Our History

1700s

  • Nov. 10, 1792 First meeting of settlers to discuss church organization
  • Aug. 1795 Rev. Frederick Halsey, first pastor, begins his service
  • Oct. 1, 1797 First Presbyterian Church officially organized with 18 members

1800s

  • June 1, 1812 Present site deeded by Abraham and Mary Brinkerhoff. Frame church begun.
  • Sept. 6-11, 1812 British occupied the unfinished church as a cavalry barracks
  • Sept. 11, 1814 Church fired upon by Americans from east side of Saranac River
  • Dec. 25, 1816 Church finished and dedicated
  • April 2, 1817 Beekmantown First Presbyterian Church formed by 54 members of First Presbyterian Church, Plattsburgh
  • Feb. 1826 Sunday School organized
  • Feb. 24, 1864 Peristrome Presbyterian Church founded by 55 members of First Presbyterian Church, Plattsburgh
  • Dec. 14, 1865 Renovations completed, building rededicated
  • Aug. 21, 1867 Church destroyed by fire, along with 70 other buildings
  • July 17, 1868 Cornerstone of new church laid
  • July 21, 1870 Bell, made by Meneely of Troy, installed in tower
  • July 8, 1873 Present building completed and dedicated
  • Oct. 1, 1897 Centennial celebration

1900s

  • Feb. 1902 Telephone service installed
  • Aug. 11, 1903 Church spire struck by lightning
  • Nov. 1909 Change from gas to electric; redecorated; Estey pipe organ installed
  • 1946-47 Extensive renovations and improvements
  • Oct. 1947 Sesquicentennial celebration
  • May 21, 1951 Church steeple struck by lightning, causing considerable damage
  • 1952 Earliest verified Christmas Tea and Bazaar
  • Sept. 16, 1954 Formation of the Women’s Association from three older societies
  • 1962 Extensive renovations and installation of electric heat
  • Oct. 13, 1967 Dedicated new education wing begun in 1966
  • Oct. 1972 175th anniversary celebration
  • Summer 1975 Wilhelm tracker organ installed
  • Nov. 12, 1982 Church put on the National and State Historic Registers
  • 1986-88 Capital Improvement Program to install ramp and elevator, repair stonework
  • May 13, 1987 Church used for housing refugees awaiting immigration hearings in Canada
  • April 10, 1988 Women’s Association changes its name to Presbyterian Women
  • Nov. 27, 1988 Elevator dedicated
  • 1997 200th anniversary celebration
  • 1999 Signed partnership with Synod of Livingstonia, Malawi

2000s

  • Feb. 2003 First Presbyterian Church joined Greater Plattsburgh Interfaith Hospitality Network
  • 2002-2004 Living Stones Building Fund campaign for repair and renovations
  • June 19, 2004 Church designated a New York State Underground Heritage Trail Site

Our Pastors and Years of Service

  • Rev. Frederick Halsey, 1795-1810
  • Rev. David Dobie, 1814-1855
  • Rev. Edward R. Chamberlain, 1856-1858
  • Rev. Edwin A. Bulkley, 1863-1878
  • Rev. Joseph Gamble, 1880-1907
  • Rev. John Bailey Kelly, 1908-1918
  • Rev. Charles Tupper Baillie, 1919-1922
  • Rev. George A. Armstrong, 1924-1942
  • Rev. F. Joseph Littell, 1943-1956
  • Rev. George B. Grose, 1957-1970
  • Rev. William W. Kenney, 1970-1977
  • Rev. Dr. Earl S. Johnson, 1978-1989
  • Rev. Thomas J. McKinnon, Jr. 1982-1994
  • Rev. Paul Heller, 1991-2008
  • Rev. Kathleen Crighton, 2010-2013
  • Rev. Dr. Timothy J. Luoma, 2017-Present