page_title: First Presbyterian Church (Buffalo, New York)
section_title: The Brick Church, also known as "Old First" Church (1827–1890)
hierarchical_section_title: First Presbyterian Church (Buffalo, New York) / The Brick Church, also known as "Old First" Church (1827–1890)
caption_attribution_description: English: Scan of the 1853 Subscription Document proposing to erect a new edifice on the same site as the Old Brick church. By January 1854 over $100,000.00 was raised, then by April plans for a new building were selected and bids were advertised. However, no responsible architect or builder was found that would undertake the project, so the plan was abandoned and the funds were returned to the subscribers. Source: First Presbyterian Church Archives.
context_page_description: The First Presbyterian Church in Buffalo, New York was the first organized religious body formed in what was then the western frontier of New York State. The town of Buffalo was sparsely populated when the church was organized on February 2, 1812. However, having survived the War of 1812, the town of Buffalo was rebuilt and rapidly grew with the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825. The first two buildings were located on the same downtown lot. However, the congregation relocated between 1889 and 1891 to its present location approximately one and-a-half miles to the north in a more residential area.
context_section_description: The Brick Church, dedicated in March 1827, with a seating of approximately 800, was at the time of its dedication, the largest church building west of the Genesee River. An imposing, square red structure, trimmed in immaculate white, with a balustrade around the roof and a clock and bell tower surmounted by a golden ball that blazed in the sunlight, it served as a landmark for mariners on Lake Erie. Following some formalities by the congregations second pastor, Rev. Gilbert Crawford.  Foster Young broke ground for the building with an oxen drawn plow starting at Main Street and working his way towards Pearl Street. Theodore Coburn furnished the mason work began on June 23, 1826, and was completed by September 22, 1826, before the inclement weather set in, thus, work could continue undisturbed inside during the winter months.  Henry Brayman provided the woodwork; the total price for the construction was $17,500.00.  Early church members played their part in assisting in the construction, for example, Joseph Stocking took time around noon to help carry bricks for the mason, while other members wheeled sand or lime to the site for mortar.
  On the day of the buildings dedication, on Wednesday, March 28, 1827, started at eleven o’clock, with everyone, participants, clergy, choir members all packed into the little wooden frame church that still stood to the north of the plot, and in a solemn procession marched the few hundred steps over to the new building. The dedication day service was three hours in length, and was led by Rev. Gilbert Crawford, D.D., assisted by former pastor Rev. Miles P. Squire, D.D., who traveled from his home in Geneva, New York, to attend the event, both offered prayers. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Ansel D. Eddy, the text from Luke 10:20.  The choir, believed to have been led by William Ketchum, sang "I Was Glad" and "Lord, From Thine Inmost Glory, Send".  During those early years, pews were "sold" to families or individuals subject to a pew tax of seven per cent, of the original valuation. The pew rental rate was increased several times during the years until it reached seventy-five per cent.
  Entrance to the church was through three large doors that opened into a high, spacious vestibule with circular stairways on the right and left that led to the upstairs gallery or balcony.  Directly across from the center entrance was the middle door into the high, square, well-lit sanctuary that for many years was an unpainted white. The balcony that ran around three sides of the sanctuary was supported by wooden posts with the broad center isle leading to the front of the sanctuary where the old wooden pulpit was hung.  The pulpit, supported by two Corinthian pillars of wood, was surmounted by a crimson cushion and was quite an imposing structure.  A high crimson curtain hung behind the pulpit arranged in a row of straight folds or "flutes", like the pipes of a great organ topped with a straight lambrequin of the same material.  The pulpit had doors on either side, similar to those in the pews below, from which the minister entered.  Opposite the pulpit in the gallery was the choir loft, this opened from a large room that was directly over the vestibule where the choir practiced, and instruments were tuned.
  The 50th anniversary of the church was a celebrated event where the longest-surviving church member, Dr. Bristol, (although not the oldest member of the church) addressed the congregation during the service; Dr. Bristol was also a member of session at that time.  Prayers were led by Dr. Steilman of Dunkirk and Rev. Dr. Walter Clarke. Letters were read from former pastors Dr. Squier and Dr. Thompson, who were unable to attend in person.  The choir sang "Every Star-Thirty-Four" with music by the organist, Mr. Degenhard.
  The building exterior was in later years painted a warm grey, as shown in existing photographs. This was performed during an ambitious remodeling of the building between June and August 1870 where the original high pulpit was cut down and in its place, a platform was added three fe
caption: Scan of original 1853 Subscription Document
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