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Here is a brief account of the ministry of Scipio Community
Church with a few other points of interest added...
One
hundred seventy-five years ago, on October 21, 1821, a
regular Baptist Church of Christ was recognized in Scipio,
consisting of forty-three members with Rev. Ichabod Clark
as pastor. As early as 1794 when Elder David Irish first
preached in the area, services had been held in homes
throughout the community, and later in a log school-house
one mile north of Scipio Center. The congregation grew, and
in 1833 a meeting house was built on the site of the
present church. In 1871 a Semi-Centenniel Jubilee was held
to commemorate the founding of the church, and "for the
first time, our new bell, weighing 1300 pounds, called the
congregation together."
As
the years passed, the now forty-three-year-old meeting
house needed to be rebuilt, and in 1878, the present
building was completed on the same location at a cost of
$4,000.00. It was dedicated, free of debt, on November 7,
1878. The following articles had been placed in the
cornerstone of the tower:
The Articles
of Faith and Covenant
The New York Times and Tribune
The Auburn Journal
The Examiner and Chronicle
The Moravia Valley Register
The Daily Advertiser of Auburn
The Moravia Citizen
A new silver dollar of 1878
On July 4, 1912 the steeple, which rose 125 feet above the
foundation, was struck by lightening and shattered from top
to bottom. The steeple had to be torn down, but the bell
was salvaged and it still in use. A drawing depicting the
church with the original steeple intact, is in the Klipple
memorial cabinet.
The many successive years were filled with progress.
Covenant meetings were held quarterly, and prayer meetings
weekly, as well as Sunday services. Faithful workers with
the help of dedicated pastors and evangelists, continued to
serve the Lord and accomplish His work.
A time of discouragement came in 1927 when the congregation
had dwindled, and the church's finances were no longer
sufficient to support a minister. Pastoral supplies were
secured when possible, but there were periods of closing
not only because of insufficient funds, but also because of
the difficulty of winter travel without effective snow
removal equipment. In 1937 Rev. Curtis Powers of Locke
visited Scipio, and through his efforts and encouragement,
the church was once again opened for worship. The Ladies'
Aide, which had long been faithful in raising funds to
support the church and its members, was most active in
working to achieve this goal. Rev. Powers, having put the
church on a sound footing, remained for three years.
By 1945 there were many new families in the church of
various denominational backgrounds; therefore a special
business meeting was held and the name of the church was
changed from "Scipio Baptist Church" to "The Scipio
Community Church". And the denominational affiliation was
changed to a non-denominational church.
In 1949 Rev. Frank Smith was selected as pastor and served
for twenty years until his death in 1969. Under his
leadership, the church prospered, attendance and membership
increased, and many improvements were made in the church
building. Electric wiring was updated, the outside of the
church painted, roof repaired, foundation repaired, and the
baptistery removed. A furnace was installed in 1957 and an
electric stove in the kitchen, replacing the wood cook
stove which had been in use since 1891.
In 1968 a well was drilled, providing running water at the
church. Prior to this, water had been brought in in milk
jugs and dishes washed in a copper kettle. The well made
possible the installation of a lavatory to replace the
outdoor privy. In 1969 for the first time bulletins for
services and annual reports were copied on a mimeograph
machine to distribute to the congregation.
After Rev. Smith's death in 1969, a special service was led
by Rev. Stephen Polanski as a Living Memorial to Rev. Smith
at which twenty-six people were baptized.
In 1971 a sesquicentennial celebration was held to
commemorate the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the
church. The pews and balcony were filled to capacity as
former pastors, members, and guests shared fellowship and
testimony through word and song.
A Task Force was formed in 1990 to assess the needs of the
congregation through surveys and open discussion. By the
leading of the Lord, we agreed together that the purpose
for being God's church in Scipio was to "Build Up The
Family of God" through fellowship, worship, missions, and
growth. And from then until now, by God's grace we have
striven to do the Lord's work through Scipio Community
Church by "Building up the Family of God".