First Church in Albany (Reformed) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Church in Albany
First Church in Albany in 2010
Religion
Affiliation	Reformed Church in America
Leadership	Rev. John Paarlberg Sr.
Location
Location	Albany, New York, U.S.
Architecture
Architect(s)	Philip Hooker
Groundbreaking	1789
Completed	1797-1799
Specifications
Direction of façade	East
Length	116 feet (35 m)
Width	70 feet (21 m)
Spire(s)	2
Materials	Brick, stone
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Added to NRHP	January 21, 1974
NRHP Reference no.	74001214
Website
The First Church in Albany

The First Reformed Church, also known as First Church in Albany, is a historic church in Albany, New York. It is part of the Reformed Church in America. This church building was designed by Philip Hooker and built between 1797 and 1799. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

The church started in 1642 to serve the Dutch people living near Fort Orange. It is the second oldest church group in New York and the oldest one outside of New York City. The current building is the fourth church building for this group and the oldest church building in Albany. Inside, you can find a pulpit that came from the Netherlands in 1656. It is the oldest pulpit in the entire United States.

Many important events have happened here. A memorial service for Alexander Hamilton was held shortly after the church was built. Theodore Roosevelt attended services when he was Governor of New York. Even Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands visited the church during its 300th anniversary. The church has been updated many times over the years.

The Church Building

The First Church in Albany is located in downtown Albany. It's a large brick building with two tall towers at the front. The church is built with brick and stone. It has many windows, and the ones at the front are made of stained glass.

The main entrance has three arched doorways. Above these, you can see "Reformed Dutch Church 1642" carved into the stone. The roof is covered in copper. Each of the two towers has a clock and a small dome on top.

Inside, the church has high, arched ceilings. There are columns that help support the roof. The west wall of the main worship area has five round arches. The church also has offices and other rooms.

A Look Back: Church History

Early Beginnings (1600s)

After Henry Hudson explored the river named after him in 1609, the Dutch government started settling the Hudson Valley. They built Fort Orange (which is now Albany) to claim the area. In 1624, someone was appointed to hold religious services for the settlers.

The church group officially started in 1642. They chose a minister, elders, and deacons. At first, services were held in a manor house, then a warehouse, and even a log cabin. In 1656, the first church building was built. It was a stone building also used as a defense in case of attack. A weathervane from that first building is now in the church's archives.

In 1664, the English took control of the area from the Dutch. Fort Orange was renamed Albany. But the church continued its services without problems. In 1686, Albany became a city under British rule. The church was given land south of the city as payment for a loan.

Growth and Change (1700s)

Around 1689, the church started a mission to the Mohawk people, a Native American tribe. This mission lasted almost 50 years, and over 300 people were baptized. In 1715, the church built a larger stone building around the first one, then took down the older building inside.

In 1720, the church officially became "the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the City of Albany." As the American Revolution approached, the church joined other churches to form an independent group, which later became the Reformed Church in America. During the war, the church held prayer meetings and even served as a hospital for soldiers injured in the Battle of Saratoga.

In 1782, as the war ended, General George Washington visited the church to thank them for their support. Around this time, the church started holding services in English. Within eight years, English completely replaced Dutch as the language used in services.

Building the Current Church (Late 1700s)

In 1789, the church began plans for the current building. Philip Hooker, a local architect, was chosen to design it. Construction took several years, with some delays and changes to the plans, like using copper for the roof instead of shingles. In 1798, just before it was finished, an Albany newspaper called it "a superb and elegant building." The project cost $25,000.

Hooker's design was in the Georgian architecture style. When it was first built, it was just the main part of the church with a simpler front entrance. The windows had plain glass. The old 1715 church building was sold and taken down in 1806. But its hand-carved pulpit was saved and moved to the new church.

Updates and Mergers (1800s-1900s)

In 1830, the church was expanded with a new section at the back. This new wing held lecture rooms and other church offices.

The 1850s brought more changes. In 1858, a big renovation happened. The front of the church was updated, and the windows were changed to stained glass. Inside, the arched ceiling was added, and the organ was made larger. They also added central heating and new lecture rooms.

In 1903, the church sent a missionary to India. A decade later, the inside of the church was redecorated by Tiffany Studios. Green stained glass windows were added, along with green patterns on the walls.

In 1938, the First Church merged with the Second Dutch Church, becoming one organization again after more than a century apart. To make room for the larger group, a new parish house was built the next year.

More updates happened in 1940. The worship area was repainted, and new wooden decorations were added. Outside, the walls were cleaned, the towers were made wider, and the roof was redone. With these improvements, the church was ready to welcome Queen Wilhelmina for its 300th anniversary in 1942. After World War II, a new, large organ was installed.

In the 1960s and 70s, the church bought nearby land for parking. Some of it was turned into a small park. In 1973, the church elected its first female elder and deacon. The next year, a park was dedicated, and summer drive-in worship services began, where people could stay in their cars.

More renovations took place in 1988, expanding the parish house with new offices and an elevator. In 1992, the church celebrated its 350th anniversary.

Programs and Services

The First Church in Albany offers many programs and services for its community.

• Sunday Services: They have a service every Sunday morning, followed by Sunday school and coffee time. In summer, there's also a drive-in service.
• Food Pantry: Every Monday and Wednesday, and on the fourth Saturday, the church runs a food pantry. Members donate food, and special programs help children during holidays. The church also provides meals for a men's homeless shelter and a Thanksgiving dinner for those in need.
• Youth Programs: In the summer, the church runs a one-week day camp for local children. Their youth group also goes to a camp in the Adirondacks and does charitable work trips twice a year.
• Support Groups: Organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous use the church's facilities for meetings. A couples-counseling group also has an office there.
• International Support: The church supports international efforts with special collections at Christmas and Easter. They help a couple working with the Roma community in Eastern Europe. They also support the Kibera Bone Jewellery project, which helps women in Kenya's largest slum by selling jewelry made from discarded bones.

Notable People

• Theodore Roosevelt
• Albert Janse Ryckman

See also

• Dutch Reformed Church
• History of Albany, New York
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Albany, New York

Images for kids

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  Front of First Church (RCA)

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  Interior of the church, photo from 1937

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  Stained glass window in the church

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  The 1715 church building

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  Historical marker for First Church in Albany