ELDRED — The McCrae Brook Wesleyan Church celebrated its 80th year Saturday afternoon in Eldred.
Approximately 70 attendees, including current members, previous pastors and generations of families, gathered for fellowship in the lawn of the church. A chicken barbecue was prepared for the guests by Craig Switzer and Dan Palmer.
As current pastor Dale Argot shared some history of the Wesleyan Church, he pointed out a small house that still sits near the current church, saying that house is where it all started. He explained that in 1938, Kenneth Grantier felt a calling from the Lord to build a church on his family farm. Stories of their early gathering involved members coming to the church early to build fires so the group could gather around and warm themselves in fellowship.
The current church, which was dedicated in 1955, included central heating — considered a great blessing by its parishioners. Upgrades throughout the years included siding, handicap ramps and other interior upgrades.
Mrs. George Norman was the first ordained pastor; her husband at the time pastored the Olean (N.Y.) Hillside Wesleyan Church. Mrs. Norman would travel, sometimes by walking, to Eldred to pastor at the McCrae Brook Wesleyan Church.
Several previous pastors were in attendance of the celebration. Commissioner Marilyn Francis of Orlando, Fla., was in attendance to join the celebration. Francis’s mother, Susan Burroughs, was one of the founding members of the church.
Francis recalled memories of her times at the church as a young child. Her mother was in charge of pageants, banquets, youth education and adult Bible classes at the church. She explained that her upbringing in the church led her to attend Houghton College to become a teacher before God called her to work with the Salvation Army.
“I have traveled all over the world, but I came here to bring my mom back to life and show how this all starts,” said Francis. “Her ministry goes on through me and her family….that’s how life goes” she explained.
Ashley Layton of Olean, N.Y., was in attendance to help with the serving of the meal. Layton’s family ties to the church extend from her grandmother, Margaret Palmer.
“All the food is made with love, and we are happy to be here to share with each other,” Layton explained.
Along with the food, attendees played lawn games and looked at scrapbooks, pictures and other historical items from the church that were on display.
Argot was extremely please with the turn out of their celebration. He looks forward to possibly extending Bible studies services to local areas focusing in the Shinglehouse and Portville, N.Y., areas.
