First Presbyterian Church
200th Anniversary

The First Presbyterian Church on Fifth Avenue, be¬
tween Eleventh and Twelfth Streets, which has been
called the mother of all the Presbyterian churches in the
New York Presbytery, celebrated the 200th anniversary
by a series of meetings, beginning December 3, 1916, and
continuing throughout the week. The occasion was also
taken advantage of to celebrate the silver jubilee of its
pastor, Dr. Howard Duffield, who is one of a long list of
distinguished men who have served this church. To Dr.
Duffield is credited the work of securing the church to
lower Fifth Avenue by his efforts in obtaining the large
endowment necessary to accomplish this object.

The old First Church fills a large place in the history
of Presbyterianism in New York and consequently this
celebration brought together representatives from most
■of the historic and civic organizations of the city and
clergymen from all the other Protestant communions.
Gov. Whitman, John G. Hibben, President of Princeton
University, Bishop David H. Greer, and Bishop Luther
B. Wilson were among those who took part in the cele¬
bration. An interesting account of the church was given
by Dr. Dufifield, who recounted the leading facts of its
history from the time six citizens met in the home of
William Jackson in Pearl Street in 1716 down to the
present time, when the church has a membership of
1324.

The church in Wall Street which we are so familiar
with in old prints was erected in 1719. Jonathan Ed¬
wards, who had such powerful influence in the religious
life of the country, was its most noted pastor. George
Whitfield also preached in this church and it was used
as a prison by the British during the Revolution. The
present church edifice in Fifth Avenue was erected in
1845.

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