Willyboy at 21:10, 24 March 2013

2013-03-24T21:10:21Z

JElberfeld: Created page with "Photo Courtesy Rensselaerville Historical Society ==Location== The Rensselaerville Presbyterian Church..."

2012-09-27T22:27:48Z

Created page with "200px|thumb|right|<center>Photo Courtesy Rensselaerville Historical Society</center> ==Location== The Rensselaerville Presbyterian Church..."

New page

[[Image:RensselaervillePresbChurch.jpg|200px|thumb|right|<center>Photo Courtesy Rensselaerville Historical Society</center>]]
==Location==
The Rensselaerville Presbyterian Church is located on Methodist Hill Rd in the hamlet of [[Rensselaerville]]. Services are still held, but only on Sunday's during the summer.<ref>[http://www.rensselaerville.com/ Town of Rensselaerville, NY Website]</ref>
<gallery>
Image:Ren 82.jpg|<center>Presbyterian Church, photo from [[People Made It Happen Here]]</center>
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==History==
The First Presbyterian or Congregational Society of [[Rensselaerville]] was organized December 3, 1792. The first worship services were held in an old log building two miles southwest of the hamlet. The chimney was taken out and a rude excuse for a pulpit was put in. The Patroon, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Van_Rensselaer_III Stephen Van Rensselaer III], made liberal donations of glass, nails and other building materials.<ref name="PMHH"><u>[[People Made It Happen Here]]</u>, History of the Town of Rensselaerville ca. 1788-1950, Published 1977</ref>

In the summer of 1796, a new building was erected. On June 15th the frame was raised, and on September 11th the first service was held there. The site chosen was a hill top about two miles southwest of the present hamlet. The church did not have a steeple, tower or bell but had a pulpit. Between 1810 and 1818, there were times preaching was not done and this caused a drop in attendance. During those years, the population on the hill decreased while the hamlet grew.<ref name="PMHH" />

It became evident to people that they must leave the pleasant site their fathers chose for the church and move the buildings down to the valley. A lot was chosen and the building was removed to the present location where it is known as the [[Rensselaerville Academy]] and was dedicated on September 10, 1815. The old pulpit and deacon's seat was put in, and a belfry or tower was added. The steeple was of the old regulation New England pattern, with an octagon open belfry, a tall shingled roof and above the mast running up several feet, and crowned with a most ornate ornament of iron, and a spire with a gilt ball just above the points of the compass, then the weather vane, a gild codfish, and on the very highest point a sheet iron basket of flowers, on whose gilted surface the sun shone so that it might be seen from a great distance.<ref name="PMHH" />

In January 1827, the church under the pastorate of Rev. Smith, united itself with the Presbytery of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albany,_New_York Albany]. At this time people once more took up the question of a church building and decided to move to make way for a school building. Thus, the building was altered in to the [[Rensselaerville Academy]]. In the summer of 1842, work began on the new church and was completed in 1843, and by December services were being held.<ref name="PMHH" />

'''Sources'''

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[[Category:Religion]]

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Rensselaerville Presbyterian Church - Revision history

Willyboy at 21:10, 24 March 2013

JElberfeld: Created page with "Photo Courtesy Rensselaerville Historical Society ==Location== The Rensselaerville Presbyterian Church..."