History

In 1927, the Hamlet of Clinton Heights felt the need to have a church in their community. The Women’s Bible Class of Clinton Heights began organizing “to work to attain a church for the spiritual good of the community”. An organizational meeting was held January 30, 1928 in the Clinton Heights School (now the East Greenbush Town Hall). After deciding to accept the Congregational denomination and the subsequent financial assistance from the NY Conference and the Congregational Church Building Society, land was purchased for the new church site.

On April 8, 1928, in the Clinton Heights School, the Rev. Dr. Walter H. Rollins, Superintendent of the NY Congregational Conference organized the Community Congregational Church of Clinton Heights with 48 charter members. On July 24, 1928, the church was incorporated under the Religious Laws of the State of New York and recorded in the Clerk’s Office of Rensselaer County by number 2336 in Book 13 at page 127.

Groundbreaking for the new church was held July 16, 1928 and on June 30, 1929 the first service was officiated by the Rev. William Wood who was called to be the first Pastor on June 15, 1929 and served until November 1, 1929. On September 29, 1929 the building was dedicated to the Glory of God.

A house was rented, where the Pastor lived, on the opposite side of Columbia Turnpike until the parsonage was built in 1930 by the Congregational Church Building Society. In 1934, the Citizens Hose Company (now W.F. Bruen Fire Company) donated the church bell, which is located on the roof over the vestibule. On September 20, 1949, the church mortgage was satisfied and to everyones delight they held a mortgage burning ceremony.

On January 23, 1948, the church unanimously approved the formation of the United Church of Christ denomination. The merger of the Evangelical and Reformed churches with the Congregational Christian Church was consumated in 1957 and on October 30, 1960, the Community Congregational Church of Clinton Heights unanimously approved the proposed constitution and voted to be part of the new denomination.

Ground was broken on June 26, 1954, to build an addition at the basement level, which made it cruciform in shape. On October 17, 1954, the addition was dedicated to Almighty God.

On October 24, 1948, the church’s longest pastorate of 21 years was begun by the Rev. Thomas P. Warfield and ended on December 31, 1969.

In November 1979, it was decided to pay the grant mortgage on the parsonage and on December 2, 1979, a dedication was held during morning worship to the Glory of God. In May 1981 the church purchased the lot next to the church for $4,500. The Co-Workers Circle gave $1,000 toward the purchase.

A 10 year “Master Plan” for the restoration of the church was started in October 1995 to renovate the sanctuary and fellowship hall, make the church handicap accessible, and make infrastructure repairs. After many years of work, the final stage of the Master Plan is being completed in 2005.

On July 16, 2000 we lost our last charter member when Jeannette Onderdonk Barber passed away.

Pastoral Record

Rev. William L. Wood, June 15, 1928 to November 1, 1929

Rev. Edward W. Hargrave, December 10, 1929 to September 1, 1935

Rev. George J. Houtain, November 3, 1935 to February 29, 1939

Rev. Francis T. Sturtevant, May 15,1939 to October 10, 1943

Rev. Myron E. Wilder, February 27, 1944 to July 8, 1946

Rev. Leslie W. Blundon, September 29, 1946 to April 18, 1948

Rev. Thomas P. Warfield, October 24, 1948 to December 31, 1969

Rev. John M. Allison (Interim) January 1, 1970 to July 31, 1970

Rev. William E. Feldt, August 1, 1970 to November 12, 1973

Rev. T. Howard Akland (Interim), November 18, 1973 to June 30, 1974