Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack |
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South elevation, 2008
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reformed Church in America |
| Leadership | The Rev. Linda J. Miles |
| Year consecrated | 1767 |
| Location | |
| Location | Claverack, NY, USA |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| General contractor | Solomon Strong |
| Groundbreaking | 1767 |
| Completed | 1767 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | south |
| Length | 70 feet (21 m) |
| Width | 96 feet (29 m) |
| Materials | brick, stone, wood |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added to NRHP | 2001 |
| NRHP Reference no. | 01000673 |
| Website | |
| Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack | |
The Reformed Dutch Church of Claverack is a historic church located in the small community of Claverack, New York. Its church group started way back in 1716. The main brick church building was constructed in the mid-1700s. It was then updated and made bigger two times in the 1800s. The church looks today much like it did in 1879. You can find it right by New York State Route 9 H.
This church is the oldest important building in Columbia County. Its first members were Dutch and German settlers who were Protestant Christians. In 2001, the church, along with some other buildings and its cemetery, was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of places important to American history. Famous people buried there include an assistant to George Washington and a former leader of the state assembly.
Exploring the Church Property
The church property covers about 17 acres of land. It sits on the east side of Route 9H. The church is on a small hill, surrounded by tall trees. There is a paved driveway and a parking lot. The area around the church is mostly countryside to the north. To the south, there are homes with large yards. The George Felpel House, another historic building, is also nearby.
On the property, there are three other buildings: a garage, a parsonage (where the pastor lives), and the Christian Education Center. The cemetery takes up most of the land, located to the north of the church. A small stone shed is in the middle of the cemetery. All the buildings, except the Christian Education Center, are considered part of the historic site.
The Church Building: Outside Look
The church is a one-story building made of brick. It has a strong stone base and a steep, unique roof shape called a gambrel roof. The main part of the church is about 70 feet long and 96 feet wide. A tall, four-story tower stands in the middle of the front (south) side. Near the back, there are two small sections that stick out, like arms, on each side. These are called transepts. Both of these sections have doors.
On the front of the church, the tower connects to the main building. The tower's main door is double-paneled. Similar doors are on either side of the tower. These are the main ways to enter the church. The tower has arched openings on each level. Some openings on the top level were bricked up a long time ago. A large roof section supports the square bell tower. Here, fancy columns stand next to arched openings. These columns hold up a domed roof with a tall decoration on top.
The sides of the church (east and west) have three tall, rounded-arch windows. These windows have wooden blinds. On the west side, you can see the numbers "1767" above the windows. These numbers are painted brick, made to look like iron. The back of the church has two windows in each wing. It also has two small oval windows in the roof's peak.
The Church Building: Inside Look
When you enter through the tower, you first come into a small entry area called a vestibule. Stairs go up on both sides of the tower. Another set of double doors leads into the main worship area, called the sanctuary. The ceiling of the sanctuary is curved, like a barrel. The inside walls are mostly white plaster with simple wooden decorations.
Two walkways help people get to the pews, which are the church benches. The pews have paneled ends and curved tops. Along both sides of the sanctuary, there are balconies. These balconies are held up by decorative metal columns.
At the front of the church (the north end), there is a raised area for the preacher, called the pulpit. It is set into a special space between two decorative columns. The stairs leading to the choir area have fancy curved railings. The church's original pipe organ is in the choir area. It has a wooden case designed in a style called Gothic Revival.
Other Buildings on the Property
Right next to the church, to the southeast, is the Christian Education Center. This is a two-story brick building with a gabled roof. It was built more recently, so it's not considered part of the original historic listing.
About 400 feet to the south, past two parking lots, is the parsonage. This is a two-story house where the church's pastor lives. It has three sections on the front and is covered in vinyl siding. It has a small porch at the front entrance. Inside, the house has an old fireplace in the basement. The inside has not changed much, except for a small bathroom added on the first floor.
Near the parsonage is a small garage with a sloped roof. It was built in the early 1900s and is considered part of the historic property. The only other historic building is a small stone shed. This shed is in the middle of the cemetery, north of the church. It was also built around the early 1900s.
The Church Cemetery
The cemetery covers about 12.7 acres of the church's land. Most of it is to the north of the church, but it also extends to the east and west. The cemetery is set up in a grid pattern. There are narrow, grassy paths that allow vehicles to drive through if needed.
The gravestones in the cemetery date from the 1700s all the way to today. Some of the marble headstones from the early 1800s are very beautifully made. To the west of the church, built into the hillside, are some stone burial vaults.
Important People Buried Here
- General Samuel Blachley Webb (1753–1807): He led a group of soldiers from Connecticut during the American Revolution. He fought in important battles like Bunker Hill, Long Island, and Trenton. He was even an assistant to George Washington for a while. After the war, he moved to Claverack.
- Jacob Rutsen Van Rensselaer (1767–1835): He was a well-known politician who served many terms in the New York State Assembly. He even became the speaker, or leader, of that group. During the War of 1812, he led local troops who protected New York City. Later, he became New York's Secretary of State.
- Harriet Livingston Dale (1785–1826): She was the wife of Robert Fulton, who invented the steamboat. After her husband died, she moved to England. When she passed away, her body was brought back to Claverack to be buried.
Church History and Development
The church's story can be looked at in three main parts. First, from its start until just before the American Revolution, the church group was looking for a permanent home. Then, for the next 100 years, they built up the church from a simple brick building to the complex one we see today. Since then, they have kept the building in good shape.
Early Years: 1716–1767
The Claverack church was one of the first Dutch Reformed Churches in the Hudson Valley. It started in 1716 as part of a circuit, meaning a pastor would travel to different locations to preach. The first church building was put up in 1727.
German settlers, who were also Protestants, joined the church, making the group grow. After about 40 years, a new church was needed. In 1767, Stephen van Rensselaer gave the land for the current church. By November of that year, a local builder named Solomon Strong had finished the church. It was then opened for use. Some stories say the bricks came from the Netherlands, but it's more likely they came from a local brick kiln nearby.
The first church building was much smaller than it is now. It was only the southernmost 30 feet of the current structure. It did not have the front section that sticks out or the tall tower. Church records suggest it had a small wooden steeple and a bell.
Growth and Changes: 1768–1879
About ten years after the new church was built, it got a very important pastor named John Gabriel Gebhard. During the American Revolution, he moved to Claverack and became the church's pastor.
While the war was still happening, Pastor Gebhard helped start Washington Seminary on the church property in 1779. This school later became known as Claverack College. Famous people like Martin van Buren (who became president) and writer Stephen Crane went to school there. The college closed in 1902.
In 1780, the church made its first change: they added doors to the pews. This helped keep warmth from the foot stoves that people brought in winter. In 1810, the church installed a tin stove, so people didn't need to bring their own foot warmers anymore.
By 1816, the church group had grown again and needed more space. Over the next ten years, they added the current north section and wings to the old church. They also added exits to the cemetery at the back. Inside, balconies, the choir area, and iron columns were added. The walls were replastered, and the pews were rearranged. Finally, in 1828, the bell tower was added. It was built to honor Pastor Gebhard, who had passed away the year before after serving the church for 50 years.
The parsonage, the house for the pastor, was designed and built in 1844. This was the first important building on the church property besides the church itself. Ten years later, in 1854, the church's inside was redone. The north end was made longer, the floor was lowered, and the walls and floors were updated. The pews were rearranged again so they all faced the north end.
In the next ten years, the church focused on music. The first organ was put in in 1867. Five years later, a pipe organ replaced it. In 1879, a large, 1500-pound bell was installed. This bell was made by the Meneely Bell Foundry. This is thought to be the last major change to the church building's history.
Keeping History Alive: 1880–Present
The other two historic buildings, the garage and the stone shed in the cemetery, were added around the early 1900s. Later in the 20th century, modern heating was put into the church. After Claverack College closed in 1902, its bell was placed at the entrance to the church's driveway.
In the mid-1900s, more updates happened. Electric lights were installed in 1930. They were designed to look like old oil lamps. In 1940, the organ was repaired. The sanctuary floor was carpeted in 1955. An electric switch to ring the bell was added in 1958. A new electric organ was added in 1959.
In 1967, the church built another building, the Christian Education Center. This building, located southeast of the main church, is used for church offices and many activities. These include Sunday school and meetings. A new organ was dedicated in the church in April 2000. Since then, there have been no other major changes to the property.
The Church Today
The church believes in the Apostles' Creed. This means they believe in God the Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. They try to live their lives based on lessons from the Bible. The church says its goal is to "share the Good News of God's Grace." They also work to increase God's love in their community and around the world.
The church has about 200 members. It is part of the Reformed Church in America. A monthly newsletter, The Fisherman, keeps members informed.
Besides Sunday services and Sunday school, the church offers Bible study for adults. They also have confirmation classes and a youth group. The church helps support Camp Fowler, a Christian summer camp in the Adirondacks. It also hosts meetings for local community groups. These include the Boy and Girl Scouts, and Alcoholics Anonymous.
The church has both handbell and vocal choirs. These groups perform in the community and during worship services. The church supports several important charities in the area. These include Habitat for Humanity, the Salvation Army, and the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York. The church has also supported missionaries (people who share their faith) in Albania, Taiwan, and Mississippi.
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