Reformed Church of Shawangunk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Reformed Church of Shawangunk
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Main church building in 2007
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Town of Shawangunk, NY |
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| Nearest city | Newburgh |
| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1755. Greek Revival Portico added in 1833. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003408 |
| Added to NRHP | June 3, 1982 |
The Reformed Church of Shawangunk is a very old church located in the Bruynswick area of Shawangunk, Ulster County, New York. It sits high above the Shawangunk Kill river, offering a great view of the nearby Shawangunk Ridge. This church was built between 1752 and 1755. It is the oldest building still used by a Dutch Reformed Church group in America.
This historic church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It has also been important in the growth of the larger Reformed Church in the U.S. Many church leaders started their careers here.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
How the Church Began
People in this area have had a church group since 1736. That year, five baptisms were recorded. Early settlers, including Dutch, German, and Huguenot families, used to travel to Kingston for their religious needs. But as more people moved here, they wanted a church closer to home. So, in 1751, a man named Isaac Hasbrouck bought six acres of land. This land was for building a new church.
Building the First Church
Construction on the church began in 1752. People who wanted to support the church paid money to get their own pews (church benches). There's a story that workers first built wooden fences. These fences were to protect them while they built the church. The Bruynswick Rural Cemetery is next to the church. The first burials there happened in 1752. The church group officially started in 1753. The first pastor was Rev. Barent Vrooman. He left after one year. Johannes Goetschius became the pastor in 1760.
On December 26, 1755, the church was finished and opened. The pews were sold to families. Pastor Goetschius served until he passed away in 1771. He was buried inside the church, under where the pulpit (the stand where the pastor speaks) used to be.
Changes Over Time
The church building had its first big updates in the late 1790s. The inside of the church was changed around. The windows on the west side became the doors. The pulpit was moved to the east wall. The pews were also turned to face the new pulpit. The parsonage (the pastor's house) across the road also got a second story added.
In 1833 and 1834, five large columns were added to the front of the church. These columns were built in the popular Greek Revival style. They were added to protect the main doors. The original entrance on the south side was finally closed off in 1881.
In 1916, a third building was added to the church area. This was a church hall located to the west. It got a new section in 1958 for a modern kitchen and bathrooms. Another section was added in 1990 for more space. In 1982, the church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was called the "Reformed Church of Shawangunk Complex." This name shows that all the buildings and the cemetery are historically important.
The Church's Impact and Legacy
New Churches and Leaders
The Shawangunk Reformed Church has helped start five other local Dutch Reformed Church groups. These include churches in New Hurley, New Prospect, Guilford, Wallkill, and Gardiner. The New Hurley church is also listed on the National Register.
Two pastors who served at this church later became President of the Reformed Church in America. Ryniew Van Nest was president in the late 1700s. Charles Scott became president about a century later. Scott left Shawangunk to become a professor at Hope College in Holland, Michigan. He served as church president from 1881 to 1892. He is buried in the church's cemetery.
John Van Vleck was a church member who became a minister. He helped create Hope College's early school, Holland Academy. A building on the campus, Van Vleck Hall, is named after him. Abraham Wilson was another pastor here. He left to lead the Reformed Church in Fairfield, Illinois, in 1837. That church was the first one for the Reformed Church in what was then called the West.
Role in the American Revolution
At least 143 men from this church group fought in the Revolutionary War. Of those, 43 are buried in the church's cemetery.
