The United Church of Christ in Bayberry had its beginning in March 1959 when representatives of the Evangelical and Reformed and Congregational Churches denominations met to plan the first United Church of Christ congregation in New York State. The congregation was to be located in the Bayberry section of Liverpool, a planned suburban community featuring parks, schools, shopping centers and three church locations. The Bayberry Community was only a few years old and was populated by young families in the optimistic years of the late 1950's.

At that time the two denominations were in the process of formal merger and this congregation was one specific instance of their cooperation. They purchased approximately four acres of land and a house that would serve as the parsonage, Christian education building, and sanctuary.

The Rev. Robert Adams came as the organizing pastor in June of 1960. The first worship service took place on September 11, 1960, in the basement of the parsonage with 21 people in attendance. When the Congregation Church in Oriskany Falls closed, the Bayberry church received an organ, lectern, pulpit, altar pieces and hymnals. At the first Christmas Eve candlelight service, there were 100 people in attendance. The charter membership rolls were closed with 57 names.

History of the Building

The present Christian Education Wing of the building was completed in the spring of 1964. The communion table, pulpit, lectern, and cross which were used in the service in Philadelphia which united the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and the Reformed Churches into the United Church of Christ Denomination, were placed in the sanctuary by the New York Conference because Bayberry was the very first United Church of Christ to be formed. This is the present furniture you see in the sanctuary. The present sanctuary, completed in 1975, was constructed to represent the manger scene of Christ’s birth.

The lower level of the new sanctuary building was designed to house the UCC Nursery School, which has been an important service in the community of Bayberry for over 40 years. Students enrolling today have parents who attended the school when they were children.

The latest capital project was completed in 2004. The education wing was completely renovated and the fellowship hall and kitchen were both enlarged. A new wing includes space for offices, the music ministry, an updated nursery school facility, and a meeting room / library. The new wing freed up space in the original wing to accommodate the growing Sunday school.

History of Ministry

Since its beginning, the UCC in Bayberry has served as a community center. In addition to operating a nursery school, the church building has served as the home of Scout troops, recreation groups from the Town of Clay, the Oneida Counseling Ministry (now Family Counseling Ministry), Alcoholics Anonymous and a weight-management group. The church building has also been a regular Town of Clay voting location.

During the 1980's, UCC in Bayberry was a pioneer with Liverpool High School in providing "time-out homes" for troubled teens, and also received national recognition for its "Garden of Eatin'," where vegetables were grown by church members and donated to area food pantries.

In 1997, the congregation became a covenant congregation with the Interdenominational Protestant Campus Ministry at Syracuse University, and has a history of members serving on the ICPM board.

In 2006, the congregation became a covenant partner with Syracuse Habitat for Humanity, helping with the first ever "faith build" on the near west side of Syracuse.

For a number of years, the congregation has provided a food ministry for needy families in the greater Liverpool area. In addition, UCC in Bayberry operates a Nutrition Site that serves hot meals on a weekly basis for area seniors and cooperates with area public schools in providing assistance to families in need.

UCC in Bayberry has also provided clergy and lay leadership for the Oneida Association and New York Conference of the United Church of Christ.

The ecumenical beginning of the Bayberry UCC has been a continuing characteristic. The current congregation of over 350 is made up of people with roots of many different faiths, but united in the church's mission of extending the love of God to the wider community.

Pastors serving the United Church of Christ in Bayberry

Rev. Robert Adams, 1960-65

Rev. Walter Tildesley (interim), 1965

Rev. William Goble 1966-1969

Rev. Walter Tildesley (interim), 1969

Rev. John Allen, 1970-1978

Rev. Charles Schmitz, 1978

Rev. Daniel Kuhn, 1979-1988

Rev. Jennifer von der Luft (Associate), 1985-1989

Rev. Michael Heath (interim), 1988-1989

Rev. Linda Heffley (interim), 1989

Rev. Phil Wiehe and Rev. Linda McFadden, 1989-1992

Rev. Graham Hodges (interim), 1992

Rev. Susan Schneider-Adams (interim), 1992-1995

Rev. Dr. J. Mark Lawson, 1995-present