February 16, 1803 Covert Baptist Church

When you look at the vast history of the Town of Covert since 1817, there are very few pieces that remain from before 1817. The people, our families, for those who have roots in this area, the land, the churches, and the cemeteries probably best sum up what was here before 1817.

One of those places is the Covert Baptist Church. Its building anchors the hamlet of Covert, just as the gospel preached for most of these 214 years has anchored so many people.

On February 16, 1803, the church was constituted and known as the Baptist Church of Ovid and Hector. At the time, it was located in the Town of Ovid and was only a few miles from the Town of Hector.

The first pastor was Minor Thomas, who many called a Pauline apostle, in that he earned most of his living from his farm. The first clerk was Thomas Campbell with Asaph King and Joseph Thomas the first deacons.

In 1805 the name was changed to the Second Baptist Church of Ovid. There is a quote often repeated about the early Covert church, “As Virginia is the mother of Presidents, Covert is the mother of Churches.” Many of the Baptist churches in this area, and as far away as Allegany county, NY, and Fayette county, Indiana, where Pastor Thomas had moved in 1818, are the result of members working to establish churches in the area. The Farmerville, or Interlaken Baptist Church, is one of its daughters. At least twelve churches have their roots from the Covert church.

In the beginning the congregation met in homes. During the 1820s, a building was constructed. One comment by Elder Thomas Sheardown in his autobiography notes, “It was a rare model of architecture for this time. The people went into the gallery from out of doors, going in at the gable end of the building.”

As for the current building, the main structure was built in the 1850s. Other than painting and a few minor changes, it remains as it was when built. Like many structures of that time period, the acoustics are quite remarkable, and a word whispered in the balcony might well be heard throughout the main room. Additions were made for a kitchen and rest rooms, and over the years the whole has been maintained by gifts from members and volunteer labor.

The Interlaken Historical Society’s website has a page which tells much of the story of the church and building. 

Dewitt’s Diary: Monday, February 16, 1953

Clear, Northwest wind. Clouding up and light snow this evening. Trying to finish up cabinets for base today.

[During the winter of 1953 Dewitt, Edna and Leland were remodeling the kitchen and Dewitt built all the cabinets for the new room. i.e. Monday February 11^th: Temperature 22, cloudy and still. Building a corner cabinet.]