Wasn’t Reverend Epinetus P Benedict quite a character? This magnificent building the Patterson Memorial Presbyterian Church stands before you. It’s the third Presbyterian church in Patterson. The first one? A humble meeting house on top of a hill. That’s where the congregation began. That was established by settlers from Connecticut.
The second church arrived in 1794. Built on land purchased from Thomas Townsend. It stood proudly until 1838. That’s when this stunning building rose in its place. A testament to growth and optimism. It reflected the spirit of the town.
This third church is special. Its design is unusual for this region. It’s more common in the South. Reverend Benedict’s Southern sympathies may explain its unique style. He was the minister for forty years a period of significant change in Patterson.
His son Platt fought in the Union Army during the Civil War. Interestingly the church records remain strangely silent on the war. No mention of the conflict at all.
The Patterson Memorial Presbyterian Church has seen many changes. A bay was added. So was a rare hung wooden ceiling. A bell and yoke arrived in 1846. An apse was added around 1868. The organ pipes though. They were installed around 1900 then removed in the 1950s.
Reverend Horace E Hillery served as pastor from 1923 to 1951. He became Putnam County Historian too. His time coincided with the Great Depression. He also served as chairman of the Putnam County Welfare District. He played a vital role in the community.
This church wasn’t just a place of worship. It featured in a Hollywood movie The Kremlin Letter. It was even renamed Gethsemane Baptist Church for the film. Reverend James B M Frost the pastor at the time had a memorable encounter with the film crew. They even paid him $300 to be a theological consultant.
The Fellowship Hall a gift from the Paterson Family is adjacent to the church. It’s been a Methodist chapel and hosts all sorts of community events. Boy Scouts met there. Plays were performed there too. Even Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church used it. The Patterson Memorial Presbyterian Church. A place of faith community and unexpected cinematic history. It is a truly remarkable building.