Two hundred years ago on Saturday, May 6, 1815, the Rev. John Spencer rode from “the Rapids” (now Jamestown) to meet with a small group of people gathered in a log school house on the Russell farm bordering Stillwater Creek in the town of what is now Kiantone. The meeting place was near the present day Stillwater Cemetery.

The six people gathered there were John Jones, his son, Levi Jones, and John’s grandson, Abner Jones, Samuel Garfield, William Deland and Anna Nelson Cheney, wife of Ebenezer Cheney. Anna Nelson Cheney had ridden five miles on horseback with her young son, Seth, to attend the meeting. These six people became the founding members of what was then called the First Congregational Church of Ellicott, now known as the Kiantone Congregational Church. The next day, Sunday, May 7, the Rev. Spencer administered Holy Communion and three more people, Molly Wheeler, Mollie Jones and Samuel Garfield joined the church.

Over the next 15 years, this group of dedicated believers met in members’ homes and area school houses. The services were led by visiting missionaries and many times by the members themselves. In 1830, the present church building still in use today was constructed on land given by Ruby Cheney Sears. The building, modeled after the mother church in the Mendon/Milford area of Massachusetts, is in the typical, plain New England style. It had a gallery above the entryway which provided space for musicians and a choir. The windows were in an arched, gothic style. High-backed pews had doors on the ends to keep out any stray dogs that might wander into the sanctuary. The minister preached from a high, barrel-shaped pulpit, reached by ascending eight to 10 steps. Two wood stoves heated the sanctuary and tallow candles provided light.

Throughout the years, the interior of the church has undergone many changes. In the 1850s, the tops of spearheaded, gothic-style windows were enclosed, giving them a square shape. The pews and the pulpit were cut down and a more modern-style pulpit was installed. Candles gave way to whale-oil lamps. The interior walls were papered and the exterior was painted white. A new tin dome with a gilt arrow was added to the spire. In 1875 more changes were made. Part of the basement was dug out to provide space for a furnace. The open gallery was enclosed, making room for mid-week prayer meetings. The organ and choir loft were placed on a raised platform in the front of the sanctuary and an alcove was added behind the pulpit. In 1934, the remainder of the basement was excavated to provide additional space for dinners, meetings and Sunday School rooms.

By 1972, more space was needed and construction began on a two-story addition to the rear of the church, where the horse barns had once stood. In 1973, the Geraldine Folke Hagberg Educational Building was dedicated. The addition included six Sunday school rooms upstairs with a large fellowship hall and modern kitchen on the ground floor. By 1976, the need for further repairs was noted. After some discussion, it was decided to restore the interior of the sanctuary and narthex. From September 1978 to December 1979, a crew of dedicated volunteers under the guidance of master carpenter, James Mitchener Jr., spent countless hours restoring the church to its mid-19th century appearance. The dedication of the restoration took place on Jan. 13, 1980.

This small white church in the village of Kiantone has been a place of worship and Christian fellowship for 200 years. At times, when it was difficult to secure a minister because of limited resources, supply ministers would fill the pulpit and even the church deacons and trustees would step in to lead the Sunday morning worship services. During the winter of 1925-26, no regular Sunday worship services were held. However, due to the dedicated efforts of Cynthia Cheney Brustrom and Mary Whiting Houghwot, Sunday School classes were still held. At a time when women ministers were the exception to the rule, the church called the Rev. Esther Vodola, who served from 1950-54. Under her leadership, membership in both the church and Sunday school increased.

The celebration of the church’s 200th anniversary will take place Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3. Saturday’s events are as follows:

Presentation of the Rev. John Spencer by Traci Langworthy, assistant professor of history from Jamestown Community College, 1:15 p.m.

Piano recital by Dr. Amber Shay Nicholson, 2:15 p.m.

Old fashioned hymn sing led by Rev. Jon Swart, former pastor, 3 p.m.

There will also be historical displays, photos and refreshments in the Fellowship Hall from 1-4 p.m.

On Sunday, May 3, the schedule is as follows:

Sunday School, 10 a.m.

Regular morning worship service, 11 a.m.

Bicentennial worship service with special speaker, Rev. Ron Hamilton from the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference, 2 p.m.

Historical displays will also be available after this service.

For further information, please contact Loretta Smith at 664-9475.