BLASDELL GOSPEL CHAPEL
88 Arthur Avenue
Blasdell, NY 14219
(716) 826 - 5110
History and Principles
The Blasdell Gospel Chapel is the oldest church
in the village of Blasdell, New York. Some consecrated Christian
laymen came into this community and conducted gospel services in
a small schoolhouse on the Milestrip Road. It was about 1885 that
Mr. Alex Tweedly, Mr. John Townsend, Mr. Edward Fairbairn and Mr.
Sims secured the little red German two-room schoolhouse to hold
the services. These gentlemen walked weekly from Elmwood Gospel
Chapel in Buffalo on mud streets and wooden sidewalks and brought
about the founding of the congregation.
The schoolhouse was used for public as well as spiritual
instruction. School children helped to advertise these meetings
and the school house was filled to capacity each night for
several weeks.
As a result of the precious seed sown, souls were saved and 12
believers were baptized in Lake Erie in July of 1888. Rush Creek
was also a site of some baptisms. During this same summer a
Sunday School was started in the afternoon. For nearly a decade,
this was the only house of worship in the community.
The congregation outgrew the small meeting house on the Milestrip
Road by the year of 1894. In the spring of 1890, Wood, Harmon
& Co. from Buffalo donated lots #735 and #736 on the south
side of Arthur Avenue where our present chapel is located. Most
of the materials and labor for the original building were
donated. The building was completed in 1 894 and services were
then held there.
A shed to shelter horses and wagons was also built at the back of
the chapel. Those who stayed for the evening services would bring
kerosene lanterns to guide them home. For those who came some
distances, sandwiches, hot tea and coffee were oftentimes
provided in the sheds located in the back where carriages parked.
Horses, of course, were tied to the hitching rail at the side of
the building.
According to our records in 1900, total offerings for that year
amounted to $40.08 and that was high because of building
expenses. But in 1901 receipts dropped, totaling $26.68.
In October of 1904, as required by section 81 of Religious
Corporation Law of the State of New York, this group known as
Believers was incorporated taking the name of Believers in
Christ, Inc. Because of loss of records in 1929, we were
reinstated as a corporation so we could be recipients of an
inheritance. Through this incident, we discovered the necessity
of using our legally correct name, Believers in Christ, Inc. by
those willing any mowies to our group.
In the early days the auditorium was divided by folding doors.
The old platform under the arch was in line with the present
double doors leading down to the kitchen area, making the
auditorium about half the size it is now. Another archway at the
back of the sanctuary has been changed to a glass partition. Two
potbelly stoves kept the place warm. The lighting of the building
has undergone several changes. Originally, kerosene lamps were
attached on the side walls and one hung in the front. Gas lights
were installed next. The gas bill in 1916 for one month was only
$.30. From there we went to electric fixtures.
Seating has taken a lot of changes. At first we used wooden
spindle chairs which were set in a circle in the back room (which
is our present foyer) when the believers gathered for the
Breaking of Bread. This service is still conducted at 9:30 a.m.
each Sunday morning when we observe the Lord's Supper. Simplicity
has always been the instruction from the Word of God, using just
one loaf of bread to represent the Lord's body and the wine to
represent His blood.
Improvements were made in 1933 by putting classrooms and a
furnace in the original cellar. A baptismal tank was installed
under the platform. Those having received Christ as personal
Saviour and wishing to obey the command of the Lord Jesus Christ
showing to whom they belong, could be baptized there. In 1976, a
new fiberglass baptismal tank was installed.
Accompaniment for congregational singing was by pump organ and
the first organist was Jenny Salisbury, whose mother, Mrs.
Charles Salisbury, originally owned the land which Wood, Harmon
donated and on which the present chapel now stands. This pump
organ was carried everywhere for picnics, outdoor services, etc.
Our first upright piano was donated in 1926. A baby grand was
purchased in 1970 and the present organ donated in 1971.
Hand painted scripture texts on the walls call attention to the
believer's responsibilities. In John 3:16, "God gave His
only Son", therefore our central text is "unto Him
shall the gathering of the people be." Gen. 49:10
We tripled the size of the existing building in 1955 with the
addition of more classrooms, a balcony, and a kitchen and
basement dining area. The kitchen was a vast improvement over the
small kitchen in the original cellar (still in existence, but not
used at this time). The newer large kitchen is used extensively
for Young People's conferences held each September, missionary
conferences, teas, fellowship suppers, weddings, etc. We thought
this new dining area was marvelous and met our needs, but it was
soon outgrown. Therefore a banqueting room was built in 1966
comfortably accommodating 250 seated at tables. At conference
time this room is often filled beyond capacity.
In the fall of 1972, we saw our present outside structure
completed. Inside we completed three large classrooms, an audio
room and a library which also doubles as a classroom. This
addition also included a large roughed-in shell behind the
sanctuary which would some day enlarge the sanctuary to double
its size. This area was used for some time by the young people as
a gymnasium. Above this whole new area a three bedroom missionary
apartment was built. Many members of the congregation gave of
their labor to see the classrooms and apartment completed and it
was not necessary to have any work contracted to an outside firm.
In the fall of 1976, the old platform and arch were removed and
the present sanctuary, as it appears today, was completed.
Although we are an indigenous work, which means self-governing,
we would like to express that many gather the same way as we do
according to New Testament principles throughout the United
States, Canada, and the world.
Those meeting at the Blasdell Gospel Chapel are undenominational,
having names that are given to the children of God in the New
Testament such as believers (Acts 5:14), Christians (Acts 11:26),
brethren (Acts 20:32), etc., or any name which describes all who
belong to Christ by the new birth (John 3:3).
We have no enrolled membership. We believe that all who know the
Lord Jesus Christ as personal Saviour are thereby constituted
members of the true Church, the body of Christ (I Cor. 12:12-13).
The New Testament teaches that each assembly or church is
autonomous. Christ the Head has given certain gifts for the
edification, or building up, of the whole body of believers.
These gifts are evangelists, pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:8-1 6).
These are recognized in and discharge their ministry in and with
the fellowship of the local assembly. Then also there are
bishops, or elders, and deacons in the assembly or church as
officers according to New Testament teaching (Acts 20:1 7-28; I
Tim. 3:8; Phil. 1:1 ).
Bible teachers, evangelists and missionaries from various places,
and local brethren preach at our services.
We have no formulated creed. We accept the Bible, the Word of God
divinely inspired (II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:21 ), as our guide in
all things.
We OBSERVE in simplicity the ordinances left by the Lord Jesus for His people, namely:
Baptism as a believer by immersion. (Acts 8:38; Rom. 6:3,4; Matt. 28:19)
The Breaking of Bread or Lord's Supper, where, as believers in Christ, we gather in response to His own request: "This do in remembrance of Me", to "show the Lord's death till He come". (Luke 22:19; Acts 2:42; I Cor. 11:23-26)
We BELIEVE the Bible teaches among other things:
"All have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Rom. 3:23) "The wages of sin is death." (Rom. 6:23)
"The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God." (II Thess. 1:7,8)
"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by Him all that believe are justified from all things from which we could not be justified by the iaw of Moses." (Acts 13:38,39)
"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." (II Cor. 5:21 )
"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)
For spiritual help or guidance, one of the following elders may be contacted:
Mr. David Stiefler
Mr. James Lehmann
Mr. Larrie Palmer
Mr. Jason Kelly
Mr. Dan Stiefler
Commended Full-Time Workers:
Ken & Elaine Brooks, Retired - Philippines
Spencer & Phyllis Dibble, Nigeria
Peg Clark, Zaire;
Alice Cole, Retired - Angola
Carl & Joan Lehmann, Colombia
William Oglesby, FL
David & Ruth Stiefler, Blasdell NY
Otis & Gerri Tillman, Buffalo NY
Order of Services:
Sunday 9:30 AM The Lord's Supper 11:00 AM Family Bible Hour 7:00 PM Sunday Evening Service Thursday 7:30 PM Prayer Meeting and Bible Study
* Young People's Meetings, Ladies' Missionary Meetings, Home Bible Studies, and Awana Clubs are also held as announced.