Minutes of the
October 28, 1830 Consistory of the Reformed Dutch Church of Lodi, “In pursuance
of a resolution…a meeting of the inhabitants of Farmerville was held…when the
following persons were chosen for Consistory to be denominated the Consistory
of the First Dutch Reformed Church of Farmerville.” [as quoted in A History
of the Interlaken Reformed Church 1830-1980, page 9]
The above quote
continues, “Peter Rappleye, John Kelly, Joseph W Smith, Jacob Voorhees, William
Ditmars, and Peter Ditmars are members of the Reformed Dutch Church of Lodi…in
good and regular standing…are hereby dismissed…to be organized into a
consistory denominated, the Consistory of the First Reformed Dutch Church of
Farmerville…Lodi Nov. 27th, 1830.”
The next day,
November 28, 1830, these men were installed in their offices by Rev. Asa Bennet
and a new congregation was formally established.
The front cover
of the Church history has a sketch of the church and the words, “Since 1830 –
Alive and Growing.”
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| The tile created for the 150th Anniversary and used as the cover of the book. Scan from the artifact in the Interlaken Historical Society Collection |
The church has
grown, and changed its name, several times since that first service.
November 28,
1830: First Reformed Dutch Church of Farmerville
December 26,
1856: The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Farmerville
April 15, 1867:
The Reformed Dutch Church of Farmer
[An 1867 change
in the ecclesiastical name, “Dutch” was dropped and “in America”
was added…The Reformed Church in America]
April 5, 1868:
The Reformed Church of Farmer Village
January 1, 1892:
the Reformed Church of Farmer
April 2, 1907:
Interlaken Reformed Church. [Church History page5-6].
The 1980 history
of the church details the growth and changes over the years. The church
building was first used in 1831 and remodeled and rededicated on September 6,
1857. Other remodeling projects followed, enlarging the building, changing the
use of the non-sanctuary spaces, and allowing for the movement of all people
desiring to be a part of the programs of the church.
 |
| 1955 Anniversary Plate, from the Interlaken Historical Society Collections |
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| Historical note on the back of the 1955 Anniversary plate. From the Interlaken Historical Society Collections. |
Many generations
of families have been a part of the Interlaken Reformed Church. The History,
and its addendum in 1996, lists the names of members, those baptized or
married, which allows researchers access to trace their family through its
records.
Dewitt’s Diary,
Friday, November 28, 1930
Temperature 13
this morning.
George Townsend
and I rode back to Buffalo with Francis today. Left at 5 and arrived in Kenmore
at 8:05.
George and I went up to Niagara Falls. The first time I had seen the
falls. Went over to Canada.
Back home tonight.
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