209 Union St Schenectady

 First Presbyterian Church
 
Presbyterian services had been held in Schenectady for some time prior to 1760.  During the 1760s the congregation shared worship space with the Episcopalians in St. George’s Church, having a separate entrance and seating arrangements.  In 1769, the congregation acquired a lot on the site of Mekeel Hall (built in 1843 and enlarged in 1857 and 1883) and built a small wood building whose form is preserved in the church’s seal.  The cornerstone of the present church building was placed in 1809 and, for the first century and a half, the Church was reached by a narrow drive or alley from Union Street that aligns with the main entrance doors.  In the mid-twentieth century, several buildings along Union Street were removed to create the present broad vista and parking lot.
 
The original 1809 building was substantially enlarged in 1834, again in 1859 with the construction of the transepts, and yet again in 1924 with the addition of the church study and choir room at the rear.  The church’s design is reputed to be based on the Ranstead Court Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, and is characterized by transitional detailing of the Federal and Greek Revival periods.  The cruciform floor plan of the church follows traditional Christian precedent.  The temple front of the central pavilion contains the main entrance doors with projecting porch surmounted by a Palladian window in the second level.  The pediment is enclosed by a horizontal cornice and rake cornice with classical modillion blocks and dentil courses, and a semi-circular window.  The steeple and bell tower is set back from the front of the building and is faced with smooth board siding.  
 
The church is built of red brick laid in Flemish bond, with white marble lintels and sills.  Slight differences in the brickwork indicate where changes have occurred to alter window locations.  The slate shingle roofing of the church is supported on original wood timber trusswork as is framing for the bell tower. The interior retains the original elliptical design and gallery, although the vaulted plaster ceiling reflects changes made in the mid-nineteenth century.