Upper West Side in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

West End Collegiate Church and Collegiate School

Landmarks of New York

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 3, 2016

1. West End Collegiate Church and Collegiate School Marker

Inscription. Designed in a Flemish style by Robert W. Gibson, this building was completed in 1892 for the Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church which was the first ecclesiastical organization in New York, established by the Dutch colonists in 1628. The Collegiate School, formed by the church in 1638, is believed to be the oldest independent secondary school in the United States.

Erected 1963 by New York Community Trust.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Churches & Religion • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1892.

Location. 40° 46.98′ N, 73° 58.915′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is in the Upper West Side. Marker is at the intersection of West 77th Street and West End Avenue on West 77th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 245 West 77th Street, New York NY 10024, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. George and Ira Gershwin (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hamilton Fountain (about 800 feet away); Dorothy Parker (approx. 0.2 miles away); Tecumseh Playground (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Saxony (approx. ¼ mile away); Anna Eleanor Roosevelt (approx.

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¼ mile away); Riverside Park (approx. ¼ mile away); Philip Roth (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manhattan.

Also see . . .
1. History (West End Collegiate Church). (Submitted on October 1, 2017.)
2. West End Collegiate Church - West End Avenue and 77th Street. "Daytonian in Manhattan" entry. (Submitted on April 13, 2020, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

3. Oldest school in America.

Officials at Collegiate point to circumstantial evidence for their claim to the 1628 date as the oldest school

(Submitted on June 11, 2023, by HistoricTownsOfAmerica.com - Guy Saladino of Long Beach, New York.)

HistoricTownsOfAmerica.com - Guy Saladino, June 11, 2023

2. West End Collegiate Church and Collegiate School Marker

Oldest school in America

West End Collegiate Church and Collegiate School and Marker - Wide View image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Andrew Ruppenstein, October 3, 2016

3. West End Collegiate Church and Collegiate School and Marker - Wide View

West End Collegiate Church is part of the oldest Protestant church with a continuing organization in America. We trace our origins to a loft above a gristmill in New Amsterdam in 1628. Dutch settlers worshiped there before the first permanent church was built in 1642. The millstones from that mill can be seen in the vestibule of our church....The Collegiate system dates from 1652, when Johannes Megapolensis was minister. At this time the duties became too heavy for one man and an assistant was called. The assistant was named a colleague, hence the name “Collegiate”....Our history is a long and colorful one. Although Dutch in origin, the Reformed Church in America has, since its very first days, been multi-lingual and multi-ethnic. - West End Collegiate Church

Credits. This page was last revised on June 11, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 1, 2017, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 275 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 1, 2017, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. 2. submitted on June 11, 2023, by HistoricTownsOfAmerica.com - Guy Saladino of Long Beach, New York. 3. submitted on October 1, 2017, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.