Historic Saratoga Church Kicks Off Organ Replacement Drive 

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The First Baptist Church of Saratoga was established in October 1793.  Saratoga Springs’ oldest church has provided services at 45 Washington St. since 1855. This weekend, the church is kicking off a drive aimed at replacing its near 50-year-old organ.   

“We always celebrate our birthday in some unique way – to let people know we’re here, that we’re excited do our ministry for our congregation as well as the community, and to help those around us,” said Doris Seagrave, chair of the board of Deacons at the church. 

On Sunday, Oct. 16, organist Farrell Goehring will feature the music of Bach, Mendelssohn and others in a fundraising event that begins at 2 p.m.  

“This marks the start of the organ fund, and on Sunday there will be a good will offering after the concert,” said Seagrave. The church has begun reaching out to the community and will be pursuing donations and potential grants during its drive to replace the organ, which Seagrave estimated at a minimum cost of approximately $50,000.   

Over the past few years, renovation projects on-site have resulted in restoring some of the church’s stain glass windows, after being awarded grants from The Saratoga Springs Preservation Foundation, the New York Landmarks Conservancy, and the Alfred Z. Solomon Testamentary Trust.   

The mission of the First Baptist Church in Saratoga focuses on three areas: homeless students and homeless adults, families subjected to domestic violence, and migrant workers at local dairy farms and racetrack.

 “We’ve been a very active in the community and we do a lot of ministry with the homeless shelter, with Wellsprings, and many of the other organizations in the area,” Seagrave said. 

For more information about First Baptist Church, go to: fbcsaratoga.org, or email: firstbaptistsaratoga@gmail.com.