First Presbyterian Church (Schenectady, New York)

First Presbyterian Church in Schenectady, New York is a historic Presbyterian Church in America congregation. The roots of the congregation go back to the 1730s. Episcopalians and Presbyterians had used the St. George's Episcopal Church building, with each group using different entrances to the building. In 1769, First Presbyterian was founded when its members decided to build their own wooden church structure. The first settled pastor was the Rev. Alexander Miller in 1771. The present church building was copied from the Ransom Court Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania under Rev. Alexander Monteith's pastorate (1809-1815). First Presbyterian Church was distinguished by a wrap-around balcony of the oval interior. The original church had white walls and blue woodwork. Additions were made in 1834, and transepts were added in 1859. The congregation helped start several other churches in the neighborhood, including State Street Presbyterian Church in 1869. In 1900, Union Presbyterian church was established in Schenectady with 81 members. The renowned Rev. Jonathan Trumbull Backus, for many years a trustee of Union College, pastored First Presbyterian from 1832 to 1872. Under his leadership the congregation grew significantly and established East Avenue (now State Street) Presbyterian Church. Rev. Backus was elected moderator of the Presbyterian Church in the United Sta

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