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Church hosts old-fashioned service

| 15 Oct 2013 | 12:25
    Mike Kosco, the Rev. Amy Lawrence, Charlie Bates and Charlie Lane sit in the sanctuary during the old-fashioned church service at the First Presbyterian Church of Sussex.
    Mike Kosco, the Rev. Amy Lawrence, Charlie Bates and Charlie Lane sit in the sanctuary during the old-fashioned church service at the First Presbyterian Church of Sussex.
    The congregation is show at the old-fashioned church service at the First Presbyterian Church of Sussex.
    The congregation is show at the old-fashioned church service at the First Presbyterian Church of Sussex.

SUSSEX — The First Presbyterian Church of Sussex held an Old-Fashioned Church Service on Saturday.

The part of the old Rev. A.J.W. Mowatt, who served the church from 1923 until 1951 was played by Mike Kosco. The Rev. Amy Lawrence functioned as the interviewer. The Rev. Alexander McA. Thorburn (1887-1893) was portrayed by Charlie Bates and the Rev. Edgar A. Hamilton, the great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton, who served the church from 1873 until 1883 and again from 1893 until 1917 was portrayed by Charlie Lain.

The church was originally called the Third Presbyterian Church of Wantage before changing its name to the First Presbyterian Church of Deckertown, and then to the First Presbyterian Church of Sussex in 1902. During the service, men and women were separated according late 19th century tradition. Singing in the church used to be led by "Chorister" Abraham Smith, who was portrayed by Gerald VanderHart. The grandson of Rev. A. Mowatt, James (and his wife, Lee) was present at the service along with James' sister, Jane Gildea.

Photos by Viktoria-Leigh Wagner