St George's Church, Schenectady, NY - Essay Example

To the north is the Mohawk river. As an Anglican Church, St. George’s was established by British missionaries and supported by many other churches in the area. Donations were provided by Trinity Church on Wall St., as well as from the many Dutch and English settlers. Sir William Johnson became one of the first parishioners, with a generous donation. He also used his influence with fellow officers to gain even more support. “Well known throughout the colonies for his defeat of the French at Lake George, Johnson's heroic capture of Fort Niagara only weeks before the initial subscription helped guarantee a favorable response.

” (stgeorgesschenectady.org). Church membership was limited to those who held blue collar jobs with limited means Through the 1700s. In the 1770s, during the Revolutionary war the church was used as a barracks. For the remainder of the century the church struggled with membership and obtaining appropriate leadership. Again, in the early 1800s Trinity Church donated funds for repair of St. George’s and for the Rector’s salary. In 1810 the church formed a choir. By 1830 a Sunday School with around 70 children was operating.

An active Ladies’ Guild was also raising funds for church projects by this time, allowing it to become more self sufficient. In 1941 William Johnson returned, this time as Rector of St. George’s.