by Town Historian Al Dumas
Pastor Martha S. Finn became one of the most highly regarded pastors in Monticello. She was known as “Mother” Pastor Finn as she was very nurturing and inspiring to the many worshippers who joined her Bethlehem Temple Church in Monticello. In fact, the Bethlehem Temple Church is celebrating its 90-year anniversary this year!
Pastor Martha Finn’s story began in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where she was born on September 16, 1895 to Jeff and Alexina Stokes. She attended school through sixth grade, and found that she was deeply passionate about spreading the gospel.
Martha met and married Thomas McCoy, and they had a son, Alfred Henry McCoy. This marriage was short lived and ended in 1918. She then met and married Charles Finn and moved to Ohio where they lived for a decade, but lack of work led them to Detroit.
It was in Detroit where Martha attended a church pastored by Bishop Samuel N. Hancock, which became her learning foundation and her belief in the water baptism. She soon heard the call of God and accepted Jesus Christ as her personal savior. Her calling into the ministry was three years after being saved, and she became known as Pastor Martha Finn.
Martha’s next venture was in 1930, as she traveled to Fairhope, Alabama to teach and preach the word of God. Within 3 months of their arrival, over 70 people were baptized. In Alabama, Pastor Finn also worked for a wealthy man who then relocated in 1932 to Merriewold Park in Forestburgh, just 7 miles south of Monticello.
It was then that Pastor Finn set out finding a church home for those in the Monticello area who sought refuge in baptism and the Holy Ghost. The early establishment of a church home in Monticello started in 1935 with Pastor Finn meeting a woman named Mary King who owned a boarding home on High Street in Monticello. Mary invited Martha to come and hold prayer meetings with her and her tenants. They moved to various locations around Monticello, one at 16 Smith Street and one on Rock Ridge Road, gathering more members, and by 1938, there were enough members to build a church home: the Bethlehem Temple.
It was in 1938 when Pastor Finn went searching for a location that was suitable for this historic place of worship, and Fairground Road was the chosen location. Pastor Finn purchased this lot for $100 and gathered the members of Bethlehem Temple to start building. My father, Alvin Dumas, Sr. helped build the church and served as Deacon, as well.
The work was completed in the Spring of 1939 and dedicated to Bishop Samuel N. Hancock of Detroit, Pastor Finn’s former pastor. Between 1940 and extending into the 1980s many church members who migrated to Monticello from the South and West became part of the extended family of Pastor Finn. Pastor Finn was also the mother of an adopted daughter, Marie, and of many grand, great grand and great-great grandchildren that were born and raised here in Monticello.
In fact, Pastor Finn’s eldest grandson, Alfred McCoy was one of the first person of color to be born in Monticello in September 1937 at the former Monticello Hospital on High Street. My brother, Harold Dumas was actually the second person of color born Monticello in 1938 – and my sister, Elizabeth Dumas was the first child of color born in February 1937.
One of Pastor Finn’s granddaughters was the first Black woman to be a Village of Monticello Justice, the Honorable Josephine V. Finn in 1998.
Pastor Finn’s work as a minister inspired many men and women to serve as pastors, bishops, evangelists and deacons.
The Bethlehem Temple also had influences in other houses of worship in Albany, Ellenville, Kingston, Syracuse, Utica and Troy in New York State, with one outside New York State, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This year celebrates the 90th anniversary of the Bethlehem Temple Church in Monticello.
Pastor Finn’s achievements included being the only woman to sit on the Executive Board of the Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith, Incorporated (PCAF), which she held for twenty-two years. This acclaim was praised and spoken highly by former Chief Judge Lawrence H. Cooke of Monticello during her homegoing services. He quoted that when history is re-written, it will be with someone who will bring her part of the history of Sullivan County up to date.
“Mother” Martha S. Finn passed away on August 12, 1988 in Monticello.