Riga Congregational Church
The First Congregational Church of Riga UCC
7057 Chili Riga Ctr. Rd.
Churchville, NY 14428
ph: (585) 293-2070
pastor
Our History
One of the first and most important principles in the development of this area we now call the Town of Riga, was the establishment of educational and religious institutions. In 1806, when settlement began, one of the areas earliest pioneers named Henry Brewster approached Colonel Robert Troup, who at the time was the land broker for the Pulteney estate, and requested land be set aside or donated for educational and religious purposes. Realizing that this would promote the sale and settlement of land in the area, Colonel Troup responded quickly and as follows: "Go on and organize a religious society, elect Trustees, and select two one hundred acre lots - one for the support of the Gospel, and one for the support of schools -call on me at Albany on your return, and I will deliver you the title deeds." The donation was well acepted and land was chosen centering around the present day Riga Congregational Church. Within months all the necessary legal steps were accomplished and the "Congregational Society of West Pulteney was formed. Its Trustees included Henry Brewster, Nebemiah Frost, Samuel Church, Amassa Frost, Samuel Baldwin, and Elihu Church.
A one-room schoolhouse was built just east of the present day Riga Congregational Church and its first teacher was Thomas Gay. This building was the start of a system that would educate the children of our community and was still growing strong some 195 years later. Religious services were even held in the schoolhouse until 1823, when a permanent structure was constructed at Riga Center making it one of the first church buildings constructed west of the Genesee River - The Riga Congregational Church.
One of the earliest records of a church service in this area, which probably occurred between the years 1806 to 1809, was recorded by a pioneer of LeRoy named Simon Pierson. His account appeared in the October 26, 1848 issue of the Rochester Republican newspaper as follows: "We wanted to send our children to school, and when Sunday came we wanted to go to meeting (some of us I mean), but we had no meeting house and no minister. After a while a minister arrived, and we wanted funds, for we were but a feelbe band; and finally, by meeting with a few pioneers in west Pulteney (now Riga) we succeeded in securing the services of a minister; and then we wanted him ordained in the good old way. To do this we had to send an express to Canandaigua to purchase some brandy and loaf sugar for the momentous occasion and we wanted a place to meet to attune our musical powers and hearing of a new frame barn in West Pulteney, just put up by Mr. Amasa Frost, the singers agreed there to meet for improvement, and then on the lot on both sides of the barn floor, we had seats erected for the choir, where we poured forth melodious strains in anticipation of the approaching ordination day."
As time went on, the donated land would eventually be subdivided and sold. All evidence of a schoolhouse is long gone. Only the Riga Congregational Church provides us with a memory of the donated land that has served this community so well.
The Sign is Raised
Marching is Churchville's
Country Fair
The First Congregational Church of Riga UCC
7057 Chili Riga Ctr. Rd.
Churchville, NY 14428
ph: (585) 293-2070
pastor
