Patterson 200 Years
Christ Church
(Episcopal)
1763 Christ Church was organized as the "Episcopal Mission at Fredericksburgh" by three former English officers who settled in the area after the end of the French and Indian War. Although the present building is the newest in the District, the site itself has been occupied since 1763, when the land on which the original log structure and the burying ground were located was set aside by Beverly Robinson and his wife Susanah from their part of the Philipse Patent.
The Episcopal Church in the Colonies was managed from England and was involved in the politics of the colonial government. Tory groups naturally gathered around the Episcopal clergy. As a result, the original church, while still standing in 1778, was closed during the Revolution. It is reported that it was used as an armory, guarded by the local militia under the command of Colonel Henry Ludington, because it was strategically located on the main road which ran from New England to the Hudson.
In 1782, Beverly Robinson's lands were taken by the State and sold, but this site was held back from the sale and kept for the church and a cemetery. The church was incorporated under New York law in 1797. Matthew Paterson, then judge of the Dutchess County Court of Common Pleas, signed the papers.
The congregation of Christ Church has worshipped in several different buildings on this site. The original church was taken down and replaced in 1814. In 1835 the congregation voted to replace that with a newer one and Trinity Church in New York donated almost 75 percent of the cost of a colonial style building which remained in use for 67 years. In 1902 it was torn down and replaced by a more modern structure, given in memory of the mother of Mrs. James Cornwall.
In February 1911, it burned to the ground. Nothing was saved. The loss to the congregation was great, but they were determined to rebuild within the year and with the help of many, both within and outside the congregation (including the Presbyterian Church and the grange), they did. The present building was dedicated on December 21, 1911.
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