Lisbon United Presbyterian Church
Worship Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Sunday School at 9:45 a.m.
Location: 26 Church Street, Lisbon, New York Telephone: 315-394-8303
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 238, Lisbon, NY 13658 Manse Telephone: 315-344-4012
Galloupville, or Red Mills as we now know it, was named for the galloping water rapids of the St. Lawrence River, where settlers first landed. Thomas Jefferson was president of the United States on November 15, 1802, when a group of settlers wrote and signed a document to incorporate the First Associate Reformed Church. This was the first permanent religious organization in St. Lawrence County.
The Rev. Alexander Proudfit was visiting friends at the first settlement of Galloupville when this document and our church, the United Presbyterian Church, began its journey. Trustees A.J. Turner, John Tibbets, Jr., John Farewell, William Shaw, Benjamin Stewart, and Reuben Turner signed that document. Many of the men also served as officials of the Town of Lisbon.
Land in northern New York was offered for sale in 1787 even as surveyors from Canada were at their work. A man by the name of Samuel Allen was a settler at Galloupville for a short time before moving his family to Madrid. Andrew O'Neil was in Canada at about the same time. He brought men from Canada in 1799 to build a log home two miles below Galloupville. He and his wife returned to Canada for the birth of their child. There was no one in the area to attend the birth. Dorcas Tibbits was the first white child born in the settlement on September 14, 1800.
In 1801, a petition was sent to the Assembly to request that the area of Ten Towns be erected into one town with the county seat at Galloupville. In 1804 a three-story mill was built at Galloupville to meet the lumber demands of a growing population. This mill was painted red and as time went on the area of Galloupville became know as "Red Mills," and it continues so today.
A frame church was built overlooking the St. Lawrence River with the site eventually becoming the Episcopal Church building site. As the land was cleared and roads were built, the settlers moved away from the river. In 1827 the church was reorganized with a new building constructed at a small settlement called "Well's Hill" near the present Lisbon Village. This was called the "back church," possibly because it was 6 miles from the original building. As the area grew, the railroad was built and a settlement was part of the railroad support. Hotels, blacksmiths, etc. were needed near the railroad and the railroad station. With more people in the area, the present church building was built and completed in 1856. The church has had some changes over the years, with the main one being the activity room added in 1992. The stained glass window memorials to families who preceded us are a perfect welcome to all who enter.
Our records of Session meetings were a source for this information, and "Our Country and its People: A Memorial Record of St. Lawrence County, New York," edited by Gates Curtis and published by D. Mason & Co. Publishers in 1894 was an additional source.
Pastor: Laurie McKnight Clerk of Session: Roger Watters Pianist: Don Woodcock
Treasurer: Carolyn Watters Sunday School Superintendent: Eleanor Parmeter Deacon of the Month: Jill Carr
