July 1949 - July 1959
It would be literally impossible to record within this sketch all the many services and all the special occasions which go to make up the most memorable moments in a church's life.
It would be equally impossible to mention the nmesof all those individuals who have played an important role in the development of our mission in West Seneca.
In any event, the greatest part of a church's life is th day-to-day witness to the world around it and its sometimes almost unnoticed ministrations to all those who compose it.
It is therefore not the intention of this sketch to recall more than the highlights of St.David's short but significant history. We are indebted to Mrs Harold Roth for much of the historical material and to Mr. Lankes, Town Historian, for his ssistance in its' compilation.
It all began on Good Friday in 1947, when Mrs Harold Roth attended a crowded service in one of our local churches, after which she sent a letter to Bishop Camerob Davis asking whether there was a possibility of organizing an Episcopal mission in Ebenezer.
On April 10th of the same year, Bishop Davis wrote to say that the Diocese had not contemplated such a project, but that he would present her letter to the Department of Missions. Soon afterward, Dr.Verduin, Rector of St.Mark's, Orchard Park, visited Mrs.Roth with word that the idea has been well received.
Subsequently, there was a gathering of local Episcopalians to discuss the possibility of securing a meeting place, with Dr.Verduin making a suggestion that the Masonic Temple ne secure for that purpose.
At about that time, however, Dr.Verduin reported that the Bishop (Davis) was about to retire, and he advised that further arrangements be postponed until the election of a new bishop.
Soon after his election, The Right Reverand Lauiston L.Scaife approved the plan be established to estabplis a mission in Ebenezer.
The first service was held at the Masonic Temple on July 10, 1949, with three lay readers officiating: Allen Lyford, Donald Nickerson and Richard Pollard. By the month of August some eighty persons had become interested in the organization of this new mission, and on the 14th of that month Canon Morrell, Rectoor of St.Matthias, East Aurora, for the first time celebrated Holy Communion for the congragation.
On October 2nd, a Church School was organized, and on October 30th the Ven.Samuel N.Baxter, Archdeacon of the Diocese, held the first baptism (for Peter Hanson and Donald Spengler).
The first formal pledges were received on Loyaly Sunday, November 13, at which 16 of the founding members pledged a total of $761.80 for the work of the church in the following year.
The first Annual Meeting was held on February 7, 1950, and the following wew the first officers elected to administer the affairs of our rapidly growing mission; Mr.Emery Emerson, Warden; Mr.Walter Biesecker, Clerk; and Mr.Clark Stressing, Treasurer. The Archdeacon presided at this meeting and praised the efforts of Mr. Allen Lyford, who had been the lay reader responsible for the mission since its inception in July of the previous year.
The first women's organization was formed at this time, and the following officers were elected: Mrs.Lester Hess, Chairman; Mrs.Oscar Schmidt, Vice-Chairman; Mrs.Robert Streif, Secretary; and Mrs.Elden Havens, Treasurer.
The Rev,Charles Flook celebrated the first Easter Communion on April 9th, at which time the holy vessels and linnens were consecrated for use at St.David's Mission.
On May 25, 1950, Bishop Scaife conducted his first service at St.David's confirming a class of nine. Just three months later Mr.Lyford left for seminary. The Bishop appointed the Rev.Dr.A.T.B.Barnes to continue services at St.David's Mission, which he did until December 23, 1951.
The Rev.Canon Walter Plumley conducted services at St.David's from January 6 to July 27, 1952; during the period that Mr. Lyford was conducting his seminary studies in preparation for his return to West Seneca as Minister-in-charge.
The Rev.Mr.Lyford was subsequently ordained to the diaconate at St.Matthias Church in East Aurora where he had originally been a lay reader; and on the following Sunday, July 20th, he conducted his first service at St.David's as a deacon.
From October of tha year until Mr.Lyford's ordination to the priesthood on June 15, 1953, the Rev.Frederick J.Eastman provided the majority of the services which a deacon could not perform.
Meanwhile, a substantial building fund had been raised under teh chairmanship of Mr.Harvey Clements, and Bishop Scaife broke ground for the new church on June 25, 1954, with a crowd of 300 in attendance.
The Bishop returned on June 12 of the following year to lay the cornerstone of the new church, which was set beneat a stone brought over from St.David's Catherdral in Wales.
The new building was first used for the wedding of William Harding and Amelia Streif, which took place on June 25, 1955. The Rev.Mr.Lyford was assisted at this service by Canon Morrell of St.Matthias, East Aurora. It was not until July 24th, however, that regular public services were transfered from the Masonic Temple to the new buildin - almost six years to the day since the mission in Ebenezer had been started!
The history of St.David's Mission has continued unbroken in the ten years following that memorable date; first under Mr.Lyford, who continued in charge until October 12, 1958; then under the Rev.Richard Pollard (who had taken part in the opening service in 1949), who served until September 13, 1964; and then under the Rev.Robert Demery, who joined the community on December 1964.
