The first Reformed Church in Kinderhook was built by Dutch immigrants in New Netherlands (what is now New York) in 1677. The present Kinderhook Reformed Church (KRC) was rebuilt in 1869 after a previous building was damaged by fire. Nichols & Brown, the architects of several notable churches in the area around Albany, designed the current building in the Romanesque Revival style. The most notable member of the congregation was the 8th President of the United States, Martin Van Buren, who was baptized in the church and is buried in the adjacent cemetery.

KRC is active in its rural, agrarian community and provides a place for community members to gather, including a free monthly First Friday meal open to people of all socio-economic means. KRC partners with organizations like Albany City Rescue Mission and Rise Against Hunger through monetary, in-kind, and volunteer support, as well as provides space for groups like Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, Girl Scouts, Weight Watchers, concerts, and others to meet.

A National Fund grant of $100,000 paired with $100,000 in matching funds raised by the congregation will support exterior masonry and window repairs, along with ADA upgrades to ensure the building remains accessible for a variety of community programs and activities.

Kinderhook Reformed Church Photo by Elize Visser

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