Halcott United Methodist Church
The Halcott United Methodist Church was established in 1829 when John P. Van Valkenburg experienced religion and became an exhorter among the people. The first Class, organized by Reverend Calder in 1830, consisted of Thomas Halcott, Reuben Gordon, Archibald Morrison, Nehemiah Covel, Joseph Halstead, John Moseman, Gibbons Griffins, and their wives; Timothy Tyler and Joseph Brooks, with Mr. Van Valkenburg as leader.
For 20 years the congregation met in private homes, schoolhouses and barns, when it was decided to erect a church building. Plans were made for the erection of a “meeting house” as subscriptions of money, work and materials were received. The Halcott United Methodist Church was dedicated in to service in December 1849.
Reverend John P. Van Valkenburg was born in Rensselaer County in November 1800, a son of Peter L. Van Valkenburg, a captain in the Revolutionary War and grandson of John Van Valkenburg, who came from Holland to Albany County before the Revolution. Van Valkenburg came to Halcott over Vly Mountain with his widowed mother in 1813. There they found and empty cabin and settled there. In later years he cleared land on Turkey Ridge, and then moved west to another farm, the beginning of West Settlement.
In 1821, Van Valkenburg was married to Jemima, daughter of Daniel Griffin, who about 1805 settled in the northern part of the town of Middletown, Delaware county.
Van Valkenburg was licensed to preach in 1833 and was ordained nine years later in 1842. Census reports in 1850, 1855, 1860 and 1875 record his occupation as “Methodist Episcopal Clergyman.” The 1870 census records his occupation as “farmer” and the 1880 census records his occupation as “retired farmer.”
Reverend Van Valkenburg was well regarded in the community. He “has been their local preacher; generations have grown up under his ministry, and the sermons he has preached, as precept, and the life he has lived, as example, have left their impress for good upon the minds and the hearts of the most of them.”
Reverend Van Valkenburg passed away on January 21, 1889 and is buried at Halcott Cemetery in Halcott Center, New York.
After nearly 200 years the Halcott United Methodist Church continues to serve the local community. Worship services are held each Sunday at 9am.
