot.
In 1985, an important piece of property was purchased - an additional 15 feet in back of the church that made
room for the two story, 36x88 foot building and renovation project, which included new Sunday school rooms, a
conference/library room, a fellowship hall with functional kitchen, improved nursery and restroom facilities, an
enlarged sanctuary, and a spacious foyer. September 1987 was the ground breaking for this $125,000 expansion
program.
In the 90s, a second parsonage at 31 Orchard Street was acquired. In 2003, His InTent Crusade was held at the Block
Barn. The Baker house and property on Spring Street were purchased in 2003 and became offices for the Pastor and
a new full-time Children and Youth Minister.
In 1933, a teacher looked into the faces of her pupils and yearned for their souls. So with the help of her pastor from
Rushford, she started a Sunday school, which she held at the small country school house in the Moulton District
where she taught.
By 1940, preaching services had begun too. Being in close proximity to Houghton College, ministerial students
came to preach. Later, the work moved from the Moulton Chapel to a rented space - Odd Fellows Hall in Cuba.
After several months of worshiping in the Odd Fellows Hall, the small congregation moved into an empty store on
Genesee Street. In March 1946, the church was organized there with ten charter members.
The move to North Park Street began when land was donated in the mid 40s. A house was purchased in Wellsville
for $203 and was dismantled and rebuilt on its present site as a parsonage. Excavation for the parsonage cellar
began in December 1948, and the walls were raised in January 1949.
In May 1951, the excavation for the church basement was begun. In November 1952, the first service was held in
the basement with a formal opening the following Easter Sunday. The upstairs interior was completed, and the first
service was held in the new sanctuary June 12, 1955. The church was bricked in 1957, and the completed church
was dedicated on August 2, 1959.
In 1970, extra Sunday school rooms were added by having dividers installed in the fellowship hall to keep pace with
the ever expanding Sunday school enrollment along with the other children and youth programs.
In 1975, property was purchased. The building was called the North Park annex and housed six Sunday school
classes and youth group facilities. This purchase also included a 30-car parking lot.
In 1985, an important piece of property was purchased - an additional 15 feet in back of the church that made
room for the two story, 36x88 foot building and renovation project, which included new Sunday school rooms, a
conference/library room, a fellowship hall with functional kitchen, improved nursery and restroom facilities, an
enlarged sanctuary, and a spacious foyer. September 1987 was the ground breaking for this $125,000 expansion
program.
In the 90s, a second parsonage at 31 Orchard Street was acquired. In 2003, His InTent Crusade was held at the Block
Barn. The Baker house and property on Spring Street were purchased in 2003 and became offices for the Pastor and
a new full-time Children and Youth Minister.
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| History of North Park Wesleyan Church |