Sacred Sites Open House Sat. May 18
As part of the 2013 New York Landmarks Conservancy Sacred Sites Weekend, the First Presbyterian Church of Newtown will have an open house on Sat. May 18 from 11 AM to 4 PM. All are invited.
The church will join dozens of religious institutions throughout New York State in welcoming the public to special programming. The congregation was founded in 1652 making it one of the oldest still surviving ones in New York City. Its bell is from 1797; the present Sanctuary was built in 1895 and features stained glass by Benjamin Sellers & William Ashley, both of whom worked for Tiffany. The 1895 Gothic wooden doors are currently being restored, partly through a Sacred Sites grant. We have been named a National Presbyterian Historical Site and been deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The church has been involved in early issues of freedom of religion and the settlement of western Queens.
Directions to the church
Talks on history and architecture begin at 11:30 AM and 2:30 PM, followed by a tour of the property and viewing of some prior nearby sites in our history. (Speakers are Marjorie Melikian & Jonathan Taylor.) View the restoration of our 1895 doors. Ongoing will be a display of historic photos and documents and current information about the church.
The First Presbyterian Church of Newtown is an undiscovered treasure. Everyone is invited to visit and learn about the church’s 361 year old history and 118 year old current Sanctuary, its fifth. Learn about the early history of western Queens also. Our church’s first pastor, Rev. John Moore, was one of the first group of settlers in 1652, in the Dutch colony of New Amsterdam. He helped purchase the land west of the Flushing River from the Indians.
The church Sanctuary also is unique in that the entire building had to be moved for the widening of Queens Blvd. in 1924. It was raised onto greased logs and turned by hand winches so slowly it took a year to go a half-block back. Look for the photos showing this engineering marvel.
Also come see our stained glass windows designed by Benjamin Sellers & William Ashley, both of whom worked years for Tiffany. Sellers went on to design windows for many other churches. The highlight is the three-panel Ascension of Jesus with angels at either side. This is over the balcony, on the Queens Blvd. front. Side windows are decorative, in the typical Tiffany style. The sanctuary architect was Frank A. Collins, who designed the old Flushing High School and many Queens schools. Builders were Hopkins & Roberts, also known for their fine churches.
Most of the sanctuary furniture is original to 1895, some carved pieces were made in Oberammergau, Germany. Paintings on the walls are more recent, done by member Arthur Wrench, and celebrate both the New and Old Testaments. The entire sanctuary and furniture were a gift in the will of John Goldsmith Payntar, who attended the church as a child.
Other church buildings you will see include a 1907 manse and 1931 Church house. The church has recently discovered our 1822 manse still exists, one block away. It had been sold in 1907 and moved from its prior location. It is now privately owned. Also to be seen are the sites of 3 former churches, and our 1821 graveyard, all within one block of the church. Some early history of the area will also be given.
On display will be original documents and records dating back to 1715, plus photos back to the 1880s
Since 1986 The New York Landmarks Conservancy’s Sacred Sites program has supported more than 675 religious institutions throughout the state which have received over $7.3 million in matching grants.
Sacred Sites is the country's oldest and largest statewide grant program to help landmark religious properties. The First Presbyterian Church of Newtown has received a matching grant award from the Sacred Sites program towards its 1895 Gothic doors restoration.
For additional information on the Sacred Sites Open House Weekend, contact:
Ann Friedman, Director of Sacred Sites
New York Landmarks Conservancy
