HISTORY
The First Presbyterian Church is one of the most visible and historic buildings in East Hampton--our carillon can be heard throughout the village. Founded in 1648, East Hampton is one of the earliest English settlements and has a long, rich farming and fishing history. The First Church was established by Puritan settlers that same year and evolved over the years, becoming a Presbyterian church in 1746. The minister at the time became a charter member of the Suffolk County Presbytery. This church was the only church in town for over 200 years. In 1861, about the same time the town began its transition into a growing, sophisticated summer resort, the church moved to its current location.
1649 First Church
First Presbyterian Church traces its origins to this early, lay-led Puritan worship. In 1648, Puritans bought several thousand acres of land from Montauk Indians and founded East Hampton on the eastern end of Long Island; there they quickly established a lay church. In 1648 the first settlers of East Hampton worshiped in"Thomas Baker's ordinary" or tavern. By 1651, the town council assigned a minister, Thomas James, and paid him a salary of 44 pounds and “one horse.” A meeting house, a rude log chapel, was built house in what is now the "South End Burying" ground. Twenty-two years later in 1673 the church was enlarged. It was enlarged again in 1696/1698. By 1717, it became apparent that a completely new church was needed.
1717 Church
In 1717 a large and elegant building was constructed about where Guild Hall now stands. The building served the community for almost 150 years. In 1747, this "olde Town Church" became Presbyterian.
1861 Church
Original facade of 1861 Church in a Romanesque Revival style with double entrances. This church replaced the 1717 church. The church had two steeples. It was converted to a one steeple church in 1960/61.
1961 Church - The Church Today
The present building was constructed in 1860 and extensively remodeled in 1960-1961 to resemble the "New England Meeting House" style of architecture.
Session House
The Session House, originally stood on Main Street near where Whites Pharmacy is today. It was a community prayer meeting house. It then was moved alongside the church, facing Main Street, and was called the Chapel. It was moved to its current location in 1926 and placed atop a large basement foundation for Sunday School rooms. The Steeple belfry of the Session House held the bell from the 1858 shipwreck of the John Milton. The steeple was destroyed in the Hurricane of 1938. It was rebuilt the following year and the bell was hung again. The bell of the John Milton was permanently loaned in 2012 to the Montauk Lighthouse Museum.
More on the Session House→
The Manse
The manse is home to the church minister. Originally built in c. 1830, it was expanded in the 1880s. Prior to becoming the Church Manse it was home to Thomas Isaac and Family. An earlier manse, located next to what is now St. Lukes Church, was sold in 1895.
More on the Manse→
Rowdy Hall
Rowdy Hall, was a home that stood, next to the church. It was moved to Gay Lane and later to its present location on the westerly corner of David and Egypt Lane.
More History
Booklet - A Brief History of the First Presbyterian Church of East Hampton 1648 - 1998,
by Rev. John Ames (35page pdf file)The Beecher Hand House - A Brief History of Our Village Hall by Averill D. Geus
Church Records from 1830-1850 including baptisms, marriages, and deaths. This voume contains Baptisms from 1831-1835, 1849 and 1850 with Marriages from 1830 to 1849 and Deaths between 1830-1849. This is one of several volumes from the East Hampton Presbyerian Church Records, and it includes names of people of color, including formerly enslaved people. East Hampton Library Long Island Collection.
David Huntting, Historical Address to East Hampton Presbyterian Sunday School, 1875 This address was given to the Sunday School students at East Hampton Presbyterian Church in 1874, and published by the Sunday School in 1875. East Hampton Library Long Island Collection