Our first building was located at the foot of Madison Avenue, on the Hudson River.  As the congregation grew and our needs changed, we moved to different locations within the city.  Our fourth, and present, building was built just after the Revolutionary War, in 1798, at the corner of North Pearl and Orange Streets.  Just prior to the first Worship service in our "new" building a memorial service was held for Alexander Hamilton.  During the time he served as governor of New York State, Theodore Roosevelt was a member of First Church.  The building was designed by architect Philip Hooker, and the windows by Tiffany.  The hand carved "hour glass" pulpit, imported from Holland in 1656, still graces our Sanctuary and is the oldest pulpit in America.

On display in our lobby is the Sarah Faye Sumner Memorial Window, a work by Louis Comfort Tiffany.  It was a gift to the congregation by Miss Emily D. Sumner, in memory of her sister, who taught Sunday School for many years.  Also on display is the traditional Dutch weathercock fabricated for one of our churches in 1656.

In 1974, the church was recognized as a National Historic Site by an act of the United State Congress.  To make the church accessible for the elderly and physically impaired a major renovation of the parish house, with incorporation of an elevator, and the addition of a new lobby entrance from the parking lot, was completed in 1988.

Our congregation is proud of its Dutch heritage chronicled in its extensive archival records dating back to the 17^th century, and its many historic relics, including the country's oldest pulpit and weathervane, notable pieces of early colonial silver, and its magnificent old sanctuary echoing with centuries of historic proclamations.