A History of St. John’s Reformed Church, formerly known as the Reformed Calvinist Church of the Upper Part of Palatine, marks a significant milestone in documenting the enduring legacy of this religious institution since its inception in 1770. Compiled by Norman Edwin Thomas in celebration of the church’s 175th anniversary, this book endeavors to capture the complex tapestry of events and affiliations that have shaped the church’s journey through nearly two centuries. While previous attempts have been made to chronicle the church’s history through various anniversary booklets, this is the first comprehensive attempt to marry its storied past with a detailed membership record. Recognizing the breadth of the church’s influence and its deep roots in the early days of the Mohawk Valley, Thomas’s work acknowledges the impossibility of capturing every detail within the confines of a single volume. This summary, crafted with diligence yet constrained by time, space, and resources, invites readers to appreciate the profound historical context of St. John’s Reformed Church, even as it acknowledges the inevitable omissions and errors that accompany such a vast undertaking.
When the 175th Anniversary celebration of St. John’s Church was first planned for the Fall of 1945, it was thought desirable that at last a permanent record be made of the great adventure which is her history. Booklets had been printed at odd times such as the occasion of the 150th anniversary in 1920, in 1933, and in 1937 but never has a comprehensive history and membership record been published. This book therefore is long overdue. Yet it cannot be said even now that a full history has been written of St. John’s. So detailed is it and so interwoven with the great episodes of the early Mohawk Valley days that it would take many more hundreds of pages to do it full justice. Rather this is a summary. There are innumerable facts left out for want of time and space. For these silences the writer begs to be excused.
Though this book has been well over a year in preparation it was at last published in haste and though it has been checked and re-checked, errors undoubtedly remain. Need for economy caused the alteration of the book’s format and forced the exclusion of the 56 pictures of service men and women which had been gathered. Their service records, however, are included.
Notes About the Book
- No Copyright.
- Irregular pagination.
- No index.
Source
Thomas, Norman Edwin. A history of St. John’s Reformed Church formerly the Reformed Calvinist Church of the Upper Part of Palatine in the county of Montgomery. St. Johnsville, N.Y. : St. John’s Reformed Church, 1947.