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held in various locations. It was then decided to build an Italian Chapel. Funds were raised, including generous donations from the Hortons, and the cornerstone was laid November 12, 1916. The church was dedicated November 11, 1917. A manse was erected next to the church at Cottage Street and Wickham Avenue in 1926. By 1942 the name was changed to Trinity Presbyterian Church. Remaining members of the congregation joined Webb Horton in late 1949. By the end of 1950, the manse and church were purchased by the Trinity Assembly of God. In 1982, the property was purchased by St. Paul Baptist Church.
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH
Before the arrival of the Erie Railroad, there were probably no Roman Catholics in Middletown. Later, they arrived as Irish railroad workers and immigrants, with the first Mass celebrated here in 1848. Traveling priests visited the village, or worshipers went to the Catholic Church in Goshen. About 1859, St. Joseph's Society was organized and set about building a church on Linden Avenue at Wickham Avenue. A foundation was built by James G. Crawford, but this site was abandoned as it was too small for a rectory and cemetery. As noted in the portion of the booklet devoted to theatres, the foundation was sold and a public hall erected on the site, which is now a part of the municipal parking lot.
In February, 1865, the present land now occupied by the church on Cottage Street was purchased for $7,000. A small frame church was erected, being dedicated October 2, 1867. By 1868, the cemetery was in use. Ten years later, the congregation had grown so quickly it was clear a new church was needed. The old frame church was in poor condition, necessitating the placing of beams to prop up the walls. These were jokingly referred to as the "pillars of the church." The cornerstone for the new church was laid July 27, 1879, the church dedicated May 9, 1880. An unusual system of openwork trusses support the roof. The church was designed by Arthur Crooks, an architect from New York City. Built without a steeple, this was added over twelve years later. A chapel was added to the rear of the church in 1884.
SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH
This church, at the corner of Roberts and Cottage Street, was originally built for the Old School Baptists. On October 4, 1792, the First Baptist Church (not to be confused with the present church of that name) was organized in Middletown. This was later known as the Primitive, or old school Baptist Church. They met in the Congregational Church on East Main Street, which served as a town meeting house. About 1820, the congregation built their own church north of Middletown in an area then known as Rockville.