The Red Church uniquely defines itself and gains meaning from the unique glacier-tom mountains, valley and tidal estuary which is in its midst.  The earliest inhabitants of this nature rich valley called themselves Mahikan or people of the water that flows two ways.  James Fennimore Cooper immortalized these people in his book The Last Of The Mohegans.  Later, the English called the water way the Hudson River after that explorer.  In truth, it is not really a river at all but a 175 mile long tidal estuary, in half of which one can taste salt water.  Henry Hudson tells in his journals of the Indians harvesting and feasting on oysters the size of a man's hand and about small silver fish that filled one of his long boats almost to sinking.  The Dutch claimed this land as a result of Henry Hudson's exploration of the area in 1609.  His journals indicated that he anchored off a peninsula of land that had much red foliage on it, hence he called it Roode Hoek.  Later the land would change hands to the English who held it until America's Independence in 1776.  Little is known about the building of The Red Church.  Dates range from 1750 to its official dedication in 1766.  Dominies, Dutch overseers, governed the Church until it closed in 1840 for a lack of a viable congregation and a minister.  Ironically, The Red Church was saved from destruction by the Cemetery which officially incorporated it into its property in May 1917.  For the first time, "The Red Church" replaced "Reformed Dutch Church" on an official basis.  The Red Church has been looked after by the local people, with minimal repairs every twenty years or so, thus preventing nature from reclaiming it.  The last major repair was on our Bi-Centennial in 1976.
                   

Approximately $200,000 is urgently needed now to help preserve The Red Church.  Braces or supports surround the building to prevent it from shifting or even collapsing in on itself.  The bulk of repair or maintenance money in the past has come from individual local contributors.  More recently, historical State grants have been sought.  Grants on a Federal level are now being investigated since an adjoining section of the cemetery was used for slaves.  This area of its history went un-noticed until recently.  The Church and the Cemetery that surrounds it have seen thirteen wars come and go.  During the Revolutionary War the British who burned Kingston actually camped for a night in the Cemetery.  Since the British had burned several churches in the area, no one really knows why they spared The Red Church.  The Church's lack of notoriety, innocence and humble setting could be what saved it from being destroyed by the British.  Perhaps it is this same lack of notoriety, innocence and humbleness that still moves people today to protect it.  Perhaps the Church itself stands today as a reminder to all who see and touch it that this is where America all began.  In 1609 Henry Hudson sailing on the Half Moon anchored off Roode Hoek and sent a party of men ashore to barter for supplies with the Mahikan.  This same area became the bread basket of the Revolutionary War feeding Washington's troops at Valley Forge with bread made from local wheat.  This same valley would later become the birth place of the computer and micro chips that now help feed and protect America and the rest of the world.  The Red Church is where America first took root; this national treasure must be preserved!
              

What does the future hold for The Red Church?  With proper funding, The Red Church could be open for: tours, services, ceremonies, meetings, classes, a museum, weddings and funerals.  Parking, rest facilities, information and other conveniences can be added.  A local school has indicated an interest in making The Red Church part of its local history study.  While waiting for its funding The Red Church has had stabilization work done in the form of braces.  Grants have been applied for and there have been many fund raising sales, including paintings and books on The Red Church and a yearly wine and cheese get-together at the Village Hall.  There is also a yearly Masonic Lodge Family Picnic.  Each year the American Legion has Memorial Day Services at the Cemetery.  There are also Village Board meetings and weddings hosted at The Red Church.  All of the above can be expanded and built upon as monies become available.  Generally speaking, The Red Church not only can be used as a historic site open to the public but as a meeting place for community clubs, organizations, services and classes.  As mentioned earlier because of The Red Church's "non-denominational status," weddings, funeral services and other church related gatherings car be and have been held there.  A committee called The Red Church Building Fund was I established in the 1980's to raise funds for restoration.  In the past five years, it has raised $40,000.  It is this committee that is sponsoring this brochure and is looking for more volunteers to help in this worthwhile effort.  The committee's address and telephone number are:

Red Church Building Fund
P.O. Box 423, Tivoli, NY 12583
Telephone: (845) 757-3712
E-Mail

Please, contact them to find out how you can help.