Welsh Congregational Church of Richville, New York

The Welsh Congregational Church was organized in the spring of 1858. Religious services were held in the Welsh language prior to that date. The first Welshman to settle in this community was James Griffis in June of 1849. James Griffis, his wife and four children came here from Bettws Efan, Cardiganshire County, Wales, and were soon followed by other families from that part of the principality.

Note: Over the last two years, I have been researching the genealogy, of the pioneers located on the tablet installed at the right front of the church (see above), shown below, and have been trying to locate were each family lived in Wales before emigrating to America. The results of that effort are provided in the links shown below.

All comments can be directed to Lance Gillette at: [email protected]

This tablet erected to commemorate the establishment of the Richville Welsh Congregational Church in 1858 and the erection of this building in 1859 also the migration of the first Welsh settlers. Ministers who have served as pastors:

Rev. Thomas Rees               Rev. Thomas T. Davies        Rev. John Williams
1858 - 1864                    1889 - 1893                  1902 - 1903
Rev. David Jones               Rev. John Rosser Jones       Rev. J.T. Griffiths
1865 - 1886                    1894 - 1898                  1904 - 1908
Rev. George M. Rees            Rev. Richard M. Jones        Rev. David L. Williams
1887 - 1889                    1896 - 1897                  1908 - 1915
             Rev. Lewis E. Lewis                 Rev. Griffith Evans
             1897 - 1902                         1915 - 1919

Early Settlers who came to Richville:

                                      1849
             James & Ann Griffis                 Evan Griffis
                                      1852
John & Mary Davies            Joshua & Jane Davies         Enoch P. & Jane Griffiths
Evan Jones                    Thomas & Elizabeth Jones     Thomas P. & Mary Griffiths
Benjamin & Margaret Jones     David & Ann Davies           John & Margaret Davies
David & Mary Thomas           Rev. Thomas & Jane Rees      Griffith E. Davies
Ebenezer & Esther Griffiths   James & Eleanor Jones        David James
Thomas & Hannah Rees          David & Axah Thomas          Mary Jones Ethridge
                                      1854
Evan & Ann Jones              Joseph & Ann Rowland         Robert W. Jones
                                      1858
Evan & Sarah Davies  David E. & Sarah Davies  Mary Lewis   T. Brython & Mary Davies
John Thomas Sr.      John & Sarah Jenkins     David Lewis  David & Mary Griffiths
Margaret Davies      Margaret James           Mary Davies  David D.& Margaret Davies
                                      1865
Rev. David & Elizabeth Jones  Joshua & Hannah Jones        Sarah Evans
                                      And Later
John & Mary Jones             Henry & Hannah Jones         Erasmus & Ann Jones
Mary Jenkins                  Elias & Mary Davies          Evan & Jane Davies
             Thomas & Jane Williams              Thomas & Hannah Davies

Church built in 1859 by Ebenezer Griffiths. Church renovated in 1925
by his grandson Webster E. Griffiths. Tablet placed in 1926.