"The name Lansingburgh is best known today as the northern suburb of the city of Troy, New York. It is located about 150 miles north of New York City, and occupies the east bank of the historic Hudson River. However the village of Lansingburgh was in existence almost 30 years before Troy was incorporated in 1798.

 

Lansingburgh is the oldest settled region and first chartered village in New York's Rensselaer County, an area of hills, forest, and river plains covering about 658 square miles. Lansingburgh was a thriving mercantile village before the American Revolution, when today's city of Troy was still farmland.

 

Abraham Jacob Lansing established the area that encompasses Lansingburgh . . . in 1763, as a 5,000-acre farm. Only eight years later, in 1771, Lansing laid out his land into a square of 2-by-1.5 miles with 288 building lots, streets, alleys, and and oblong square village green in the center.

 

The "Burgh," as it is called today, was annexed to the city of Troy in 1900, but present-day residents of Lansingburgh still have a deep sense of a separate identity and their own claim to fame. Lansingburgh has made its own contributions to national politics, literature, and sports.

 

Residents are eager to point out that on April 17, 1775, 46 of their leading inhabitants signed a proclamation opposing England's rule that may be the first Declaration of Independence signed in the country, a year before the historic July Fourth proclamation of the Colonies.

 

Chester A. Arthur, the 21st President of the United States, lived and was educated here and taught locally. His father was a well-known local preacher.

 

Famed novelist Herman Melville, best known for Moby Dick, also spent his youth here. Melville's boyhood home, now the Lansingburgh Historical Society, is where he wrote his first two novels."

...taken from the

'Introduction' to "Images of America: Lansingburgh"

by Don Rittner

Copyright 1999 by Don Rittner

Published by Arcadia Publishing,

Charleston, SC 29401

In 1827, the formal organization of the Methodist Society in Lansingburgh was established. As the Village of Lansingburgh grew, the church grew, outgrowing two successive buildings. The first of three church buildings, housing the congregation known as St. Marks, was built on the banks of the Hudson River in 1810. Two Methodist ministers, Revs. Joel Ketchum and Elijah Chichester, located in Lansingburgh to coordinate the already formed "class meetings" which established this congregation. The second building was erected at 3rd Ave and 114th Street. The present building of the St. Mark's congregation, has been located at the corner of 3rd Ave and 116th Street since 1849. The building has endured the great flood of 1903 when the Hudson River surrounded the building, and a fire in 1952 which required extensive renovations.

 

From its beginnings in 1810 Methodism has ministered to the Lansingburgh community. Membership has grown at times, and has shrunk at times, only to grow again. In the early 19th century, men from this congregation joined with men from other Methodist congregations in Troy, NY, to pray, plan and develop a dynamic Camp Meeting at Round Lake, NY. Throughout our history, women from this congregation have participated with women from other Methodist congregations to support missions world wide.

 

Changes have certainly happened over the history of this congregation. The community, as well as the church, has changed names several times. The community began as a vibrant commercial village and now serves as a bedroom community for a variety of commercial and government workers. The congregation has accommodated the population with active men's, women's and youth organizations. Local missions have played an important role in the ministry of the church and music has played an important part of the worship services.

 

Two mergers have occurred which has enhanced the membership of this congregation. In 1925, Hedding Methodist Episcopal Church, located on 5th. Ave. in Lansingburgh, closed because an extensive fire destroyed the church building. During 1939, the people of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, merged to form The Methodist Church. In doing so it sought to undo a tragic split in the denomination begun at the prelude of the American Civil War. In 1968, The Methodist Church and the Evangelical United Brethren Church (once colloquially known as the "German Methodists") merged to become The United Methodist Church. In 1970, Grace United Methodist Church, located on 6th Ave. in Troy, closed and merged with the St. Mark's United Methodist congregation. The resulting new congregation, using the former St. Mark's building, became known simply as The United Methodist Church of Lansingburgh. 

 

Extensive renovations have occurred to the St. Mark's building on several occasions. In 1903, following the flood, major changes were made in the sanctuary. The ceiling was lowered, a panel wall was erected creating a Narthex, and the organ and choir loft were moved from the rear of the sanctuary to the front, behind the pulpit. The fire of 1952 required replacement of the stained glass windows and the rebuilding of the chancel area. In 1952, the stained glass windows were refurbished, an organ facade added, choir loft risers rebuilt, and a new sanctuary rug installed.

 

Our 150th anniversary was celebrated on Sunday, November 21, xxxx with the Rev. Susan Murch Morrison, Bishop of the Albany Area of The United Methodist Church as guest preacher. The Liturgist was the Rev. Arthur Hagy, Embury District Superintendent. A banquet was held at the Sunset Banquet House in Lansingburgh following the Worship service.

 

As in the past, our community is progressing through change. The 1990 census has revealed that our community is primarily made of young working singles. We are seeing many newcomers moving into the community who are Hispanic and African American. The melting pot of New York City is spilling over into our community.

 

For many years, the congregations of The United Methodist Church of Lansingburgh and First Presbyterian Church of Lansingburgh have enjoyed a sense of shared history and ministry within the Lansingburgh community. A few years back, the two congregations began explorations in joint worship and Christian Education. Beginning September 2002, the pastoral ministries of each congregation have been yoked as we are seek new and creative ways of sharing in ministry within our common community. As the community around us changes, so do we. 

For all this we give God thanks!