Our history

With 13 pioneers as charter members, the Ogden Baptist Church was born in a schoolhouse on May 21, 1819. For several years the little group was unable to support a pastor or have its own house of worship. Elder Ely Stone of Wheatland supplied services held in barns, a log schoolhouse and in homes until about 1824 when a church was built near Ogden Center. In 1832-33 the present white frame church of colonial design was built at what then was known as Colby Corners, now the corner of Colby and Washington Streets, Spencerport. This year was significant as well because Rev. Zenas Case was called to be their pastor and served as the longest tenured pastor in the church’s history.

As with many early churches in our nation in the 1800’s, members were disciplined for dancing, using profanity, attending plays, working on the Sabbath, irregular attendance and other transgressions. Old ways gave way to new and in the 1840s oil lamps replaced candles and in 1853 the interior was extensively remodeled. Unfortunately, two organs were stolen from the church in two years. The first one in 1868 was never recovered. It was replaced by a new organ which disappeared one night in 1870. Eventually, the thief, a local youth, was captured and sent to prison after revealing the hiding place of the stolen organ. The organ was returned to OBC and the music program continues strong to this day. The picturesque edifice has seen many changes over the years. The large belfry and the old horse sheds are no more. A parlor, dining room and Sunday School rooms were added in 1953. 2015-16 saw more renovations with a sanctuary remodel and new roof.

Active mission work includes Cameron Community Ministries, Aurora House, Spencerport Ecumenical Ministries, Fairport Baptist Homes, The Coffee Connection, Camps Vick and Pathfinder, Rochester Refugee Settlement, Habitat for Humanity as well as local support of AA meetings and hospitality to all who enter our building. Vibrant, healthy and committed this one-time small farm community church is now part of the ever-changing landscape both geographically and spiritually growing in ministry and in the Spirit.

In 2019, Ogden Baptist Church turned 200 years old! The D&C wrote an article about Rochester's oldest churches.

Ogden Baptist Church prior to 1933

Our staff

Cliff Houston

Interim Pastor

Writing a brief autobiographical paragraph is a preacher’s worst nightmare. It’s tortuous to be brief. I was born in a small town in South Georgia, raised in a Christian home, and baptized at fourteen in First Baptist Church, Blakely, Georgia. I graduated from the University of Georgia, with a communications degree from the Henry W. Grady School of Journalism, and later sensed what I believed to be God's call to the ministry. I enrolled in Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1981, was called to serve as pastor of a church near the seminary in the fall of that year, graduated with a Master of Divinity with Religious Education degree in 1984, and shortly thereafter, moved to England to help a Baptist congregation complete a building project outside Alconbury Air Force Base in Huntingdon, England.

After completing the building project, I returned to the states to pastor Brinson Baptist Church in Brinson, Georgia, earned a Doctor of Ministry degree at Candler School of Theology at Emory University in Atlanta, and eventually moved to Rochester to serve Pittsford Baptist Church for eighteen years. I enjoy serving Christ in the greater Rochester area, and the added benefits of Wegmans, Dinosaur Barbecue, and Red Wings baseball makes this a hard place to beat.

My latest educational pursuit was with the Interim Ministry Network in Baltimore, Maryland. At the end of November 2013, I completed IMN’s Certificate of Transitional Ministry, and for the past eight years, I have served as Interim Pastor to churches in New York and Ohio. It is now my privilege to be serving Ogden Baptist Church in Spencerport, NY, a loving and growing congregation committed to serving Christ faithfully in Spencerport, New York State, and around the world. Please accept my personal invitation to come and join us for worship on Sundays at OBC. I assure you, you will find a church family genuinely committed to honoring Christ through their love for life and ministry.

Sue Feuerherm

Organist and Choir Director

Sue is the organist and choir director. Sue has been with Ogden Baptist Church since 1988. She was classically trained in piano by her Grandmother, Anna Sorokti. Sue began playing piano when she was 9 years old and has been playing piano and singing in church since she was a teenager. Sue participated in Concert Choir while in high school and Women's Choir in college. She plays piano at the Johnson House in Churchville, Adams Basin United Methodist Church and for weddings and funerals in the community.

"I was so thrilled to be asked to accompany and direct the choir here at Ogden Baptist. It has been a rewarding experience for me. I've learned a lot, made wonderful friends, challenged the choir with some difficult and lovely pieces, and always give them the summers off to recover. One of my dearest and fondest memories was to have the choir sing at Eric's and my wedding. It was Handel's 'Hallelujah Chorus', sung when we were pronounced Mr. and Mrs. Eric Feuerherm and I will NEVER forget that moment!"

Min. Dale Shonk

Director of Children's Ministry

Min. Dale is the Director of Children’s Ministry at Ogden Baptist Church and has been a part of the Ogden Baptist family since 2014. She holds an Associates degree in Business Administration with a minor focus in education and psychology. She is currently attending the Theological Certificate program at Northeastern Seminary through Roberts Wesleyan College. Local to the Rochester area, Dale enjoys walking her dog in Black Creek Park, spending time with her cats, reading books, and camping with her family in the Adirondacks.

Libraries

We have two beautiful libraries, for both children and adults. They are open to the public. We have a little something for everyone: story books, prayer books, Christian fiction, theological texts, Biblical commentaries and lectionary guides, biographies, maps, devotionals, and more... even church choir mystery novels! If you need a quiet place to read or study, or just want to check out a book, check out our libraries!

Mission partners

American Baptist Churches (USA)

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American Baptist Churches of the Rochester-Genesee Region

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American Baptist Home Mission Societies

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American Baptist International Ministries

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American Baptist Men

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American Baptist Women's Ministries

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Aurora House

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Cameron Community Ministries

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Church Women United

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Church World Service

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Colgate-Rochester Crozier Divinity School

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Fairport Baptist Homes

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Mary's Place

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Ronald McDonald House

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White Cross

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