The Setauket Presbyterian Church is a beautiful historical place. The original Church building was built on the Setauket Village Green in 1674; however, the Presbyterian organization was created in 1660. In 1714, Colonel Richard Floyd donated land to make the church larger. He said he would only donate the land if the church was only to be used by Presbyterians. On August 27, 1776, during the Revolutionary War, George Washington and his troops lost the Battle of Long Island in Brooklyn. After this, the British took over all of Long Island, including Setauket. They then took over the Presbyterian Church as a garrison. They took wood from the church, kept their horses in the church and they even used the headstones from the graveyard to build barriers. The British soldiers did not worship at this church so they felt no remorse in ruining it.
On August 22, 1777 the Patriots, led by Colonel Parsons, fought from Patriot’s Rock against the British in the church in the Battle of Setauket. One of the patriots in that battle was Zachariah Greene who later became the Pastor of the Presbyterian Church. The Patriots mounted a cannon on the rock and fired towards the Tories in the church. The fight lasted for three to four hours. The Battle of Setauket ended when Col. Parsons got a message that more Tories were coming.
Several years later, the church was struck by lightning and burned down. In 1812, they built a new one, which is still standing today as beautiful as ever. The top of the Presbyterian Church was built like an upside down boat. This was because most of the builders in Setauket were ship builders, so they built it as they knew how.
Behind the church is the old graveyard where there are a lot of historical people buried like, Abraham Woodhull (aka: Samuel Culper Sr.), Samuel Woodhull , William Sidney Mount, and many others.
On August 22, 1777 the Patriots, led by Colonel Parsons, fought from Patriot’s Rock against the British in the church in the Battle of Setauket. One of the patriots in that battle was Zachariah Greene who later became the Pastor of the Presbyterian Church. The Patriots mounted a cannon on the rock and fired towards the Tories in the church. The fight lasted for three to four hours. The Battle of Setauket ended when Col. Parsons got a message that more Tories were coming.
Several years later, the church was struck by lightning and burned down. In 1812, they built a new one, which is still standing today as beautiful as ever. The top of the Presbyterian Church was built like an upside down boat. This was because most of the builders in Setauket were ship builders, so they built it as they knew how.
Behind the church is the old graveyard where there are a lot of historical people buried like, Abraham Woodhull (aka: Samuel Culper Sr.), Samuel Woodhull , William Sidney Mount, and many others.
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