Part 2
The first pastor of the Methodist Episcopal Chapel was John Griffing. Rev. Griffing first preached in the Berkshire area and was active on the Tioga Circuit. Rev. Griffing was apparently a great organizer of churches; the old histories often record this fact. At that time a Conference only appointed Rev. Griffing for a one year term. This was usual for preachers of that day, and not just to one church, but to a circuit or area of churches; the pastor traveling by horseback from church to church as time permitted. Rev. Griffing returned to Vestal in 1834 for another one year stint.
Charter members of the Church were most likely the Garrisons, the Sharps, the Drakes, the Ossincups, Depues, Conants, Yarringtons, Winans, Taylors, Potts, Hagadorns, Rushes, Russells, Randells, Wrights and/or the Elsters. Graves of some of these folks are found in the cemetery behind the church. Others who were first Trustees were John Dunbar, Samuel Murdock, Lewis Seymour, Daniel Foster, and Edmund Robinson. Charlotte Murdoch is credited with setting up many activities for the women of that time period.