First Baptist Church of Cold Spring (Nelsonville, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church On The Hill |
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Front (north) elevation and east profile, 2007
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Baptist (former) Non denominational Christian (current) |
| Year consecrated | 1831 |
| Status | active |
| Location | |
| Location | Nelsonville, NY, United States |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Davenport |
| General contractor | William Bowne |
| Completed | 1832 |
| Construction cost | $825 |
| Direction of façade | north |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added to NRHP | 1982 |
| NRHP Reference no. | 82001241 |
The Church on the Hill is a special building in Nelsonville, New York, a small village in New York, USA. You can find it on Main Street, which is also known as NY 301. This church is the oldest one in the town of Philipstown. It has been used continuously since it was built in 1831.
Its tall, white steeple is a well-known landmark in Nelsonville. The church also owns a house called the parsonage in Cold Spring. This house is also listed on the National Historic Registry. The Church on the Hill is the only important wooden-frame church in the Hudson Highlands area. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Contents
What the Church Looks Like
The Church on the Hill is made of wood, with a type of siding called clapboard. It sits on a strong stone foundation. The front entrance sticks out a bit. It has special flat columns, called pilasters, on the corners.
The Steeple and Windows
Above the entrance, there is a tall, pointed steeple. This steeple sits on top of an eight-sided tower called a cupola. The cupola has arched openings with special slatted windows inside. The church roof is sloped with decorative edges.
All sides of the church have beautiful rounded stained-glass windows. These windows let colorful light into the building. There are also pilasters on the corners of the church walls.
Later Additions to the Building
Over the years, parts have been added to the back of the church. These additions have similar roofs and decorations, so they blend in well. Two other parts were also added later, keeping the same style.
A Look at Church History
The group of people who formed this church started meeting in 1799. For many years, they met in people's homes. By 1831, the group had grown large enough to build their own church.
Building the First Church
In 1831, Samuel and Mary Gouverneur gave the land for the church. They owned a big estate that later became much of Nelsonville. A person named Davenport designed the church. William Bowne built it for $825. That was a lot of money back then!
Changes Over the Years
The church has been added to several times since it was first built. It was also partly rebuilt once. In 1854, the tall steeple and a lecture hall were added. About 20 years later, a special area for baptisms was created inside.
In 1962, more rooms were added to the back. These included classrooms, a kitchen, and a dining room. A fire damaged the inside of the church in 1978. But it was fixed up and reopened two years later.
The Church Today
In recent years, the church changed its name from "The Cold Spring Baptist Church" to "Church on the Hill." It is now a "non-denominational Christian Community." This means it is not officially part of one specific church group.
The current pastors of the church are Rev. Tim and Rev. Beth Greco. Pastor Beth Greco is also the CEO of the Hoving Home. This home helps people in different places like Garrison, NY, and Pasadena, CA. Pastor Tim helps with media for the home. The Church on the Hill is a place where people believe in the Bible and follow Jesus.
