Auburn in Cayuga County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Westminster Presbyterian Church

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, September 1, 2025

1. Westminster Presbyterian Church Marker

Inscription.
The founding of First Presbyterian Church in 1811 began a long history of Presbyterianism in Auburn.

As the city’s population grew, several Presbyterian churches were founded in 1818, the Auburn Theological Seminary was established to prepare young clergy to serve in the American west and on foreign missions. The seminary helped place Auburn as a center of religious thought and attracted Presbyterians from across the state.

The seminary operated in Auburn until 1939 when it moved to New York City. Willard Chapel is all that remains of the original seminary buildings.

Westminster Presbyterian Church dates its birth in 1861, when the Rev. Henry Fowler was forced to leave Second Presbyterian Church because of the controversy he caused there by his frequent abolitionist sermons and by praying publicly for the soul of John Brown. A group of 66 abolitionist members of the Second followed the Rev. Fowler to start a new church.

The congregation first purchased property next to the courthouse on Genesee and William Streets and constructed a basement chapel, with plans to later build a church. Harriet Tubman was married

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to Pvt. Nelson Charles Davis in the basement chapel in 1869 and Frederick Douglass gave a lecture there.

Tiffany Rainbow Window In 1910, a Titfany window depicting the 23rd Psalm was given by Janet Seward in memory of her mother Margaret Standart Watson, an early member of the church, Janet was William Henry Seward’s daughter-in-law.

Other Places To See Tiffany Stained Glass In Auburn Cayuga Museum of History and Art
203 Genesee Street Located in the former Willard Case Mansion, the museum features a window made by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company of NYC. Installed around 1897, it was commissioned by Caroline and Georgianna Willard, who also gave the funds for the Willard Chapel at the Auburn Theological Seminary, in honor of their parents.

Willard Memorial Chapel
17 Nelson Street Built in 1892-1894, Willard Chapel boasts an interior designed and handcrafted entirely by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company. It is the only known complete and unaltered religious interior completely designed by Tiffany.

Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) The Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) was founded in London,

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, September 1, 2025

2. Westminster Presbyterian Church Marker

England, in 1844, and the Auburn branch was organized in 1859, one of the earliest YMCAs in the United States of America.

In its early years, the YMCA held Bible Study meetings in rented rooms at 80 Genesee Street.

The original building seen here, built in 1885, was located at. 64-66 Genesee Street, next to The Phoenix Building.

The YMCA moved to its William Street location in 1939 - the building in front of you on the left.

The Women’s Educational and Industrial Union (WEIU) merged with the YMCA in the late 1960s and moved operations to the YMCA building.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Architecture • Charity & Public Work • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1811.

Location. 42° 55.784′ N, 76° 34.024′ W. Marker is in Auburn, New York, in Cayuga County. It is at the intersection of William Street and Lincoln Street, on the left when traveling south on William Street. Located next to the NYS Equal Right Heritage Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Auburn NY 13021, United States of America.

Seward Museum and the Westminster Presbyterian Church Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, September 1, 2025

3. Seward Museum and the Westminster Presbyterian Church Marker

Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate New York,

specifically in Central New York,

and in the Syracuse Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

New Netherland,

and one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Women’s Educational & Industrial Union (WEIU) (within shouting distance of this marker); South Street Area Historic District (within shouting distance of this marker); Auburn Memorial City Hall (within shouting distance of this marker); Votes for Women (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); William H. Seward (about 300 feet away); David Munson Osborne Memorial City Hall (about 300 feet away); 1st N.Y. Independent Battery Memorial (about 400 feet away); Cayuga County Civil War Soldiers And Sailors Memorial (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Auburn.

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, September 1, 2025

4. Westminster Presbyterian Church Marker

The NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Susan A. Dalaba, September 1, 2025

5. The NYS Equal Rights Heritage Center

Credits. This page was last revised on September 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 5, 2025, by Susan A. Dalaba of Cortland, New York. This page has been viewed 91 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on September 5, 2025, by Susan A. Dalaba of Cortland, New York. • Michael Herrick was the editor who published this page.