The first minister of this persuasion to preach its tenets in the county was Mr. Halstead, pastor of a society at Fishkill, Dutchess County. April 24, 1790, a society was organized in Newburgh. In 1806 another society erected a place of worship at Luptondale, and established a burying ground.
The Baptist congregation at Warwick originated with the settlers from Connecticut. These organized what has since been known as the Old School Baptist Body. The first place of worship was erected on what is now the junction of the road leading from the village of Warwick, and the road leading from the Welling schoolhouse to Bellevale. In 1809 and 1810 the society bought land in Warwick, and erected the building which it now occupies.
THE LUTHERAN CHURCHES.
The Lutheran churches are St. Peters, Port Jervis, and St. Paul's, Newburgh. This society was founded by the immigrants from the Palatine, who were sent here in the reign of Queen Anne.
THE UNITARIAN CHURCH.
A Unitarian church, named the Church of Our Father, was organized at Fishkill-on-the-Hudson in 1847, at a private residence. The first meetings were held at the De Witt homestead, and afterward in the public hall of the village. The congregation included men and women of culture, public spirit and unquestioned high character. It was ministered to by such men of repute for ability and piety as Revs. William H. Channing, Edward Turner, F. A. Farley and H. W. Bellows among others. Occasional services were held at Low Point, Channingville and other points in the neighborhood of Fishkill for eight years. About 1855, in consequence of the increasing attendance from Newburgh, the church was reorganized in that city, where services were held in the court house and the Universalist church, and there was preaching by some of the ablest ministers of the denomination. There were so many accessions to the church that in 1869 a committee was chosen to consider the subject of building a house of worship. This consisted of William W. Carson, John Heron, George Lamey, Benjamin Dumville, George H. Southard, J. N. Dichey, George W. Peters and William Stocker. Warren Delano was afterwards added, and made chairman. The deliberations and resulting efforts brought about the erection of the present building at a cost of $16,000, and it was consecrated in 1870. The first pastor was Rev. F. W. Holland, and the present pastor is Rev. Alson H. Robinson.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ORANGE.
The first Catholic missions in Orange County seem to have been established in 1817 and 1818. The Rev. Dr. French came in 1817, and the Rev. Father Langdill arrived about a year later.
The first Catholic church, St. Patrick's, was organized at Newburgh in 1826, and the parochial school in connection with that church was started soon afterward.
The introduction of Roman Catholicism in this State during the colonial period is fraught with much interest. The history of these initial efforts covers the incidents of the French and Indian wars, beginning in 1687 and terminating in the French domination of Canada. Even as far back as 1608, the work was begun among some of the northern Indian tribes. But the conversion of the Six Nations met with little success until after the accession of James II to the English throne. He instructed the province governors to aid the French missionaries and grant them every facility in the prosecution of their work.