The Presbyterian Church at Goshen was the first of this denomination established in Orange County. Its first edifice stood at the site now occupied by the Court House.
The second Presbyterian Church was that at Goodwill. It was originally established for the use of immigrants principally from County Londonderry, Ireland. Its first pastor was Rev. John Houston. Out of this organization rose not less than five others, namely: Neelytown, Hamptonburgh, Hopewell, Graham, Berea and Montgomery. Its first house of worship is said to have been erected in 1735.
The third Presbyterian Church of Cornwall at Bethlehem, was organized in 1730. From it sprang into existence the first Presbyterian Church of Newburgh, and the first of New Windsor (now defunct).
The following statement was prepared by the Rev. Charles O. Hammer:
| Churches. | Pastors. | Membership | Money | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1902 | 1906 | Raised | ||
| Amity | R. H. Craig, LL.D. | 92 | 102 | $1,086.80 |
| Denton | J. L. Harrington | 45 | 33 | 725.60 |
| Chester | R. H. McCready, Ph.D. | 284 | 278 | 3,378.56 |
| Goshen | F. S. Haines | 630 | 393 | 7,792.92 |
| Montgomery | T. D. Elder | 186 | 205 | 4,416.72 |
| Port Jervis | Vacant | 410 | 335 | 3,635.86 |
| Scotchtown | " | 126 | 119 | 1,156.70 |
| Goodwill | J. H. Thompson | 143 | 152 | 1,811.48 |
| Ramapo | R. B. Marble | 320 | 304 | 5,674.00 |
| Hopewell | J. S. E. Erskine | 142 | 128 | 1,136.32 |
| Westtown | F. H. Bisbee | 160 | 169 | 1,638.72 |
| Middletown, 1st | W. R. Ferris | 465 | 465 | 7,328.00 |
| Monroe | Vacant | 111 | 114 | 1,870.00 |
| Suffern | Pastor Elect | ___ | 166 | 2,225.40 |
| Hamptonburgh | W. B. Johnson | 127 | 162 | 2,085.32 |
| Ridgebury | F. A. Gates | 82 | 86 | 1,381.24 |
| Washingtonville | J. A. McCallum | 126 | 146 | 2,102.44 |
| Florida | Vacant | 155 | 170 | 2,699.90 |
| Centerville | " | 43 | 40 | 412.00 |
| Circleville | " | 105 | 118 | 1,137.44 |
| Middletown, 2nd | Pastor Elect | 400 | 486 | 6,408.72 |
| Mt. Hope | Vacant | 29 | 26 | 290.24 |
| Otisville | " | 114 | 109 | 1,010.24 |
| Slate Hill | " | ___ | 44 | 786.96 |
| Calvary, N. B. City | J. Searles | 282 | 284 | 10,840.50 |
| First, " " " | Vacant | 506 | 490 | 9,700.59 |
| Union, " " " | S. K. Piercy | 400 | 400 | 7,044.03 |
| Grand St.," " " | R. H. Barr | ___ | ___ | ________ |
| Bethlehem S'l'y Mills | I. Maxwell | 174 | 196 | 2,274.25 |
| Cornwall | H. R. Fraser | 185 | 201 | 2,035.58 |
| Little Britain | J. S. King | 129 | 130 | 1,817.25 |
| Highland Falls | A. R. Barron | 113 | 135 | 1,880.25 |
| Canterbury | Supplied | 41 | 73 | 1,022.88 |
| _____ | _____ | __________ | ||
| 6,134 | 6,259 | $99,715.52 |
Churches 33 Vacant 8 Membership increase, 1902-1906 125
Reformed Presbyterian. The Reformed Presbyterians are the ecclesiastical descendants of the Covenanters of Scotland. In the latter half of the eighteenth century some of them who had come to Orange County, organized as a church society in Coldenham, and called as pastor, Rev. Dr. Alexander McLeod, who afterward became famous as a preacher in New York City. For five years, from 1812, Rev. James Mulligan was pastor, and he was followed by the eloquent J. R. Williams, who delivered the famous address at Goshen when the bones of the patriots who fell in the battle of Minisink were buried. The present pastor is Rev. Thomas Patton.
A society of Reformed Presbyterians was formed in Newburgh in 1802, and services were held for a time at the residence of James Clarke. This was a part of the Coldenham congregation until 1824, when it was organized as a separate society and called for its first pastor Rev. J. R. Johnston, who afterward joined the Presbyterian Church. The present pastor, Rev. J. W. V. Carlisle, is the successor of his father, who died in 1887.
December 12, 1854, a second Reformed Presbyterian society was organized in Newburgh, which is known as the Westminster Church. It has had but one pastor, Rev. J. R. Thompson, whose ministrations in December, 1907, had extended through the long period of fifty-two years. He has said of his church: "The motto of Harvard College is 'Pro Christo et Ecclesia'; but that of Reformed Presbyterians is, 'Pro Christo et Ecclesia et Patria.' Their aim is to Christianize the National government as well as the church."
The Protestant Episcopal Church. This branch of the Church Catholic now represented in Orange County is shown by the following statistical report. A brief general history of the Protestant Episcopal Church may be appreciated. Prior and up to the war of Independence, there were several places in the county where worship was maintained by the Church of England Society, for the propagation of the gospel in foreign parts, namely, at Newburgh on the Glebe, granted to them by King George; at St. David's in the vicinity of the present village of Washingtonville, and at St. Andrews west of Newburgh some twelve miles.