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Ministerial History

Since its establishment, North Salem Christian Church has been blessed by the service and dedication of numerous ministers. Below is a timeline highlighting those who have led our congregation over the years:

1830s

1837: Nathan Waters (Visiting Minister)
1838: John Longely (Visiting Minister)
1839: John Kane (Visiting Minister)

1850s

1851-1855: Various visiting ministers (services held once a month)
1856: John Harris (Visiting Minister)
1857: Brother Wilson (Visiting Minister)
1858: Brother Jarrot (Visiting Minister)
1859-1860: Urban C. Brewer (Teenager)

1840s

1840: Benjamin Franklin (Visiting Minister)
1841: Brother Jameson (Visiting Minister)
1842: Brother Houshour (Visiting Minister)
1843: Brother Hobbs (Visiting Minister)
1844: Brother Mathes (Visiting Minister)
1845: John C. Miller (Visiting Minister)
1846: Nathan and Jacob Wright (Visiting Ministers)
1847: Perry Blakenship (Visiting Minister)
1848: Thomas Lockhart (Visiting Minister)
1849-1850: Peter T. Russell (Visiting Minister)

1860s

1861-1862: Brother Hopkins & Brother Hodkins (Visiting Ministers)
1863: Thomas Lockhart (Visiting Minister)
1863-1864: O.P. Badger (First regular employed minister)
1865-1866: Brother Jewell (Visiting Minister)
1867: Brother Boswell (Visiting Minister)
1868-1869: Thomas Lockhart (Visiting Minister)

1870s

1870-1874: William Holt
1875-1876: Alan Plunket
1877-1880: A.J. Frank

1890s

1893: A.M. Morris
1894-1895: A.J. Frank (Second term as minister)
1896-1899: W.B. Treat (Second term as minister)

1910s

1910: J.H. Brooks
1911: S.F. Rogers
1912-1913: R.F. Robertson
1914-1915: H.F. Keltch
1916-1919: Lee Tinsley

1880s

1881: W.B. Treat
1882: D.D. Kincaid (Visiting Minister)
1883: Brother Canfield
1884: Denton Collins
1885-1886: O.P. Badger (Second term as minister)
1887: Daniel Summers (Visiting Minister)
1888: Brother Johnson
1889-1892: Urban C. Brewer

1900s

1900-1901: A.J. Frank (Second term as minister)
1901-1904: L.E. Murray
1905-1906: G.W. Watkins
1907-1909: E.S. Connor

1920s

1920-1923: V. Hayes Miller
1923-1930: Joseph Craig

1930s

1931-1937: Ernest W. Fitch
1938: Cecil Griggs
1939-1943: Elwood Dunn

1950s

1951-1957: Richard Berkey
1957-1960: Charles Barr

1970s

1971-1982: Earl C. Davis (Minister for 11 years, second longest tenure)

1940s

1943-1950: Chester Hanson

1960s

1961-1967: Lozier Ziegler
1968-1969: R.R. Ohaver
1969-1970: Dan Garrison (Interim Minister)

1980s

1982-1984: Ralph Wearsler
1985: Alice Hugogo (Interim)
1986: Kay Lowe McFarland
1987-1990: Dennis Norman

1990s

1990-1992: Kenneth Pacquin
1993-1994: John Hinant
1995-1997: David Garshaw
1997-2013: John Gossett (Minister for 15 years, longest tenure)

2010s & present

2013: Harold Baumer (Interim)
2014-Present: Rob Baire (Minister for 10+ years, third longest tenure)

Highlights 

  • O.P. Badger was the church's first regularly employed minister (1863-1864).

  • John Gossett served as the longest-tenured minister, leading for 15 years (1997-2013)

  • .Earl C. Davis (1971-1982) and Rob Baire (2014-present) have also left significant legacies with 11 years and 8+ years of service, respectively.

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