Guide to the First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York Records

Descriptive Summary

Title

First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York Records

Inclusive Dates

1717-1961

Call Number

RG 413

Creator(s)

First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York.

Quantity

12.33 cubic feet (23 boxes)

Language

Materials in English

Restrictions on Access

Collection open for research

Access to this collection’s digital content is indicated in the Collection Inventory section of this guide, in the Alternative Formats column. When materials are marked “Digital,” they are immediately accessible. Click on the hyperlink to view the digital content in Pearl.

When materials are marked “Digital*” with an asterisk, they are available upon request. Click on the hyperlink to contact the Reference Desk to request access. Access is provided via a temporary password-protected link.

Digital Content

To browse this collection's digital content visit Pearl. 

Materials marked “Digital” in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.

Repository

Presbyterian Historical Society, 425 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147-1516 USA

Biographical Note / Administrative History

Administrative History

First Presbyterian Church

The First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York was established in 1716 and the first church building erected on Wall Street in 1719. As the Wall Street building became more crowded, families living in the northern part of the city wanted a church building of their own. This led to the establishment of the Brick Church on Beekman Street in 1768. As the growth of the city continued, Presbyterians established a third congregation, known as the Rutgers Church, on Henry Street in 1798. These three congregations continued until 1809 as one parish with a collegiate ministry, and it was not until that date that the Presbytery of New York enrolled them separately, each with its own minister. As the population continued to grow, the congregation of First Church decided to seek a new location. The foundation of the new church building on Fifth Avenue between Eleventh and Twelfth Streets was laid in 1844, and the church was dedicated in 1846.

One of the most significant church mergers in New York City history occurred in 1918. Two blocks from First Church was the University Place Presbyterian Church, and a little more than half a mile to the north was the Madison Square Presbyterian Church. These three united as the First Presbyterian Church and decided to use Old First's building on Fifth Avenue as the location for the newly reconfigured First Presbyterian Church. This consolidation included an agreement to continue the various missions of the uniting churches including Emmanuel Church, Bethlehem Memorial Church, Madison Square Church House, and the Madison Square Boys Club.

University Place Presbyterian Church

On November 29, 1843, a group of interested Presbyterians held the initial organization meeting for the University Place Presbyterian Church. They secured lots on the southeast corner of University Place and 10th Street and dedicated the church building in 1845. Close by on the west side of Mercer Street near Waverly Place was the Mercer Street Presbyterian Church, founded on October 8, 1835. The two churches merged on September 16, 1870.

Madison Square Presbyterian Church

The Madison Square Presbyterian Church was organized on March 3, 1853, and the church building at the southeast corner of Madison Avenue and 24th Street was dedicated in December 1854. The church remained in this location until 1906 when it moved directly across the street to the northeast corner of Madison Avenue and 24th Street.

Collection Overview

This collection consists of minutes, registers, and other records of First Presbyterian Church (1717-1954), Mercer Street Presbyterian Church (1835-1918), University Place Presbyterian Church (1843-1926), Madison Square Presbyterian Church (1853-1925), and Madison Square Church House (1914-1961).

Organization and Arrangement

SERIES I: FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, 1717-1954

SERIES II: MERCER STREET PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (NEW YORK, N.Y.), 1835-1918

SERIES III: UNIVERSITY PLACE PREBSYTERIAN CHURCH (NEW YORK, N.Y.), 1843-1926

SERIES IV: MADISON SQUARE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (NEW YORK, N.Y.), 1853-1925

SERIES V: MADISON SQUARE CHURCH HOUSE (NEW YORK, N.Y.), 1914-1961

Alternative Formats

To browse this collection's digital content visit Pearl. 

Materials marked “Digital” in the Collection Inventory may not be available on Pearl or in their entirety.

Digital access copies in PDF format are available for some folders by request (see the Collection Inventory section of this guide).

Administrative Information

Processing Information

Collection processed and finding aid prepared: 2001
David T. Euler, Archives Intern

Finding aid edited: October 2005
Bill Brock, Collection Management Archivist

Catalog Headings

The following headings have been used to index the description of this collection in the society’s electronic catalog.

Corporate Subject

First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York.

Mercer Street Presbyterian Church (New York, N.Y.)

University Place Presbyterian Church (New York, N.Y.)

Madison Square Presbyterian Church (New York, N.Y.)

Madison Square Church House (New York, N.Y.)

Geographic Subject

New York (N.Y.)--Church history.

Genre-form

Minutes (administrative records) aat

Registers (lists) aat

Corporate Added Name

Mercer Street Presbyterian Church (New York, N.Y.)

University Place Presbyterian Church (New York, N.Y.)

Madison Square Presbyterian Church (New York, N.Y.)

Madison Square Church House (New York, N.Y.)

Collection Inventory

Box

Folder

Description

Alternative Formats

Finding Aid to Record Group 413

SERIES I: FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, 1717-1954

Session minutes, 1765-1808; list of baptisms, 1766-1803; and a "Brief Narrative of the Origin and Progress of the First Presbyterian Church in the City of New York," undated

Digital

Session minutes (unofficial), 1804-1815