USA > New York > New York City > A history of the churches, of all denominations, in the city of New York, from the first settlement to the year 1846 > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
3 1833 01147 9877
GC 974.702 N421G
-
A
HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES,
OF
ALL DENOMINATIONS,
IN THE
L
CITY OF NEW YORK,
FROM THE FIRST SETTLEMENT TO THE YEAR 1&16.
To 1846
BY JONATHAN GREENLEAF,
PASTOR OF THE WALLABOUT PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, BROOKLYN.
840
New Dork : E. FRENCH, 136 NASSAU STREET. PORTLAND: HYDE, LORD & DUREN.
1846.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/historyofchurche00gree_0
1737657
TESTIMONIALS.
To insure to the "History of the Churches in New York " as much accuracy as possible, the sketch of each denomination was exhibited, when written, to some intelligent man in that denomination, that the errors, if any were found, might be corrected."
- The following testimonials have been cheerfully given :
From the Rer. Dr. De Witt of the Reformed Dutch . Church.
" I have perused that part of the proposed pub- lication of a volume prepared by the Rev. Jona- than Greenleaf, giving the history of the Reform- ed Dutch Churches in this city, and am pleased with the accuracy which characterizes it. I cor- dially commend it for publication, and the pa- tronage of our religious community."
THOMAS DEWITT, One of the Ministers of the Collegiate R. D. Church. NEW YORK, January 27, 1945.
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2
TESTIMONIALS.
From the Rev. Mr. Stohlmann of the Lutheran Church.
" I hereby certify that the Rev. J. Greenleaf has exhibited to me a sketch of the history of the Lutheran Church in this city, and as far as I have any knowledge of the facts stated, I believe them to be accurate."
CHARLES FRED. E. STOHLMANN, Pastor of St. Matthew's Church in Walker street.
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From the Rev. Dr. Anthon of the Episcopal Church.
"Rev. J. Greenleaf,-Dear Sir :- You were pleased, a short time since, to read to me in manuscript, a sketch which you had prepared of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the city of New York: I am happy to be able to say that I listened to it with much interest for the valua- ble information contained in it, and which gave ample proof, in my judgment, of your accuracy, faithfulness, and diligence. A work of this kind is much wanted for reference, and the plan and details of your volume will, I believe, ensure its extensive circulation."
I am respectfully, your ob't serv't, HENRY ANTHON, Rector of St. Mark's Church.
NEW YORK, May 19, 1846.
3
TESTIMONIALS.
From the Rev. Dr. Krebs, of the Presbyterian Church.
" The Rev. Jonathan Greenleaf has submitted to me his history of the Presbyterian Churches in this city, which I believe to be very accurate, and hope to see published."
JOHN M. KREBS,
Minister of the Rutgers Street Church.
NEW YORK, January 26, 1846.
- -
From the Rev. Dr. Patton of the Presbyterian Church.
" The Rev. Jonathan Greenleaf has read over to me that portion of his sketch of the history of the churches of this city, which particularly re- lates to the Presbyterian interest. It affords me pleasure to say that as far as I am conversant with the facts, he has embodied them with great accuracy and impartiality ; and that as put forth by him they will furnish many instructive les- sons." WM. PATTON, Pastor of the Spring Street Church: NEW YORK, May 18, 1846.
From the Rer. Mr. McLaren of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.
"The Rev. Jonathan Greenleaf has read to me his history of the Associate Reformed Churches
1
4
TESTIMONIALS.
in the city of New York, and I believe it to be very accurate."
WILLIAM MCLAREN,
Pastor of the Associate Ref. Church, Franklin street. NEW YORK, February 9, 1846.
From the Rev. Dr. Stark, of the Associate Pres- byterian Church.
" The Rev. Jonathan Greenleaf has read to me the account he has drawn up of the Associate Presbyterian Churches in this city, and I believe it to be perfectly correct."
ANDREW STARK,
Minister of the Associate Presbyterian Church, Grund street. NEW YORK, 9th February, 1846.
From the Rev. Dr. McLeod, of the Reformed Presbyterian Church.
1
"The Rev. Mr. Greenleaf, the compiler of the Sketches of the History of the Churches in this city, having submitted to me the history of the Reformed Presbyterian Church which is to appear in that publication, I hereby certify to the accuracy of the substantial facts which it pre- . sents."
JOHN N. McLEOD,
Pastor of the Ref. Pres. Church, Prince Street, New York. NEW YORK, May 20, 1816.
----.
5
TESTIMONIALS.
From the Rev. Dr. Williams, of the Baptist Church.
-
"The Rev. Jonathan Greenleaf having read to me his manuscript account of the Baptist Churches of this city, I take pleasure in certify- ing to the research it has evidently cost him, and to its substantial accuracy, as far as I have knowledge of the facts."
WILLIAM R. WILLIAMS, Pastor of the Amity Street Baptist Church. NEW YORK, February 25, 1846.
From the Rev. Mr. Bigler, of the Moravian Church.
" This is to certify that the Rev. Mr. Green- leaf communicated to me the short historical sketch of the United Brethren or Moravian church in this city ; and that so far as I am able to judge it is correct."
DAVID BIGLER, Pastor of the Moravian Church, New York. NEW YORK, March 4, 1816.
-
From the Rev. P. P. Sandford, of the Methodist . Episcopal Church.
"The Rev. Mr. Greenleaf having read to me his sketch of the Methodist Episcopal Church in
6
TESTIMONIALS.
this city, I hereby certify that the same is sub- tantially correct, as far as I have knowledge of the facts."
P. P. SANDFORD,
Presiding Elder of the New York District. NEW YORK, March 17, 1846.
- -
From the Rev. Mr. Stillwell, of the Methodist Society.
"The Rev. J. Greenleaf has read to me his history of the rise and present condition of the Methodist Society in New York, together with that of the Methodist Protestant Church, which I consider correct."
W. M. STILLWELL, Minister of the Meth. Soc., New York. NEW YORK, February 9, 1846.
From the Rt. Rev. Bishop McCloskey, of the Roman Catholic Church.
" This is to certify that the Rev. Mr. Green- · leaf has exhibited to me the brief historical and statistical sketch which he has prepared of the different Catholic Churches of this city. His statements, I believe, are all sufficiently accu- rate."
JOHN MCCLOSKEY, Bp. Coadjutor of New York.
NEW YORK, March 5, 1S46.
7
1 TESTIMONIALS.
From the Rev. Mr. Balch, of the Universalist Church.
" This certifies that I have heard the Rev. Jonathan Greenleaf read a brief sketch of the rise, progress, and present condition of the Uni- versalist Churches in this city, and that I believe his relation to be correct."
>
!
WM. S. BALCH,
Pastor of the Bleecker Street Universalist Society. NEW YORK, May 18, 1846.
.
From the Rev. Mr. Harrison, of the Congrega- tional Church.
"This may certify that the Rev. Mr. Green- leaf has read to me his sketch of the History , of the Congregational Churches in this city, and I believe it to be correct."
JOSEPH HARRISON,
Pastor of the Providence Chapel, Thompson Street, N. Y. NEW YORK, May 16, 1846.
The information respecting the Jews, the Friends, the New Jerusalem Church, the Uni- tarian Church, and the Christian Church, was furnished to a considerable extent by leading men in those denominations, and hence it was con- sidered unnecessary to obtain any certificates to the accuracy of the sketches of those bodies.
Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1846, by JONATHAN GREENLEAF,
in the Clerk's office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.
S. W. BENEDICT, Ster. and Print., 16 Spruce Street.
PREFACE.
IT is not pretended that the following pages present all the facts pertaining to the ecclesiastical affairs of the city of New York ; still, it is believed that the most material are here embodied. It is also believed that the facts here stated, and the dates given, may both be relied on, as no pains have been spared to render them accurate. In relation to these, as well as to the numbers in the several Churches-reference may be had to the minutes of the General Synod of the Re- formed Dutch Church ; the journals of the Annual Convention of the Episcopal Church ; the minutes of the General As- sembly of the Presbyterian Church, together with the minutes of the Synod of New York and New Jersey ; the minutes of the New York and Hudson River Baptist Associa- tions; and the minutes of the Methodist
iv
PREFACE.
Annual Conference. These sources of in- formation have been carefully examined. In relation to the various branches from these denominations, as well as the other denomi- nations in the city, whether composed of a single Church, or of several associated, their annual publications have been examined, if they have made any, or information has been sought from intelligent men among them; and then to ensure, if possible, per- · fect accuracy, the sketch of each denomina- tion, when written, has been exhibited to some leading minister in that denomination, for examination and correction.
Chronological order is observed through- out, as far as it was practicable.
In recording similar facts in so many in- stances, much variety of expression cannot be expected. No attempt of the kind has been made, and as far as style is concerned, all that has been aimed at, has been to pre- sent the information in a concise and in- telligible manner.
With these explanations the book is sub- mitted to the judgment of the public.
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CONTENTS.
Page. Į ABYSSINIAN, BAP. CHH. 240 ! Advent, Epis. Chh. of ·· 108
African Meth. Bethel
Chh .. . 325 African Meth. Union
Chh. . 328 Allen street Meth. Chh. 287 Pres. Chh. 151
All Saints Epis. Chh .. 85 Amity St. Bap Chh ... 258 Annunciation, Episcopal Chh. of .. 86 Arminian Bap. Chh .... 233 Asbury col'd Meth. Chh. 323 Meth. Chb ... 297
Ascension, Epis. Chh. of 104 Associate Pres. Chhs.,
sketch of .. 212 Associate Ref. Pres.
Chhs., sketch of .... 203 Baptist Chhs., sketch of 223 Bedford St. Meth. Chh. 288 Berean Bap. Chh 267
Beriah Bap. Chh.
. 211
Bethel Bap. Chh·
232
Bethesda Bap. Chh.
.. 230
Bleecker St. Pres. Chh. 156
Univ. Chh. 349
Bloomingdale Bap. Chh. 264
Dutch Chh. 33
66 Pres. Chh. 201
Bowery Bap. Chh .. . .. 260 Pres. Chh· · · · 154 Brainerd Pres. Chh · · · · 187
Broadway Pres. Chh · · · 180 Page.
" Tabernacle Cong. 362 Broome St. Bap. Chh . . 253 Cong. Chh. 356
Dutch Chh. 42 Calvary Epis. Chh · · · · 101 near
Corlears' Hook. ..... 82
· Canal St. Pres. Chh· · · 140 Cannon St. Bap. Chh. 252 Carmine St. Pres. Chh. 169 Cedar St. Pres. Chh ... 136 Central Bap. Chh· · · · 260 Pres. Chh ..... 161
Chelsea Pres. Chh ..... 162 Christian Bap. Chh . . . . 273 Christian Chhs., sketch of. 378
Christ's Chh., Epis. . 65
in
Ann street ·
67
City Mission Epis . . . .
90
Pres . . . . . 145
Collegiate Dutch Chh. 12-17
Colored Bap. Chhs. 2.10, 250
Cong. Chh .· · · · 307
Epis. Chhs. . .
79, 97, 98
. Meth. Chhs. . . 220 = Pres. Chh. . . . . 152
Cong. Chhs., sketch of 362 Crucifixion, Epis. Chh. of .. 104
Disciples, Chh. of. . . . . 27: Downing St. Friend, !! ^
Brick Pres. Chh. 130-135 Broadway Cong: Chh. 355 Mr. Finney's 179 | Duane St. Meth. Clb .. ">
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CONTENTS.
Duane St. Pres. Chh · · 136
East Bap. Chh . .... . 253 Ebenezer Bap. Chh ··· 249 Eighteenth street. Meth. 289 Eighth Av. Pres. Chh· · 189 Eighth Pres. Chh .. . . . . 158 Eighth St. Pres. Chh· · 209 Eleventh Pres. Chh · · · 198 Eleventh St. Bap. Chh. 271 Elizabeth St. Bap. Chh. 256 Pres. Chh. 144 Univ. Chh. 350
Emmanuel Epis. Chh. 9S
Epis. Free Chh. 107 Emmaus Bap. Chh .. . . 258 Epiphany, Epis. Chh. of 92 Episcopal Chh., sketch of . . . 60
Fifteenth St. Pres. Chh. 200 Fifth Cong. Chh . . . . . . 360 Fifth Ward Cong. Miss. Chh. 361
First Bap. Chh. 225
Cong. Chh 352
¥ Pres. Chh.
Floating Chap., Epis. . 100 Meth. 301
Forsyth St. Meth. Chh 284
Forty-first street Meth. 294 Home Mission Meth ... 303
Forty-fourth St. Meth.
Houston St. Pres. Chh. 175 Chh. 293 Independent Cong. Chh. 354 Forty-second St. Pres. 202; Jane St. Meth. Chh. . . 304 · Pres. Chh ··· · 199
Fourteenth Pres. Chh. 167|
Fourth Cong. Chh .. ... 365 Jews, sketch of ... · 119
Fourth St. Bap. Chh .. 270 ' John St. Meth. Chh .. . 283 Univ. Chh. 351 | Lafayette Place Dutch
Franklin St. Dutch Chh. 35 Free Pres. Chhs. . .. . . . 171 | French Epis. Chb. Du St. Esprit . 71
French Epis. Chh. Du St. Sauveur .
106 French Cong. Chh ..... 368
Friends' meetings, sketch of 112
Garden St. Dutch Chh. 19 German Evan. Meth. 316 German Evan. Mission Chh. Dutch . . German Lutheran Chhs., 47 sketch of. 52
German Mission Meth. 297 German Pres. Chh .... 193 Reformed Dutch 24 German Reformed Lu- theran. 57
Good Shepherd, Epis. 108 Grace Church, Epis ... 78 Greene St. Dutch Chh. 41 Meth. Chh. 290 Greenwich Dutch Chh. 29 Hammond St. Pres. Chh.201 Harlem Bap. Chh . . . . . 272
Dutch Chh ... 21
Meth. Chh ·· · · 294
66 Mission Chh · · 291
Pres. Chh · · · · · 200
Hester St. Friends · · · · · 117 Holy Apostles, Epis ... 107 Holy Communion, Epis.
Chh. of. . . . 108
Holy Evangelists, Epis. 90 Chh. of ..
Chh · 17
Laight St. Bap. Chh . . . 245 Pres. Chh· · 142
Laurens St. Bap. Chh · · 257 Lutheran Chhs., sketch of. . . 52
Madison Av. Pres. Chh. 202 Madison St. Meth. Chh. 300 Pres. Chh. 196
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CONTENTS.
Manhattan Dutch Ghh. 46 [ Presbyterian Churches,
Manhattan Island Pres. 191 Market St. Dutch Chh. 39 Mariners' Chh. . . ... . . . 302 Mariners' Meth. Chh· · 300 Mercer St. Pres. Chh · · 194 Messiah, Epis. Chh. of 96
Prot. Epis. Chh. of 98
Methodist Chhs., sketch of. . 2S1
Methodist
Primitive
314
Chh
Methodist Prot. Chhs., sketch of .. · 308 Methodist Soc'y, sketch
Moravian Chh., sketch 275 132, 135
Mount Zion Bap. Chh. 270 Salem Bap. Chh . . . . . . 265 Mulberry St. Bap. Chh. 243 | Saviour, Epis. Chh. of 106 Meth. Chh. 295' Scotch Bap. Chh. .. 237
Murray St. Pres. Chh · · 207 Nativity, Cath. Chh. of 341 Epis. Chh. of 99 New Jerusalem, Chhs., 370 New York Cong. Chh. 369 Ninth Pres. Chh . . . . . . . 197 Ninth St. Dutch Chh . . 16
Norfolk St. Bap. Chh · · 249 North Bap. Chh. · 251
" Dutch Chh· 14
Pres. Chh. 169 Northwest Dutch Chh. 35 Old Lutheran Chh .. . . 59 . Oliver St. Bap. Chh . . . . 235 Orchard St. Dutch Chh. 43
" Friends . . . 118
Univ. Chh. 348
Particular Bap. Chh · · · 269 Pearl St. Pres. Chh· · · · 206
sketch of .. .... .. . 125
Providence Bap. Chh . . 272
Chapel Cong. 356
Chh ·
Provost St. Bap. Chh · · 250
Pres. Chh. 167 Puritans, Cong. Chh. of 367 Redeemer, Cath. Chh. of 340 Redemption, Epis. Chh. of · 103
Redemption, Free Epis. Chh. of 95
Ref. Dutch Chhs., sketch of. 9 Ref. Pres. Chhs., sketch of . . 305 of. . 216 Methodist Welsh Chh. 311 Robinson Cong. Chh · · 366 Wesleyan Chhs. 317 | Roman Catholic Chhs., Middle Dutch Chh. 12 sketch of .. . ... . · 331 Mission Bap. Chh . . . . . 252 Rose St. Friends meet'g 117 4 Epis. Chhs ... 90
Rutgers St. Pres. Chh.
Pres. Chh · · · · · 129
Seamen's Bethel Bap. 269 Second Av. Pres. Chh. 152 Second Bap. Chh · · · · · · 230 Second St. Meth. Chh. 290 Seventh Pres. Chh ·· · · 148 Seventh St. Meth. Chh. 285 Sixteenth St. Bap. Chh. 262 Sixth Av. Pres. Chh . . . 195 Sixth St. Bap. Chh . . . . 267 Pres. Chh · · · 182
South Bap. Chh . . .
. . 216
Dutch Chh . . . . . 19 Spring St. Pres. Chh· · 167 St. Andrew's Cath. Chh. 341 Epis. Chh. ~ 7
St. Ann's Epis. Chh . . . 71 Stanton St. Bap. Chh . - 247
Dutch Chb. 49
.. . .
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CONTENTS.
St. Augustine's Epis. 98 | Tabernacle Cong. Chh. 362 St. Bartholomew's Epis. in Catharine St. 192 100 Pres. Chh. 179 Chh . . . St. Clement's Epis. Chh. 58 Village Chh. 166 « St. Columbæ's Cath ... 342 Tenth Pres. Chh .. . ... 197 Third Cong. Chh .. . .. 359 Transfiguration, Cath. St. Francis' Cath. Chh. 340 St. George's Epis. Chh. 63 the martyr,
Epis. Chh. of ....... 107 St. James' Cath. Chh · · 337 Epis. Chh ·· 74 Lutheran Chh. 55 St. John the Bap. Cath. Chh . .. 340 St. John Evan. Cath. 341 St. John's Chapel Epis 62 St. Joseph's Cath. Chh. 339 -St. Jude's Free Epis. Chh 105
St. Luke's Epis. Chh .. S3
St. Mark's Epis. Chh .. 67 St. Mary's Cath. Chh ·· 336 Epis. Chh· · 74
St. Matthew Epis. Chh. 94 = Epis. col'd 97 St. Matthew Lutheran Chh . . . 55
St. Michael's Epis. Chh. 71 St. Patrick's Cath. Chh. 335 St. Paul's Cath. Cnh · · 340
¥ Epis. Chapel 61 St. Peter's Cath. Chh· · 334 Epis. Chh ·· S9 St. Philip's Epis. Chh . . 79 St. Simon's Epis. Chh. 109 St. Stephen's Epis. Chh. 73 St. Thomas' Epis. Chh. 84 St. Timothy's Epis. Chh. 102 St. Vincent de Paul, Cath. Chh. . . . · 3.12 Suffolk St. Christian
Chh · . 378 Sullivan St. Meth. Chh. 299
Chh. of. 337
Trinity, Epis. Chh .... 60 True Ref. Dutch Chh. 49 Twenty-first St. Dutch 31 Twenty-fourth St. Meth. Chh . 296
Twenty-seventh street Meth. Chh. 293 . Union Pres. Chh .. ... . 168 Unitarian Chhs., sketch of . . 373
Universalist Churches., sketch of. . . 344
University Pres. Chh · · 195 place Pres. Chh. 139 Vandewater St. Cg. Chh.
Dutch Chh. 45
Epis. Chh. 90
«
Pres. Chh. 163
4 Univ. Chh. 345
Vestry St. Meth. Chh · · 294 Village Pres. Chh. 166, 186 Wall St. Pres. Chh · · · · 133 Washington Sq. Dutch 21 Welsh Bap. Chh . . 239, 261 18 Cong. Chh. · 358
Meth. Chh. . 311
Pres. Chh 185
West Bap. Chh .. 266
West 20th St. Pres. Chh. 189 Willet St. Meth. Chh .. 288 Yorkville Meth. Chh. . 292 Pres. Chh .. 202
Zoar Bap. Chh. 246 Zion Bap. Chh. 259
= Epis. Chh 81 Swamp Chh. . 51 Meth. Chh . .. . 321 Tabernacle Bap. Chh · · 244
Little, Meth. Chh. 322
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH, 1626.
'THE city of New York being originally set- tled by the Dutch, it was very natural that the Reformed Dutch Church should have the precedency among the people. And so it was. There were members of that church in New York as early as the year 1620, and it is believed that, in 1626, a church organi- zation was effected. From 1639, there are regular records.
The Dutch having obtained permission of the natives, built a fort on Manhattan Island in 1623. This fort stood on what is called " the Battery," not far, as is said, from the "Bowling Green." It was a large square, containing several houses, and in 1642, a church edifice was erected in the south-east corner of the fort, which stood
2 1X
10
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.
nearly one hundred years, and was finally burnt down in 1741, and not again rebuilt.
The building of this first church is thus related in " Watson's Olden Time.". " The Dutch Reformed Church was erected within the fort by Gov. Keift, in 1642, being a stone structure, with split oaken shingles, then called 'wooden slate.' The cause and manner of its establishment has been curiously related by De Vries, saying, ' As I. was every day with Commander Keift, I told him, that as he had now made a fine tavern, the Stadt-herberg, at Coenties slip, that we also wanted very badly a church ; for until then we had nothing but a mean barn (in appearance) for our worship; whereas in New England, their first concern was a fine church, and we ought to do the same. Wherefore I told him I would con- tribute a hundred guilders, and he, as Gov- ernor, should precede me. ·Whereupon
. we agreed, and chose J. P. Kuyter, I. C. Damen, with ourselves, as four Kerck Mees- ters, to superintend the building. John and Richard Ogden contracted to build the same of stone for 2,500 guilders, say £416. It was to be seventy-feet by fifty-two, and six-
11
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.
teen feet high.' Before another house of worship was erected, the city had begun to be settled a little further out, so that in 1695 there was about $50 families found here, divided in six denominations, viz. Dutch families within the fort, 90; Dutch Cal- vinists, 450 ; Dutch Lutherans, 30; French, - 200; Jews, 20; English dissenters, 40 ; and about 20 families of Dutch Calvinists at Harlem. Rev. Dr. Henricus Selyns, or So- linus, as he is sometimes called, preached to the Dutch Calvinists in the city proper, and at Harlem ; Dr. Perot was the French minis- ter; and Saul Brown was the minister of the Jews. The Lutheran congregation was very small, and it is not known whether they had any stated minister. As the people began to stretch themselves abroad, another church was projected, and was built in 1693, in what was then called ' Garden Alley,' but afterwards ' Garden Street,' and now ' Ex- change Place,' running in the rear of the Merchants' Exchange, and thence into Broad street. The ground here had been laid out and cultivated with much taste, and hence, probably, the name ' Garden Alley' was given to the street passing by it. The
:
12
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.
location of a church here was objected to by some as being ' too far out of town,' but was finally carried. 'A rare demur,' says the writer of the account, 'in our modern views of distance.' This was afterwards called ' The South Church.' "
The building was eight square, with a tower or steeple in the centre of the roof. In 1776, the edifice was enlarged and repaired. The last sermon ever preached in it was . delivered to fourteen hearers. It was closed for some time, and in 1807, was rebuilt of stone, sixty-six feet long, and fifty wide, and a large congregation continued to assemble there until, in 1813, it was separated from the Collegiate Church, and became a distinct charge.
MIDDLE DUTCH CHURCH.
The increasing population of the city made it necessary for the Dutch Church to erect another house of worship not many years after the erection of the South, or Garden Street Church. This was built on Nassau street, between Cedar and Liberty streets. Until the erection of a third build- ing this was called " The New Church," but
13
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.
has been known for many years as " The Middle Dutch Church." This was opened
in 1729. It is a most substantial stone building, 100 feet long, and 70 feet wide, with a good steeple and bell. When first built it had no gallery, and the ceiling was re arch without pillars. The pulpit was on the eastern side. It remained in this form for more than thirty years, but in 1764, the pulpit was removed to the north end of the house, a gallery was erected on the three other sides, and large pillars put up to support the roof. During the Revolu- tionary war it was closed as a place of wor- ship, and used by the British as a prison and a riding-school, while the pews and other wood-work were torn up and used as fuel. After the war it was repaired, and continued as a place of worship, becoming, . as is believed, the birth-place of many souls, until the year 1844, when the business of the city having increased so much around it, that almost every family for a considerable distance had removed, and two commodious houses of worship belonging to the collegiate church having been previously built in the upper part of the city, it was thought expe-
2*
1
14
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.
dient to relinquish public worship in the Middle Church. A farewell meeting was held in the church on Sabbath evening, August 11, 1814, when the Rev. Dr. Knox, the senior pastor, preached from John iv. 20 -24, showing that God required spiritual worship, but that the place where it was of- fered was immaterial; and the Rev. Dr. De Witt, one of the colleague pastors, presented an outline of the history of the Church, and pronounced the benediction in the Dutch language. It was then leased to the govern- ment for the city Post Office, the exterior of the building being not materially altered, and the cemetery around it remaining un- touched.' ·
NORTH DUTCH CHURCH.
" The Dutch congregation, finding their two churches in Garden Street and Nassau street, would not accommodate the people, projected the building of another, on Wil- liam street, corner of Fulton street, and it was erected on ground given to the church by John Harpending, Esq; the corner- stone of the building was laid July 2d, 1767, and the house was completed and opened
15
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.
for public worship May 25th, 1769. It was called " The North Dutch Church." It is a fine stone building, measuring 100 feet by 70, with a lofty steeple, and was built at a cost of €11,948 9s. 4d. In 1842, the inte- rior of the building was remodelled, and somewhat modernized, but the exterior pre- serves the stately, venerable, and imposing appearance of ancient times. Until a few years before the erection of the North Church, all the public religious services had been held in the Dutch language. But the increase of the English language among the people, and the proportionate decline of the Dutch, became too apparent to escape the notice of observing men ; and it became more and more evident to reflecting minds that unless the English language was introduc- ed, the younger people would attach them- selves to churches where that language was used, and the Dutch churches would dwin- dle away. Long discussions were held on this subject, and no little excitement was produced by the resolution which was final- ly adopted by the Consistory of the Colle- giate Church to call a minister who should officiate in the English language, while the
-
4.
16
REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.
Dutch was still to be continued for a part of each Sabbath. The Rev. Dr. Laidlie was the person called, and he preached his first sermon in English in the Middle Dutch Church, on the afternoon of the last Sabbath in March, 1764, from 2 Cor. v., 11, " Know- ing therefore the terror of the Lord, we per- suade men." All the services were con- ducted in English except the singing, which was performed in Dutch, led by Jacobus Van Antwerp, " the fore singer," as the con- gregation were unacquainted with English psalmody. The house was densely crowd- ed, the aisles were filled, many climbed up in the windows, and many of the most re- spectable people stood through the whole exercise .*
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