THE TOWN OF WEST FARMS. 52 1 



1865, Rev. James Beattie, " 

 1864, Rev. Jambs Boi/boit, " 



1866, Rxv. James B. II.ujexbubgii, stated supply. 

 I860, Rev. John Teumak, resignation. 

 1S74. Rev. Wm. Shush, " 

 1876, Rev. D. Jeweti, stated supply. 



Oct, 1876, Rev. Wm. Anderson, present pastor. 



The Dutch Reformed or Reformed church stands upon rising ground 

 on the north side of the road leading from the village of Fordham to 

 Kings Bridge near Jerome Park, close to the line of the Croton Aque- 

 duct. 



A still older stucture, however, was constructed in 1801, which 

 was superceded by the present edifice. The first church, which was 

 built in 1706, through the liberality of Margaretta Steenwyck or Selyns, 

 William Dyckman and others was standing in 1724 (but has long since 

 departed) on the farm of James Valentine," now occupied by Moses 

 Devoe. The residence of the latter is said to have been the old Dutch 

 Parsonage. 



The following inscription on the foundation stone of this edifice is 

 still preserved in the new church : — ■ 



I. V. S. 

 1706. 



Before the Revolutionary war the Manor of Fordham was considered 

 as joined for all ecclesiastical purposes to Yonkers, which formed one 

 of the three precincts of the parish of Westchester ; and we have already 

 seen that at least one of the Lords of the Manor, was a vestryman of 

 that ancient parish. Still Fordham like Morrisania continued to be as- 

 sociated with Westchester, even after the Revolution, in the support of 

 a minister, until the year 1853 when the present parish of St. James was 

 orga ized under the following circumstances : — '•Numerous residents of 

 the Manor experiencing much inconvenience in attending Episcopal ser- 

 vices on account of having no place of worship ; and considering more- 

 over in the great increase of population, that the cause of the Church 

 might suffer by having no spiritual provision made for her members 

 where the wants of other Denominations are so amply considered, called 

 a meeting — which assembled at the house of William Alexander Smith, 

 Esq., on the 5th of July, 1853 — for the purpose of organizing a parish, 

 and adopting such measures as would most effectually conduce to the 



a The following inscription is taken from a stone in the Valentine house adjoining the site 

 of the old church : "H. M. K., 170-t." The initials stand for Henry and Mary Kier, 



