BEGINNINGS

As early as 1765, Seventh Day Baptist families belonging to the First Hopkinton Church in western Rhode Island began to settle in the Little Hoosick Valley in Eastern New York. The mother church kept touch, sending Elder Joshua Clarke in 1770, and others to visit during the next ten years.

Travel was difficult, by horseback or on foot, on narrow roads and Indian trails through heavily forested country.

From the beginning, these pioneers had engaged in worship and fellowship, with Elder William Coon as their spiritual leader.

In September, 1780, the church was formally established with 32 charter members. The name adopted was the "Sabbatarian Church of Christ in Little Hoosic".

The first house of worship was erected in 1798. It was a plain building thirty-four feet by thirty-four feet, with twelve foot posts, lighted by candles and warmed by a large fireplace. It was destroyed by a tornado in August, 1822.

The present building, which was erected on the old foundation, was commenced in 1823 and dedicated in December, 1824.

The Seventh Day Baptist General Conference was organized in 1801 with a Berlin member, Stephen Maxson, helping to draw up the constitution.

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