About Us
Whether you're visiting us for the first time or St. John's is your home, we're glad you are interested in learning more!
How it all began...
St. John's is a part of the oldest continuously worshipping protestant denomination in the United States, The Reformed Church in America, (aka, the RCA) founded in 1628. The RCA traces its roots to the Netherlands and the Reformation of John Calvin in Geneva, Switzerland. The RCA is a mainline Christian denomination and a founding member of the National Council of Churches, a member of the World Council of Churches, and the World Communion of Reformed Churches. St. John's is part of the Mid-Hudson Classis (our church district), and the Regional Synod of New York.
The official date for the the beginning of St. John's Reformed Church is November 9, 1788 when its first consistory (board) was elected. Domini Petrus DeWitt was the first minister serving this congregation. There is history of the congregation before then. As far back as 1721 German Reformed, Lutherans, Dutch Reformed residents in the area worshipped together, most likely under the pastoral care of Domini Petrus Vas of Kingston.
The Red Church, located on Rt. 9G in Tivoli, is St. John's Parent Church. The Red Church is no longer a working church structure, but its ministry lives on in the church gathered at St. John's Reformed Church in Upper Red Hook, New York.
St. John's has been a vibrant, worshipping community committed to following Jesus Christ in mission for centuries! Our current confessing membership is around 70 with an average attendance of 40-60 on Sundays.
If you're curious about how we're governed...
We have a presbyterian form of church governance. Presbyterian is from a Greek word meaning elder. A Presbyterian form of church government means that a board (called a consistory) is elected by the congregation and makes sure that things are done decently and in order as stated in I Corinthians 14:40. The consistory is made up of the elders, deacons, and installed minister of word and sacrament. Our board of elders consists of women and men, as does our board of deacons.
If you're curious about The RCA's beliefs....
Follow this link: https://www.rca.org/rca-basics/creeds-and-confessions.