First Church in Albany (Reformed)
| First Church in Albany | |
|---|---|
South profile and east elevation, 2010
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Albany, NY, U.S. |
| Geographic coordinates | 42°39′13″N 73°45′2″W / 42.65361°N 73.75056°W |
| Affiliation | Reformed Church in America |
| Leadership | The Rev. John Paarlberg Sr. |
| Website | The First Church in Albany |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Philip Hooker |
| Groundbreaking | 1789 |
| Completed | 1798 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | East |
| Length | 116 feet (35 m) |
| Width | 70 feet (21 m) |
| Spire(s) | 2 |
| Materials | Brick, stone |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added to NRHP | January 21, 1974 |
| NRHP Reference no. | 74001214 |
The First Reformed Church, also known as First Church in Albany or North Dutch Church, is located at North Pearl (New York State Route 32) and Orange streets in Albany, New York, United States. It is a member congregation of the Reformed Church in America. The building was designed by Philip Hooker and built in 1798. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.
It was established in 1642 to serve the Dutch inhabitants of Fort Orange, the adjacent village of Beverwyck, and the patroonship of Rensselaerswyck in general. It is the second oldest congregation in the state of New York, and the oldest upstate. The current church, designed by Philip Hooker, is the fourth building and the oldest church in Albany. The pulpit was imported from the Netherlands in 1656 and is the oldest pulpit in the United States.
Shortly after construction, a memorial service was held for Alexander Hamilton. Theodore Roosevelt attended services here while Governor, and Queen Wilhelmina visited the church during its 300th anniversary year. The church has been through many renovations since it was built.
The church is located at the southwest corner of the intersection a few blocks north of downtown Albany. The terrain slopes very gently towards the Hudson River 1,000 ft (300 m) to the east, and more sharply upwards to the southwest and northwest, reflecting the ravine that gave the nearby Sheridan Hollow neighborhood its name. Open space begins to break up the urban fabric here, in contrast to the denser development of downtown.
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