Adapted from the 1974 House Tour Guide.

There was no Presbyterian congregation in Roslyn until 1849, when at the instigation of Mrs. James W. Losee, steps were taken to form one. On October 26, 1849, the Reverend Franklin Merrill, who was in charge of a Presbyterian church in a town about ten miles distant, gave the first sermon at the Locust Hill Academy,(110 Main Street), lent for the purpose by Henry W. Eastman, who was then conducting a school there. Reverend Graves, the Congregational minister from Hempstead, shared the ministerial responsibilities until 1850, when Merrill became the sole pastor.

There was no formal organization until January 24, 1850 when, at a Thursday evening service, the gathering formed itself into the Roslyn Presbyterian Association, and elected its first trustees: James Losee, Stephen A. Ketcham, James W. Smith (James & William Smith House, 106 Main Street, Tour Guide 1973-74), Joseph J. Hegeman and Franklin Merrill. On August 2, 1850, Daniel Bogart, who later owned the Epenetus Oakley House (Oakley-Field-Bogart, No. 76 Main Street, Tour Guide 1973-74), was appointed Clerk of the Association (Roslyn Plain Dealer, 9 August 1850).

The small Association continued to meet at the Academy and elsewhere, but plans for building their own church were already being formulated. Subscriptions were taken up for the purpose of building, but they were resolved not to begin actual procedures until $1000 had been collected. The mark was reached in July of 1850. (Manuscript Records, Roslyn Presbyterian Church. Made available by the Rev. Stark Jones, Pastor).

On August 2, a committee consisting of Daniel Hegeman, James Losee and Franklin Merrill was appointed to consider the building of the church (Roslyn Plain Dealer, 9 August 1850). They worked quickly, and eight days later submitted their report to the Association. They recommended a structure 34 feet in width and 40 feet long, 18 feet from the sills to the top of the outer walls. The cost of framing and enclosing the building, installing the doors and window sash, laying the floors and painting, was estimated between $950 and $1000. (Report of the Building Committee, 10 August 1850).

Adapted from the 2004 House Tour Guide.

By around 1920 the increasing Roslyn Presbyterian congregation began to outgrow the small building on East Broadway which had to serve as church and Sunday School. A report dated March 5, 1922, prepared as required by the Presbytery of Brooklyn - Nassau, discussed the deplorable condition of the building and stated that a new edifice had been considered for "many years". There existed a "strong sentiment and desire" for such a new church building, and those feelings had "caused an indifference to upkeep and a consequent neglect of the present structure and its interior furnishings.. .The condition of the building is a constant source of discomfort and shame to ourselves and our would-be friends...". The most substantial complaints, however, were not structural at all, but dealt with "faded, stained and peeling wall paper", incessant dust arising from worn-out carpets too fragile for cleaning, and general disrepair resulting from overuse.

This appeal must have had its effect, for in November, 1922, the church bought the site of their present building on the west side of East Broadway from the Roslyn Neighborhood Association (Records, Roslyn Presbyterian Church); plans were drawn in 1924, and after a hiatus of four years, the cornerstone was laid in May, 1928, and the building completed in July.

View looking east across Silver Lake. The church can be seen in the background. 1912

Circa 1920

Elevations of the church drawn by architect Guy Ladd Frost, January 1974.