First Lutheran Church (Albany, New York)

First Lutheran Church is a Lutheran congregation in Albany, New York. Founded in 1649 as Ebenezer Lutheran Church, First Lutheran is the oldest congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America [http://www.elca.org/ScriptLib/RE/Trendnet/cdsTrendNet.asp?Id=A5A3A6AE93] and is the only congregation in the ELCA to be founded during the Dutch period of American history. [ [http://www.firstlutheranalbany.org/history1.htm http://www.firstlutheranalbany.org/history1.htm] ] . It is also the oldest Lutheran congregation in the United States. When the congregation was founded, it was a part of the Dutch settlement of New Netherland; it later adopted German and then English in 1808 for use during worship. [ [http://www.firstlutheranalbany.org/history1.htm http://www.firstlutheranalbany.org/history1.htm] ] The congregation began to use the name First Lutheran Church in 1871.

The congregation has worshipped in five different buildings; the current building has been in use since 1929. [ [http://www.firstlutheranalbany.org/flc94hist.htm http://www.firstlutheranalbany.org/flc94hist.htm] ] . In 1926, another Lutheran congregation, the Church of the Redeemer, was consolidated with First Lutheran Church. First Lutheran is currently a part of the Upstate New York Synod of the ELCA. The current pastor is the Reverend Robert A. Victorson

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