First Presbyterian Church of Chester facts for kids

Quick facts for kids First Presbyterian Church of Chester
Church in 2007
Religion
Affiliation	Presbyterian
Leadership	The Rev. Erin Moore
Location
Location	106-108 Main St., Chester, New York Chester, NY, US
Architecture
Architectural style	Greek Revival
Completed	1854
Construction cost	$10,000
Specifications
Direction of façade	east
Materials	Wood
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Added to NRHP	1998
NRHP Reference no.	97001622
Website
The First Presbyterian Church Chester, NY

The First Presbyterian Church of Chester is a Presbyterian church located in the village of Chester, New York. It stands along Route 94 in Orange County. This church building is very old and important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.

The current church building is actually the third one built by this group of people. It has had two additions over the years. However, the main part of the building still looks much like it did when it was first built. It is a great example of a country church from the 1800s.

What Does the Church Look Like?

The church building has two stories. It is made of white wood and built in the Greek Revival style. This style looks a bit like ancient Greek temples. The roof is made of metal and has a gentle slope. Since it was built in 1854, two parts have been added. A small wooden chapel was built at the back in 1884. Later, in 1967, a stone education center was added.

The front of the church faces Route 94. It has a triangular roof section called a pediment. There are also tall, decorative columns that make it look grand. On top of the roof, there is an eight-sided tower called a belfry. Beautiful stained glass windows were put into the church in 1898. In 1925, a large pipe organ was also added. Other than these changes, the inside of the church still looks like its original design.

A Look Back: The Church's History

Early Days and First Buildings

A long time ago, during colonial times, there was no church in Chester. People had to travel to nearby towns to attend church services. These services were often led by ministers who traveled from place to place. In 1783, a local resident named Abijan Yelverton gave one acre of his land for a church. This land was about 1,500 feet southeast of where the church is now.

The land was cleared, and wood was cut for building. However, construction could only begin after the Revolutionary War ended. A small, simple wooden building was finally opened for services in 1798. It cost a little over $3,000 to build. The first full-time pastor, Simeon Jones, was hired three years later.

In 1810, the church officially became part of the American Presbyterian Church. Nine years later, the group had grown bigger. They needed a house for the pastor, called a parsonage. This house was built on land bought at what is now High Street and Hambletonian Avenue. This parsonage later became a safe place for people seeking freedom on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped people escape to freedom before the Civil War.

New Locations and Important Gifts

By 1829, the church had outgrown its first building. So, they built a new one at Oxford and Sugar Loaf roads. Today, that spot is the Chester Cemetery. By 1851, this second building was also too small. A committee chose the current location, which was part of Anthony Yelverton's property. The new church building was officially opened on Christmas Day in 1854.

Six years later, a friend of the pastor at the time, James Wood, gave the church a large bell. This bell was not only used to call people to church. It was also used to alert local volunteer firefighters when there was a fire.

The original parsonage was replaced in 1893 with a new one built north of the church. In 1950, a house on the south side of the church was bought to be used as the pastor's home, or manse. The 1893 parsonage was then sold to a nearby funeral home.