North Dutch Reformed Church, New York City

The North Dutch Church temple was erected by the Protestant Reformed Dutch Church Society on the corner of Fulton and William streets and dedicated on May 25, 1769.

The Reformed Dutch Church was established in New Amsterdam (now New York) in 1628, during the Dutch rule. The first temple was erected in 1633. During the English rule, the Reformed Dutch Church of New York was incorporated, in 1696, under a charter granted by King William III of England as Collegiate Church.

In 1842, the Dutch Church moved to a new temple inside the old fort. They moved again, in 1693, to the Garden Street Church. In the 18th century, as the community grew, the Dutch Church expanded. In 1731, the New Dutch Church was completed on the corner of Nassau Street and Crown (now Liberty) Street. Then, the Garden Street Church became the Old Dutch Church. After the North Dutch Church was dedicated in 1769, the New Dutch Church became the Middle Dutch Church and the Old Dutch Church became the South Dutch Church.

The North Dutch Church was built on part of a large farm donated by John Harpending, a worthy tanner. The cornerstone was laid on July 2 1767 by James Roosevelt. Construction was delayed due to lack of funds. The temple was dedicated on Thursday, May 25, 1769, by Rev. Archibald Laidlie. The pillars were heavy and elaborately carved. The pulpit was of mahogany and a wonderful piece of Dutch carving was imported from the Netherlands. The bell was cast in Amsterdam in 1768.

During the Independence War (1775-1783) the Church was desecrated and dismantled by the British. The pulpit was shipped to England. The pews and woodwork were used for fuel. The building was used for storage, as a hospital and as a prison. In 1872 two, cannons still stood on either corner of the church enclosure on William Street. They were fired when the British fleet attacked the City. After the evacuation of New York by the British troops, in 1783, the church was restored and formally reopened on September 26, 1784.

In the summer of 1856, the temple was closed for a number of weeks for the purpose of being repaired. On February 27, 1872, a twenty years' lease of the ground on which the temple stood was offered at auction by the Church, but the auction failed. The reason assigned by the Consistory for its removal was mainly that money would be of benefit in establishing new missions and fields of labor for the church. In November, the same year, the St. Nicholas Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church, on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 48th Street, was consecrated.

In 1875, during the works of demolition the tower fell to the westward, striking the five-story building at 103 Fulton Street. On July 7, 1875, the demolition of this old temple was completed. Its bell was exhibited in the Marble Collegiate Church in Fifth Avenue.