Reprinted from the Feb 28, 1946 issue of the Thousand Island Sun
“The Mother of Methodism for the town of Alexandria” is the statement often made when referring to the Methodist society at Plessis, for from this single stem sprang other churches and societies that have become strong and useful within the township known as Alexandria.
Two factors probably combined to make Plessis the early seat of the Methodist activities. One would be the early settlement there under the supervision of Mr LeRay, land owner, who built a gristmill there in 1817 and later the land office was established there, which would make it a headquarters for the settlers of the town. The second reason would be the fact that the early Methodist circuit riders, in going form Ogdensburg to Carthage, often passed through the early settlement at Plessis and made it a preaching place. From such fertile seed sprang the society known as the Methodist.
Probably as early as 1820 the circuit riders were visiting Plessis, for they are known to have been holding services in Theresa even before this date. As Plessis would be on their trips north, services must have been held there as early as the 1820’s.
At first the services were held in homes and, as time went on, additions to the Class grew, for these early ministers organized a Class to begin with, and by the 1830’s a society was in active work. Next came the building of the old Union church, built of stone, and in this endeavor there were three societies uniting. They were the Methodist Episcopal, the Methodist Protestant and the Presbyterian. The Methodist Episcopal church sponsored a very active Sunday school and this, in turn, brought additions to the church membership.
Records show that in 1849 Rev Josiah Zimmerman was the stationed pastor at Plessis and he was followed in 1850 by Rev Thomas Brown, and 1851 by the Rev C.H. Austin. These men formed circuits of which Plessis was the center. They opened preaching places at Alexandria Center, Alexandria Bay, Bailey Settlement, Barnes Settlement, Hart school house, Redwood, and the Lake section. The ministers had a busy life and the work grew rapidly.
In the year 1857 the sentiment had grown so strongly for a church building that a meeting was called on Nov 28, 1857, to elect three trustees to take the matter in charge.
The society elected William Peck for three years, Morgan Augsbury for two years; and George Augsbury for one year. They ordered a building committee appointed and George Augsbury, Daniel Roof and Amos Shumway were elected. A canvas was made for funds and the sum of $1,922 was subscribed, and, what is most remarkable every pledge made was paid in full.
During this period the society was holding services in a hall, a building now owned and occupied by Mr and Mrs Virgil Reynolds. Only at that time the hall was across the street from its present location.
In he year 1860 the new church was dedicated and located on a lot next to the parsonage, built at a little earlier date. Rev Allen C Castle was the pastor when the church was dedicated. When Rev William M Holbrook came to the church in the spring in 1872, he led the people in the work of painting the church and parsonage and the making of some repairs. This was at an expense of $450. The next year the church sheds were built, costing $250, a sum that seems unusually small today for so much timber and lumber.
In the spring of 1888 the Rev Chamberlayne Phelps was appointed as pastor of the Plessis church and he started a movement for the entire remodeling of the church. In 1890 the work started and consisted of installing new pews, buying cushions for the pews, new carpets for the floor, installing new stained glass windows, frescoing of the interior, changing of the choir loft, painting the church and putting on a new roof. This was at a cost of $2,381.70. This made the church modern and very attractive and the people were proud of their work.
In 1923 Rev William H Bradley started a movement to place steel ceilings and side walls on the auditorium, and a steel roof on he building, as well as other repairs.
It is interesting to note that Alexandria Bay became a separate preaching charge from Plessis in April 1876 having built their new church at that time. The Redwood Class was organized and incorporated into a society on July 19, 1889. The new church at Redwood was made a separate charge in 1923, but is now connected with Alexandria Bay as an out-appointment for the minister there.
But the fact remains that the Plessis Methodist church has been in truth the Mother of Methodism for the town of Alexandria.
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