New Hempstead Presbyterian Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids New Hempstead Presbyterian Church |
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West profile and south elevation, 2008
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Presbyterian |
| Leadership | The Rev. Angela Maddalone |
| Location | |
| Location | New Hempstead, NY, USA |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Completed | 1827 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | South |
| Spire(s) | 1 |
| Materials | Wood, asphalt |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added to NRHP | November 23, 1977 |
| NRHP Reference no. | 77000980 |
| Website | |
| New Hempstead Presbyterian Church | |
The New Hempstead Presbyterian Church is a historic church building in New Hempstead, New York. It stands at the corner of New Hempstead Road and Old Schoolhouse Road. This church was built in the 1820s. It is made of wood and designed in the Federal style, which was popular at the time. This building is actually the third church to be built on this spot.
The church's community, called a congregation, started way back in 1734. This was the first group of English settlers to form a church west of the Hudson River in New York. Today, the church building is the second oldest church still standing in Rockland County. A school was built nearby in 1863. It later became the oldest public school building in the county that was used without stopping. In 1977, the church, the school, and other small buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places. They were recognized as the "English Church and Schoolhouse."
Contents
Church and Other Buildings
The church and its surrounding buildings are on a 7-acre piece of land. This land is located at the northeast corner of two roads that cross each other. The church is just east of New York State Route 45. It is also about half a mile (1 km) west of the Palisades Interstate Parkway. The area around the church is mostly flat and has many trees. These trees help separate the church from nearby homes.
The Church Building
The church itself is located at the southwest corner of the property. It is a two-story building with three sections on each side. The outside is covered with horizontal wooden boards called clapboard. It has a gabled roof, which means the roof slopes down on two sides. A small addition was built on the back (north) side of the church. At the front (south) end, there is a tall, pointed tower called a spire. This spire has a bell tower and a weathervane on top.
The front of the church has large windows with 12 small panes of glass on the top and 12 on the bottom. These windows have wooden shutters that can close. In the attic area, there is a smaller, round-topped window with matching shutters. Above that, at the very top of the roof, is a small round window called an oculus. This oculus has spokes like a wheel. The sides of the church also have many windows, similar to those on the front. The main entrance is in the middle of the front. It has double doors that are set back a bit. Above the doors, there is a fan-shaped window and an iron lamp.
Other Buildings on the Property
To the east of the church, there is a two-story wooden house. This house is called a manse, which is where the minister lives. The old schoolhouse is a single-room wooden building located to the northeast. Inside, the schoolhouse has decorative metal panels on the walls. These panels have patterns from neoclassical designs. Further north, behind these older buildings, there are some newer buildings and parking areas.
History of the Church
The western part of the Hudson Valley was first settled by the Dutch in the late 1600s. English settlers began to arrive in the area after a large piece of land, called the Kakiat Patent, was bought in 1696. The New Hempstead area was purchased by people from the town of Hempstead on Long Island in 1713. More and more people from that area moved here over time.
Early Years and Growth
By 1734, farms were set up, and roads, like the ones near the church, were built. There were enough settlers to start the church community. This church is the second oldest in the county, after the Reformed Church of Tappan. A meeting house, which was an early church building, was built at the crossroads. Over the next 100 years, the church community grew so much that they needed a bigger building. During the American Revolutionary War, the church was an important place for meetings about politics and military plans. American Patriot soldiers, including parts of the Continental Army, used the nearby road to move around. They did this to avoid being seen by British ships on the Hudson River to the east.
New Buildings and Changes
The church building that stands today was constructed in 1827. It is the oldest Federal style church still existing in Rockland County. The schoolhouse was built in 1867. It was made bigger to have two rooms in 1891, which is when its special interior decorations were added.
In 1905, the church sold some of its original land, including a farmhouse that had been used as the minister's home, called a parsonage. Later, the church bought back another acre of land. They used this land to build a playground for the school. The school was later given to the East Ramapo Central School District. The church then leased it back to continue using it.
Over time, the school got plumbing and heating. A one-story addition, called an annex, was built on the back of the church in 1960. Murchison Hall, a modern building used for church activities, was built north of the older buildings in 1961. In 1973, a fire damaged the roof and north wall of the church. These parts were repaired to look just as they did before the fire. There have not been any major changes to the buildings since then.
Church Activities
The church holds services every Sunday. After the service, there is a fellowship hour where people can gather and talk. Sunday school classes for children are held at Murchison Hall. For adults, there is a Bible study group and another group that discusses current topics. A youth group for teenagers meets on Sunday afternoons.
On the last Saturday of each month, the church hosts a fellowship breakfast. This breakfast takes place at a restaurant in nearby New City. The church choir practices every Thursday. The church also supports other groups, like Alcoholics Anonymous and Habitat for Humanity. They publish a monthly newsletter called The Carriage Stone.
See also
