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 used the St. George Episcopal Church building each group using different entrances to the building. The church was founded in 1769, when the members decided to build a wooden church structure. The first settled pastor was Rev. Alexander Miller in 1771. The present church building was copied from the Ransom Court Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania under Rev. Alexander Monteith pastorate(1809-0815). 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 made in 1859. The congregation helped start several other churches in the neighbourhood including State Street Presbyterian Church in 1869. In 1900 Union Presbyterian church was established in Schenectady with 81 members. Two dominant pastors, Dr. Bachus in the 1800s and a century later Rev. Herbert Meckeel, brought strong conservative, evangelical teaching. Rev. Jonathan Trumbull Bachus pastored the congregation from 1832 to 1872, under his leadership the congregation grew significantly, and established East Avenue now State Street Presbyterian Church. Rev. Bachus was the elected moderator of the UPC in 1870. Rev. Herbert S. Mekeel pastored the church to 1837 to 1979. He brought strong evangelical teaching. Many members were dissatisfied and went to the liberal First Reformed Church, but Rev. Mekeel held his ground, and later the congregation grew even greater strength than was before. The United Presbyterian Church in the United States of America adopted the Confession of 1967. The congregation was against replacing the Westminster Confession to other confessions. In 1975 the congregation decided to petition the Presbytery of Albany to let First Presbyterian to change the denominational affiliation. In 1977 the congregation voted to severe all relations with Albany Presbytery. This led to legal wrangling over the church property. In 1984 the court was decided in favor of the church. In September 1989 First Presbyterian Church affiliated with the PCA. In 2010 the church celebrated its 250th anniversary. The current senior pastor is Dr. Lawrence Roff.