About us:

Faith United is a multi-denominational (PCUSA and UCC) community of believers serving in the lake shore community of Oswego, New York.  Our Mission to the community is an active focus on both physical hunger (Souper Bowl of Caring, CROP Walk, serving meals at the local Soup Kitchen, collections of food for our local food pantry) and spiritual needs (weekly and special worship services) and a church building that is totally handicap accessible, hearing  amplified, and ecologically friendly.

History:

Faith United Church was established in 1989 as a result of the merger of the former Presbyterian Church of Oswego and the United Church of Christ, Congregational of Oswego.  Given the fresh appearance of a modern building and the church's recent birth date, one could hardly be blamed for thinking that Faith United Church's history must be quite short, but as it turns out, the church's chronology extends at least 200 years into the past.

1801:  The two parent denominations, the Presbyterians and the Congregationalists formed a "Plan of Union" which, despite the name, was really an agreement to coordinate their mission work in the establishment of new churches as settlers arrived and moved westward.

1816:  A Presbyterian Church was first organized in Oswego and began meeting in a schoolhouse within the city.

1826:  The First Presbyterian Church building was dedicated in Oswego's West Park.

1833:  The First Congregational Church of Oswego was established in a building called "The Tabernacle".  Congregationalist Edward A. Sheldon later used this same building as a public school.  Eventually Sheldon went on to found the Oswego Normal School as a teacher training institution, which morphed into the State University College at Oswego.

1837:  A group of dissenters from Oswego's Presbyterian church splintered off to form the Second Presbyterian Church on Oswego's east side.

1841: The First Presbyterian Church's building burned to the ground at the hands of an arsonist.  Church members began to meet at "The Tabernacle" until a new building could be constructed.

1842: The Second Presbyterian Church constructed a new building on the east side of town.  By now, slavery had become a hot-button issue both nationally and locally.  Although many churches tried not to take a stand, Second Presbyterian decided to jump into the fray with its Rev. Charles Jones taking a strong abolitionist stand.  The ensuing controversy split the church down the middle.

1843:  First Presbyterian constructed a Greek-revival style church building on the west side of town.

1852: The Second Presbyterian Church disbanded.

1857: The Congregational Church of Oswego is established.  Services are held in the former Second Presbyterian church building.

1859: The Congregational Church's new building at E. Fourth and Oneida Streets is dedicated.

1862: The Presbyterian Church denomination splinters into four groups with pro- and anti-slavery factions present in both the north and the south.

1872:  Yet another group split off from First Presbyterian to form Grace Presbyterian Church.  Eventually they erected their own building at the corner of W. Fifth and Oneida Streets.

1936:  First Presbyterian and Grace Presbyterian Church reunited, deciding to hold services in Grace Church's building.  The former First Presbyterian Church building still stands today and is occupied by the American Legion.

1934: A denominational merger occurred uniting Congregational Churches with the Christian Church in the U.S.

1959-60:  The United Church of Christ is formed as result of the merger of the Congregational Churches and the Evangelical & Reformed Churches of America.

1983: The Northern and Southern branches of the Presbyterian Church denomination finally agree to reunite.

1987: Members of the United Church of Christ, Congregational of Oswego sell their building and commit to a yoked parish with the Presbyterian Church of Oswego.

1989: The United Church of Christ and Presbyterian churches of Oswego formally consolidate to form Faith United Church.

1993: The former Presbyterian Church building (Grace Church) was sold to Oswego Hospital and was demolished to make room for a hospital parking lot.  

1996: Faith United Church of Oswego was formally dedicated its newly constructed building on Mark Fitzgibbons Drive.