The First Reformed Church of Athens

Situated on the west bank of the Hudson river, Athens stands midway between New York's first capital, Kingston, and its present capital, Albany.  The village boasts a public library, a large playground and Little League baseball field, its own elementary school, four churches, and many private homes dating from the mid-nineteenth century.  It has an annual Street Festival, a village-wide weekend tag sale, and an historical society.

The Reformed Church in America is the denomination with which our congregation is affiliated.  We are the longest standing sect in the "New World" with a continuous ministry since Jonas Michaelius set  up the Dutch "Church in the Fort" in lower Manhattan in April of 1628.  We are Calvinist, which means that we take our theological leanings from the thought and practice of John Calvin (1509-1564) who believed Scripture to be the foremost authority for Christians, and modeled the governance of congregational affairs after the organization of the early church.

The First Reformed Church in Athens was organized in 1826, and has had a continuous ministry in the village since that time.  Its first pastor was the Reverend David Abeel, whose notoriety in the Reformed Church in America stems from his work establishing the denomination's mission in Amoy, China, to which he was called from his charge at Athens.

The present congregation prides itself on its ministries of education and of music.  We have an active Sunday school, superintended by Kristen Lindstrom, which meets every week during the public school year and participates in worship.  Our director of music, Kathy Boyer, directs and accompanies our adult and children's vocal choirs as well as conducts our Junior Bell Choir and the Hudson River Bells.  All of our musical groups present their work in worship regularly.  In addition, the choirs do "run-outs" to local nursing homes and schools, and give concerts at the church and by invitation.  Members of the congregation lend their instrumental and vocal talents as needed  during the summer and for soli and accompaniment in special anthems.

You are welcome to join us any Sunday morning for Christian Education at 9:15 and worship at 10:30 from the second Sunday in September to the last Sunday of June.  From July through the Sunday of Labor Day weekend we worship at 10:00 in the morning.  We hope you'll give us the chance to help you feel right at home.

The First Reformed Church of Athens

Post Office Box 101, Athens, New York  12015

18 North Church Street

Church telephone (518) 945-1801

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