In 1804 it was resolved by the Vestry, "expedient to call and settle a minister without further delay; the Episcopalians of North Salem and Stephentown joined with Bedford in endeavoring to effect it. It was agreed between them, " that the minister should perform divine service in the different towns of Bedford, New Castle, North Castle and Stephentown, so often as should be in proportion to the amount of their annual subscriptions." In all these places Churchmen manifested the sincerity of their professions by subscribing liberally to the support of a minister.

Upon the 30th of July. 1804, the Vestry called the Rev. George Strebeck as rector of the United Churches. He officiated in Bedford and its vicinity from August, 1804, to March, 1805, when he resigned, and accepted the rectorship of St. Stephen's church, New York. At a vestry meeting held on the 8th of December, 1806, it was resolved, "that the residue of the bequest of St. George Talbot be appropriated towards defraying the cost of building a church at Bedford."

In 1809 the Rev. Nathan Felch was called as minister of the united parishes. The next year he reported to the Diocesan Convention : --

"That the Episcopal Church in Bedford is in a very nourishing state; the congregation is numerous, respectable and devout: an attachment to all the rites and forms of the Church is continually increasing among them ; and as this attachment increases, so veneration for, and delight in sober, rational and scriptural piety and virtue increases."