The Bottskill Baptist Family would like to welcome our new Pastor, Lydia Widbin!
Lydia was born in Boston and has lived in various places
around the world, including the Philippines, Tennessee, Egypt,
and Rockland County, NY where she lived most of her life. After
High School, Lydia attended Eastern University where she met her husband Hector. She has her Masters of Divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary.
Lydia has an expansive resume. Most recently she has been a lay pastor at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and a guest preacher at the Chinese Alliance Church of Westchester. She has also been a teacher, youth leader, and chaplain.
Upon getting married, Lydia and Hector spent three years in Queens before moving to a church near the Jersey Shore where they have
served in various capacities for the last ten years.
Hector, born in Honduras, has recently accepted the pastorate at Hoosick Falls Baptist Church where he begins in September.
Please learn more about Lydia by clicking the button below, and join us in welcoming her to the Bottskill Family!
Bottskill Baptist Church was founded in 1767 and, guided and nurtured by the Holy Spirit and Scriptures, our purpose is to bring people together so all may grow in faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ through worship, education, fellowship and mission.
The congregation came home to Bottskill on Sunday, September 16, 2018.
About the Bottskill Building repair Project...
In the Spring of 2017, during a Lenten service, one of our members observed a problem with a cornice piece over the sanctuary. It appeared to have dropped four inches. Upon further investigation, we discovered that one of the five roof trusses had slipped from its moorings and rested on the side wall. Two other trusses were badly damaged and in need of repair as well. The church building, including the fellowship hall, which in so many ways serves the Greenwich community, was deemed unsafe and closed until repairs could address the structural issues.
After a thoughtful and detailed review of engineer’s reports and estimates, it was determined that the repair would cost $250,000. In the Summer of 2017, after much deliberation, prayer, and discussion, the congregation voted to save the church building – it’s served as home to Bottskill Baptist Church since 1865, a mission center and community recourse for dozens of local organizations, a fixture in the Greenwich skyline, and a historic landmark on Church Street.
The damaged trusses, 55 feet long and bearing the weight of the slate roof, have been jacked back into place and metal gussets fabricated and installed at the joints of all the trusses. Parts of the church roof and ceiling were taken apart for access. The downstairs fellowship hall and kitchen area were significantly impacted as well, due to the necessary supports needed to safely work on the roof.
We are incredibly humbled by the outpouring of community support that allowed us to repair the building that has served for over 152 years as a religious and community meeting place and resource. While construction is still underway on the lower level of the building, we are overjoyed to be once again worshipping in the newly repaired sanctuary. Once repairs are complete we look forward to celebrating with the community that made this all possible. Until then, we invite all who are interested to visit us for worship service on Sunday mornings at 9:15am.
On Sunday, September 17, 2017 the Bottskill Congregation, friends, and members of the community joined together to celebrate 250 years of the church's ministry. Noted along the way: the church's history with abolition, welcoming Frederick Douglas to speak; sending a pastor to the Burma mission field in the 19th century and friendship with Karen refugees coming to Utica in the 21st century. Thank you to all who joined us to make this such a memorable event!
