Community

Pilgrim Memorial Congregational Church celebrates 125th anniversary Sunday

Pilgrim Memorial Congregational Church will celebrate its 125th anniversary on Sunday.

The church's story begins with the Sunday School Movement, which originated in England in the late 1700s and soon spread to America. By the late 1800s, Sunday schools were reaching hundreds of thousands of children.

First Congregational Church recognized the need to serve the city's south side. The Rev. William Hallock of First Congregational Church, and the Rev. Eliot Hall launched a Sunday school on April 29, 1888. Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lammers opened their home on Barrett Avenue, with several young people from First Congregational Church helping in the endeavor. Twenty-one children attended that first Sunday. The number grew to as many as 75 in subsequent weeks.

"As Pilgrim Memorial celebrates 125 years of grace and service, we also celebrate the vision and generosity of First Congregational Church, which gave birth to this congregation and supported it in its early years," church officials said in a news release.

A larger facility was needed. The heirs of the Julia Hall estate donated land at the corner of Forest and McKinley avenues. Julia Hall was remembered as a faithful Christian mother and a woman of strong Christian character. A chapel was built on the property and dedicated in her memory on December 9, 1888. Her initials, "J.H.," can be seen in the south-facing stained-glass window.

The Rev. Henry Lyman of Chicago became Pilgrim's first pastor in 1901. He and his wife arrived in March, and the first regular morning worship service was held on April 14, 1901. Services were held morning and evening, with Bible School in the afternoon. The congregation described itself as "undenominational, evangelical and progressive." Pilgrim was formally incorporated by the State of New York on June 16, 1901.

For a brief time, the church considered affiliating with the Methodist Church. However, on February 19, 1908, they voted to become a Congregational Church. From that time forward, it was known as Pilgrim Memorial Congregational Church.

In 1915, the congregation decided to build a new church. Much of the original chapel was preserved and raised to allow for a basement, with an addition to the west. The entire structure was then covered with brick. An education wing was added in 1958. In 2016, First Congregational and Pilgrim Memorial joined together in shared ministry as the United Church of Christ of Jamestown.

"For generations, Pilgrim Memorial was a vibrant congregation, with full pews and overflowing classes of children," church officials said in a news release. "Like many churches, Pilgrim has experienced significant decline. Yet the congregation continues its ministry. Worship, Bible study, fellowship, neighborhood outreach, and support for local missions and community agencies remain important expressions of its faith and service."

Services are held at 10:45 a.m. Sundays.