Wightman Memorial Baptist Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids North Shore Assembly of God (Oyster Bay, New York) |
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|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Assemblies of God |
| Leadership | Raymond Melograne |
| Location | |
| Location | Oyster Bay, New York, United States |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | church |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | north |
| Materials | wood |
| Website | |
| North Shore Assembly of God, Oyster Bay, NY | |
The Wightman Memorial Baptist Church is a special building located in Oyster Bay, New York. The church building you see today was finished in 1908, but it's actually the third church built on this spot! People who followed the Baptist faith started meeting in Oyster Bay way back in 1700. This makes it the oldest Baptist group in New York State. The second church building, which was built in 1806, is still there behind the main church.
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A Look Back at the Church's History
This beautiful church building has a unique carriage porch and round bay windows. It's very important to the Oyster Bay Historical Society. The Society's main building, the Earle-Wightman House, is named after two famous people connected to this church. These were Reverend Marmaduke Earle and Reverend Charles Wightman.
Early Pastors and the Oldest Congregation
Reverend Earle came to Oyster Bay in 1801. Reverend Wightman started his work here in 1868. Both men were pastors of this church when it was a Baptist church. They each served for more than 55 years! Mr. Earle, who lived from 1769 to 1856, also helped start the Oyster Bay Academy in 1801.
The Baptist group first met in Oyster Bay as early as 1700. This makes it the oldest Baptist congregation in the State of New York. One of the first pastors was Robert Feeks. He became the first official minister in Oyster Bay in 1724. The very first church building on this spot is no longer here. It was a simple wooden building with flat seats and a small pulpit.
The Church During the Revolutionary War
During the American Revolutionary War, the church was reportedly used by British soldiers. Many other churches in the village were also used to house troops at that time.
New Buildings and New Uses
The church group grew bigger over time. So, in 1806, a larger church was built on this same spot. You can still see that second church today! In 1882, it was moved backward and turned 90 degrees to make space for the new church.
In 1908, after many years of raising money, the church building you see now was finished. The second church building was then used as a Pentecostal church school. Some students even lived there in the part facing Orchard Street.
Since the early 1980s, the North Shore Assembly of God has used this building as their home. They have taken great care of the inside. All the original details are still there. This includes beautifully carved pews (church benches) and woodwork. You can also see fancy pressed tin ceilings and walls, a built-in pipe organ, and many lovely original stained glass windows.
See also
