Erected by the
Rockland County Society
to commemorate the establishment of the
New Hempstead Presbyterian Church
as the second religious organization in the
present County of Rockland, New York.
This church was founded a few years after 1713, when New Hempstead was settled by people of English descent from Hempstead, Long Island, N.Y. In the beginning, the congregation probably met in a log schoolhouse known to have been raised on this corner by the pioneer inhabitants. The first church was built here shortly after 1742, and because its services were conducted in the English language at a time when Dutch was spoken in all other parts of this county, the new place of worship came to known commonly as
"The English Meeting House"
During the Revolution, this neighborhood, at the junction of the roads, was an important military position, and Continental troops were stationed here on several occasions. The rough handling to which "The English Meeting House" was subjected in this trying period, left it at the close of the war in a dismantled condition. Its restoration by the congregation followed the Advent of Peace in 1783. The present church edifice, constructed during the summer of 1827, was dedicated December 4th of the same year.
This tablet placed December 4th, 1927.
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