Bedford Presbyterian Church (New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bedford Presbyterian Church
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From the village green in 2010
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| Location | Bedford, New York |
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| Built | 1872 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001285 |
| Added to NRHP | October 2, 1973 |
The Bedford Presbyterian Church is a special church located in Bedford, Westchester County, New York. The building you see today was built in 1872. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style. This is actually the fourth church building for the community on this spot.
This historic building is part of the Bedford Village Historic District. It was officially recognized as important in 1973. Besides being a church, it's also a popular place for concerts. Many people enjoy listening to sacred music performances here.
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Discover the Church's Long History
The Bedford Presbyterian Church started a very long time ago, in 1680. In its early years, the church changed its style. It was sometimes a Congregational church and sometimes an Anglican church. This depended on who the minister was at the time.
How Many Buildings Have There Been?
The church building you see now is the fourth one built on this site. This spot is right on the village green in Bedford. The first stone for the current building was placed in 1872. Special services were held to celebrate its opening that same year.
The very first minister, Reverend Thomas Denham, arrived in 1684. A meeting house, which was like a church, was built in 1689. When Bedford became part of New York, this first building was moved. It was taken to Rye, New York.
Bedford was part of the Anglican Church until the American Revolution. Sadly, a second meeting house was burned down. This happened in 1779 by order of a British colonel. A third church building was later moved to Westmoreland Sanctuary.
The fourth building, which is the church standing today, was built in 1872. It also had a Sunday school area at the back. Someone once described it as "a new building from 1872." They noted its white color, different-looking towers, and a round rose window. Inside, there were special pews near the pulpit.
A Historic Landmark in Bedford
The church is an important part of the Bedford Village Historic District. This whole district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This means it's recognized as a special historical place.
Music and Community at the Church
The Bedford Presbyterian Church is known for its excellent acoustics. This means sound travels very well inside the building. Because of this, it's often used for concerts and musical performances. Many sacred music groups have performed here.
Famous Musical Performances
The Master Singers of Westchester choir often held concerts here. They performed Britten's A Ceremony of Carols in 1984. They also sang his cantata St. Nicholas in 1986. In March 2003, they performed Bach's Mass in B minor.
The Westchester Oratorio Society celebrated its 20th anniversary here. On May 6, 2018, they performed Mozart's Requiem. A famous organ player, Anthony Newman, played the organ for them.
The Church's Special Organ
In 1998, the church decided to get a new organ. They hired Martin Pasi to design and build it. This organ is a "tracker organ" with 29 stops. It is completely enclosed in the back gallery of the church.
Helping Others and Youth Programs
Bedford Presbyterian Church is known for its creative worship services. It also has many programs to help the community. They have special programs for young people too.
Youth and Outreach Programs
The high school youth program focuses on work trips. Students travel to places like Appalachia and Nicaragua to help others. Members of the church also work with several organizations. They help with Habitat for Humanity. They also support the Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry. Another group they help is Midnight Run.
The church also helped start the Emergency Shelter Partnership. This program brings local churches and synagogues together. They provide shelter for people who are homeless during the cold winter months.
The current minister at Bedford Presbyterian Church is the Rev. Carol Howard Merritt.
