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. Dr. Lori Knight-Whitehouse |
| 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 building in New Hempstead, New York. It is located where New Hempstead Road (Rockland County Route 80) meets Old Schoolhouse Road. This church was built in the 1820s and is made of wood in the Federal style. It is the third church building to stand on this spot.
The church's group was started in 1734. This made it the first church founded by English settlers in New York, west of the Hudson River. The building you see today is the second oldest church still standing in Rockland County. In 1863, a school was built nearby. This school later became the oldest public school building in the county that has been used continuously. In 1977, the church, school, and other small buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places. They were recognized as the English Church and Schoolhouse.
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Exploring the Church Buildings
The church and its other buildings sit on a 7-acre lot. This land is at the northeast corner of a slightly angled intersection. It's just east of New York State Route 45. The area is mostly flat and has many trees. These trees help separate the church from nearby homes.
The church building itself is at the southwest corner of the property. It is closest to both roads. The church has two stories and is covered in clapboard siding. It has a pointed roof. A one-story addition is located at the back (north side) of the church. At the front (south side), there is a tall, shingled tower. This tower has a belfry and a weathervane on top.
The front of the church has large windows with 12 panes on the top and 12 on the bottom. These windows have wooden shutters. In the middle of the attic, there is a smaller, rounded window with matching shutters. Above it, at the very top of the roof, is a small round window. The two side walls of the church also have many windows, similar to those on the front. The main entrance has double doors that are set back. Above these doors, there is a fan-shaped window and an iron lamp.
To the east of the church, there is a two-story wooden house called a manse. This was where the minister lived. The old schoolhouse is a single-room wooden building to the northeast. Inside, the schoolhouse is decorated with special embossed tin. This tin has patterns that look like ancient Greek and Roman designs. Behind these older buildings, to the north, are some newer buildings and parking areas.
The Church's Story
The western part of the Hudson Valley was first settled by the Dutch in the late 1600s. English settlers began to arrive after 1696. This was when the Kakiat Patent (a land grant) was bought in what is now Rockland County. The New Hempstead area was purchased in 1713 by people from Hempstead, Long Island. They slowly moved there and settled the land.
By 1734, farms were set up, and roads were built. The two roads that meet at the church were among them. Enough settlers lived there to form the church group. This church is the second oldest in the county, after the Reformed Church of Tappan. A meeting house was built at the crossroads. Over the next 100 years, the church group grew. They needed a bigger building. During the Revolutionary War, the church was an important meeting spot. American Patriot soldiers, including parts of the Continental Army, used the road. They traveled this way to avoid British ships on the Hudson River.
The church building we see today was constructed in 1827. It is the oldest Federal style church still standing in the county. The schoolhouse was built in 1867. It was made bigger to have two rooms in 1891. That's when its special interior decorations were added.
In 1905, the church sold some of its original land. This included a farmhouse that had been used as the minister's home. Later, the church built the manse. It also bought back an acre of 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 from the school district.
Over time, plumbing and heating were added to the school. A one-story addition was built at the back of the church in 1960. Murchison Hall, a modern church hall, was built north of the older buildings in 1961. Twelve years later, in 1973, a fire damaged the church's roof and north wall. These parts were repaired to look just as they did before. There have been no major changes to the buildings since then.
What Happens at the Church Today?
The church holds services every Sunday. After the service, there is a fellowship hour where people can gather. Sunday school classes are held at Murchison Hall. There are also groups for adults to study the Bible and discuss current topics. A youth group 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. It publishes a monthly newsletter called The Carriage Stone.
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