The Dutch Reformed Church was situated in the middle of the city’s main intersection from the 1650s to 1806. Previously, services had been held in a building owned by the Patroon and located near Fort Orange. Enlarged about 1715, the Dutch church shown on the left, and in all contemporary community iconography, was the largest building in colonial Albany and was described by a number of visitors. The Dutch church clearly was colonial Albany's premier social institution!

Staffed continuously by a European-born domine or minister, the Albany Dutch church represented continuity with the past and stability. Its lay leaders or Deacons were among the most prominent Albany businessmen and officials. Well-supported by these worthies, by more typical, rank-and-file city people, and by those in the countryside until Reformed Churches were built in Schenectady, Kinderhook, Catskill, and Schaghticoke, the Albany Dutch Church also provided poor relief, buried the dead, sponsored missionary work among Native peoples, and often served members of other congregations whose houses of worship were less well-established. Regardless of ethnicity, most early Albany families received some needed service from the Dutch Church.

The North Pearl Street Dutch church was opened in 1798 and replaced the old structure which was torn down in 1806. By that time, a second Reformed congregation was serving the south side of a booming city. Other Reformed churches followed in other parts of the city but the North church serves today under the banner of the First Church in Albany!

In 1815, the newspaper published an article on the division of the Reformed churches which included a list of those churchmen serving on the "Great Consistory."

At some time during the seventeenth century, the church took title to a large tract of flood plain land in the southeastern quadrant of the city. For good reason, it was known as "the Pastures" and was intended to provide the church with a source of income. In 1815, the church deeded "the Pastures" back to the city and it was immediately marked for development. Today it is called the South End."

Ministers at the Albany Dutch Reformed Church

Johannes Megapolensis, Jr., 1642-49
Gideon Schaets, 1652-91
Godefridus Dellius, 1683-99
Johannes Nucella, 1699-1700
Johannes Lydius, 1700-10
Petrus Van Driessen, 1712-38
Cornelis Van Schie, 1733-44
Theodorus Frelinghuysen,Jr., 1746-59
Eilardus Westerlo, 1760-90
John Bassett, 1787-1804
John B. Johnson, 1796-1802

Sources: The comprehensive study by former church historian Robert Alexander stands above all others. The church's official website also provides substantial historical information. Many of the early church records have been translated, transcribed, and printed. At the beginning of our enquiry, the printed records were extensively utilized by the Colonial Albany Project. Since then, baptism and marriage resources have been placed online! Burial information also is available on the Internet - as are tombstone inscriptions from the church plot at Albany Rural. The latest addition to the available resources is Janny Venema, Deacons' Accounts, 1652-1674: 1st Dutch Reformed Church of Beverwyck-Albany, New York (Grand Rapids, MI, 1998).

See also, Allan J. Janssen, Gathered at Albany: A History of a Classis (Grand Rapids, MI, 1995).

Engraving of a drawing or painting of the Dutch church located in the intersection of State and Market Streets is of unknown origins. Perhaps the earliest representation of it comes from the streetscapes produced by Albany-born scientist and artist James Eights. This particular engraving was photographed from The Bicentennial History of Albany. The engraving of the rendering of the interior of the State Street church was printed in Weise's History of Albany. Many versions of both likenesses have appeared in print over the past 150 plus years. We have not researched the history of these images but the print collections of the Albany Institute of History and Art and the First Church itself would be likely places to start.

The Domine was an ordained minister of the Dutch Reformed Church sent by the church leadership in Holland to minister to the Albany congregation. Beginning with the tenure of Gideon Schaets in 1652, the Albany Reformed Church was served continuously by a Dutch Reformed domine. When a domine died in Albany (which happened several times), a new minister was called immediately. On several occasions, two domines shared the Albany pulpit.

The Deacons were church officers elected by the congregation to oversee and take charge of all church business. These community leaders represented the will of the congregation in church affairs. Church finances, contract work, later real estate transactions, dealings with government and the courts, calling of new ministers and all other non-spiritual matters were their major responsibilities.

TheSexton was employed to care for the church and grounds. His responsibilities included ringing the bell and digging graves. Here is a partial list of church sextons: Anthony B. Bradt; Hendrick Roseboom; Barent Bradt; Jacobus Radcliff (1729-66); Barent Bogert.

The Second Reformed Church officially split off from the First Church in 1815. However, the cornerstone of the new church located on the site of the former church cemetery (between Beaver and Hudson Streets) was laid in 1806. First called the "South" and then the "Middle" Dutch church, that building served until 1881 when a new church was built on the corner of Swan Street and Madison Avenue.

Links to more general church information: Organization; Reformed churches; More official but global;

German Reformed Church: During the 1760s, a number of German emigres petitioned for land on which to build a German Reformed Church. Follow this link to more information about the church on this website.

Follow this link to more information about the Albany Dutch Reformed church on this website.

Albany churches

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first posted: 1998, last revised 5/1/09