First Presbyterian Church of Oyster Bay

Infobox_nrhp2 | name =First Presbyterian Church of Oyster Bay
nrhp_type =

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caption = Oyster Bay Presbyterian Church, 2008
location= Oyster Bay, New York
lat_degrees = 40
lat_minutes = 52
lat_seconds = 18
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 73
long_minutes = 31
long_seconds = 45
long_direction = W
locmapin = New York
area =
built =1873
architect= Cady,J. Cleveland
architecture= Stick/Eastlake
added = December 12, 1976cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2008-04-15|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = Private
refnum=76001232The First Presbyterian church ministry began in Oyster Bay, New York in 1842. In early days the congregation had no permanent church building. A travelling pastor from Hempstead, Rev. Woodbridge, preached at the Oyster Bay Academy or at the Baptist Church on West Main St.

The first church building was located on East Main St. at the rear half of the present Nobman's Hardware. In the 1850s the congregation faced financial difficulties and were unable to function. Growth and reorganization occurred in the 1860s so that by 1872 led by Pastor Benjamin L. Swan, they began building this beautiful church on the hill.

The architect they selected was J. Cleveland Cady at what was the start of a distinguished career. Cady would go on to design the original Metropolitan Opera House, American Museum of Natural History, buildings at Yale University, Trinity College, and 23 other churches. This church was his first and the only one designed in the Stick Style or Carpenter Gothic.

Dramatic arched entryways inside are inscribed with Biblical verses. A Hillborn Roosevelt pipe organ was placed at front of church. Billy Swan donated and played the organ for next 52 years. Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Roosevelt, Sr. and children were parishoners. When Mr. Roosevelt, Sr. died, his son Theodore Roosevelt returned for his fathers funeral service held here. Theodore Roosevelt wrote in his diary how he saw his father sitting beside him the pew, "as distinctly as if he were alive."

To recognize its historic significance, this property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. [National Register of Historic Places, listed December 12, 1976.]

References