Nestled within the landscapes of rural upstate New York, Augusta Presbyterian Church has stood as a beacon of faith and community for an astounding 225 years. For the past two decades of that long history Pastor Jay Williams has led the congregation.

His journey to Augusta Presbyterian Church was a confluence of fate and conviction. “I started off as a Certified Lay Pastor, doing the circuit, filling in twice a month at different churches in the presbytery,” he said.

Then came the pivotal moment – a colleague from the presbytery asked him to preach at Augusta, which was only nine miles from his house, but somewhere he had never been to visit. “We started out sharing the responsibility but then after six months she stepped aside and I’ve been doing it ever since,” said Williams. When he began there were six people in worship.

Despite the challenges posed by a small community and the lack of a Sunday school, Williams’ vision for the congregation and dedication ignited a transformation. “At some point in time we went from five every Sunday to 50,” he said. The church developed a dynamic children’s ministry, an active youth group and even began to have coffee houses with Christian bands playing to a full house.

“We did a lot of very good stuff and there was a lot of energy and activity and vitality,” he said.

Navigating Decline, Embracing Change

As the church continued its journey, it encountered moments of decline – a natural ebb in the tides of community life. The youth, often the lifeblood of a congregation, moved away, while the older members transitioned to the next realm. “One of the things that you need to watch out for is that these kids, well, they grow up, and most of them moved out of the area,” Williams said.

The unforeseen challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t help either. “COVID was a challenge for us, but it did offer some help in that it got us to begin to do new things,” he said.

One of those new things was to begin to use Facebook live to stream Sunday worship services.
Facebook Live became a vital conduit, facilitating communication and interaction among congregants. “I will tell you that Facebook has been a major part of the church – that is where people communicate and post,” he said.

Online engagement even attracted newcomers, including a group of five individuals who now journey from neighboring Utica each week to partake in the church’s fellowship. Families that had been dormant on the church’s rolls returned, bringing their kids and grandkids.

Defining Values and Embracing Uniqueness

The essence of Augusta Presbyterian Church lies in its simplicity and authenticity. William’s message encapsulates the congregation’s mission: “Love God, love each other, and serve the world.” This concise declaration permeates every aspect of the church’s activities. “We really only have one ritual, and that is to repeat our mission statement pretty much whenever we gather,” said Williams. “Anyone can tell you what it is!”

With a modest budget of $26,000 for the entire year, the church maintains its spirit of frugality while embracing a vibrant and close-knit community. As Williams says, “A small interconnected poor church can be just as vibrant, or more vibrant, than a big church with a big building.” This sentiment speaks to the enduring strength of genuine connections and shared purpose.

A Hopeful Future

As the church celebrated its 225th anniversary, the congregation’s composition has shifted, reflecting the ever-evolving nature of rural communities. “There is not much in Augusta,” said Williams, noting that once he told someone to find the church ‘downtown’ and they drove right past it, not realizing there was even a town there. The church’s reach now extends beyond its immediate vicinity, drawing attendees from towns miles away who are drawn to the personal connection they find at Augusta Presbyterian.

“We are a simple congregation with a small budget and no church secretary, but somehow it all works out,” said Williams. “We are a small country church, a family and we meet the needs of the people who are here.”

It can be easy, he admits, to sit in church and long for the way things used to be, long for the people that used to come. “But we just do what we can, and we make do with what we’ve got,” he said. And in so doing, they love God, love each other, and serve the world.