Founded in 1716 by a Dutch Reformed Congregation, and Dutchess County's oldest continuing congregation, the First Reformed Church holds a distinguished place in the Fishkill Community. Prior to the construction of the building in 1725, services were held in people's homes and barns. Services were still in Dutch until after the American Revolution.
Within its walls the Church has hosted: the Provincial Congress (briefly making Fishkill the temporary capital of New York state); John Jay; Philip Livingston and Lewis Morris (two signers of the Declaration of Independence); and Robert Livingston (who helped draft the Declaration of Independence and would later administer the presidential oath of office to George Washington). Washington also attended services here.
This building was also used during the Revolution as a military prison. Between 1785 and 1795, the church was enlarged and remodeled and balconies were added. The gold leaf rooster weather vane, added in 1795, represents Peter’s denial of Jesus, and once, one would have been found on almost every Reformed Church. Take a stroll through the churchyard and read inscriptions on the ancient stones - the earliest known stone is dated 1737.
Within its walls the Church has hosted: the Provincial Congress (briefly making Fishkill the temporary capital of New York state); John Jay; Philip Livingston and Lewis Morris (two signers of the Declaration of Independence); and Robert Livingston (who helped draft the Declaration of Independence and would later administer the presidential oath of office to George Washington). Washington also attended services here.
This building was also used during the Revolution as a military prison. Between 1785 and 1795, the church was enlarged and remodeled and balconies were added. The gold leaf rooster weather vane, added in 1795, represents Peter’s denial of Jesus, and once, one would have been found on almost every Reformed Church. Take a stroll through the churchyard and read inscriptions on the ancient stones - the earliest known stone is dated 1737.