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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. 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
 notes
Sources: The comprehensive study
by former church historian Robert S.
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); online preview. 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. Home | Site Index | Navigation | Email | New York State Museum first posted: 1998, last revised 5/1/09 |
