Wightman Memorial Baptist Church facts for kids

The Wightman Memorial Baptist Church is a special building in Oyster Bay, New York. The church building you see today was finished in 1908. It's actually the third church building on this very spot! The first group of Baptist churchgoers started meeting here way back in 1700. Oyster Bay even got its first official minister in 1724. You can still see the second church building, built in 1806, standing right behind the newer one.

History of the Church Building

This beautiful church building has a unique carriage porch and round bay windows. It's very important to the Oyster Bay Historical Society. The Society's main building is a museum called the Earle-Wightman House. This house is named after two famous people: Reverend Marmaduke Earle and Reverend Charles Wightman.

Pastors and the Oldest Congregation

Reverend Earle came to Oyster Bay in 1801. Reverend Wightman started his work here in 1868. Both men were pastors of this church when it was a Baptist church. They both served for more than 55 years! Mr. Earle, who lived from 1769 to 1856, also helped start the Oyster Bay Academy in 1801.

The Baptist church group first met in Oyster Bay around 1700. This makes it the oldest Baptist group in New York State! One of the first pastors was Robert Feeks. He became the first official minister in Oyster Bay in 1724. The very first church building on this site is no longer here. It was a simple wooden building with flat benches and a small pulpit.

Changes Over Time

During the American Revolutionary War, British soldiers reportedly used this church for shelter. Many other churches in the village were used this way too. The church group grew bigger over time. So, in 1806, a larger church was built on this same spot.

You can still see that second church today! In 1882, it was moved backward and turned to make space for the new church. The church you see now was finished in 1908 after many years of fundraising. The second church was then used as a Pentecostal church school. Some students even lived there in the building facing Orchard Street.

Since the early 1980s, the North Shore Assembly of God has used this building as their church home. They have kept the inside of the church just as it was originally. You can still see the beautifully carved pews (church benches) and woodwork. There are also fancy pressed tin ceilings and walls. The church has a built-in pipe organ and many lovely original stained glass windows.

More to Explore

• Oyster Bay History Walk
• List of Town of Oyster Bay Landmarks
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Nassau County, New York