The West Kortright Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of West Kortright Church Road and Turnpike Road in the town of Kortright in Delaware County, New York. Turnpike Road follows the path of the Catskill-Susquehanna Turnpike, an important early nineteenth century east-west route from the Hudson River through Greene, Delaware and Otsego counties.

West Kortright Presbyterian ChurchThe West Kortright Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of West Kortright Church Road and Turnpike Road in the town of Kortright in Delaware County, New York. Turnpike Road follows the path of the Catskill-Susquehanna Turnpike, an important early nineteenth century east-west route from the Hudson River through Greene, Delaware and Otsego counties.

The current West Kortright Presbyterian Church building was constructed in 1850 in the Greek Revival architectural style. Reverend Joseph M. McNulty, who was called in 1852, was the congregation’s first pastor and remained at West Kortright for four years. Reverend McNulty was followed by Reverend John Rippey, who remained from 1856 to 1866. Reverend Rippey was then followed by Reverend Robert T. Doig, who pastored the church from 1868 until 1906. The building was substantially renovated in the 1890s under Reverend Doig’s leadership.

In 1785, a congregation was organized in Kortright under the pastorate of the Reverend William McAuley, a Scottish immigrant who arrived in Kortright in 1793.

The first church was a log building; however, by 1835, with the congregation numbering nearly five hundred members, the parish constructed a spacious new meeting house. The 1835 church was located on Braehead Road, just about in the center of the town. Not much is known about the appearance of this church; however, it apparently resembled a typical New England wood-frame meeting house of the period, with boxed pews and an elevated pulpit. The church eventually proved too small as well and it was destroyed by fire in 1849.

The fire proved the catalyst for the congregation to consider decentralizing, so that families would not have to travel such long distances to worship. After a period of controversy, the parish split into three separate congregations.

The new congregations were established at locations that were generally equidistant from each other, with new churches constructed at West Kortright, near the western border of the town; North Kortright, at the eastern edge; and near Doonan’s Corners, north of the original church site.

The current West Kortright Presbyterian Church building was constructed in 1850 in the Greek Revival architectural style. Reverend Joseph M. McNulty, who was called in 1852, was the congregation’s first pastor and remained at West Kortright for four years. Reverend McNulty was followed by Reverend John Rippey, who remained from 1856 to 1866. Reverend Rippey was then followed by Reverend Robert T. Doig, who pastored the church from 1868 until 1906. The building was substantially renovated in the 1890s under Reverend Doig’s leadership.

West Kortright Presbyterian Church, West Kortright, New YorkThe West Kortright Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of West Kortright Church Road and Turnpike Road in the town of Kortright in Delaware County, New York. Turnpike Road follows the path of the Catskill-Susquehanna Turnpike, an important early nineteenth century east-west route from the Hudson River through Greene, Delaware and Otsego counties.

The current West Kortright Presbyterian Church building was constructed in 1850 in the Greek Revival architectural style. Reverend Joseph M. McNulty, who was called in 1852, was the congregation’s first pastor and remained at West Kortright for four years. Reverend McNulty was followed by Reverend John Rippey, who remained from 1856 to 1866. Reverend Rippey was then followed by Reverend Robert T. Doig, who pastored the church from 1868 until 1906. The building was substantially renovated in the 1890s under Reverend Doig’s leadership.

West Kortright Presbyterian Church, West Kortright, NYThe West Kortright Presbyterian Church is located at the corner of West Kortright Church Road and Turnpike Road in the town of Kortright in Delaware County, New York. Turnpike Road follows the path of the Catskill-Susquehanna Turnpike, an important early nineteenth century east-west route from the Hudson River through Greene, Delaware and Otsego counties.

The current West Kortright Presbyterian Church building was constructed in 1850 in the Greek Revival architectural style. Reverend Joseph M. McNulty, who was called in 1852, was the congregation’s first pastor and remained at West Kortright for four years. Reverend McNulty was followed by Reverend John Rippey, who remained from 1856 to 1866. Reverend Rippey was then followed by Reverend Robert T. Doig, who pastored the church from 1868 until 1906. The building was substantially renovated in the 1890s under Reverend Doig’s leadership.

The decision not to hold winter services in West Kortright in 1930 marked a turning point in the history of the community, which now included a more diverse cross section of groups and newcomers. The Great Depression helped hasten the breakdown of the tight insular group that had survived in West Kortright for more than a century. Although the church survived, its congregation slowly diminished and by the 1970s the congregation was reduced to eight members, who petitioned to dissolve the church.

In 1975, the Susquehanna Presbytery granted the West Kortright Center, an arts and cultural organization, use of the building as a gallery and performance space. Over the next decade, this organization repaired and restored the building, while presenting concerts, art shows and educational programs. In 1984, the West Kortright Center took title to the church.

Today, the West Kortright Center continues as an active community arts and cultural organization that has ensured the preservation of the church. Visit their website at www.westkc.org for more information.

The West Kortright Presbyterian Church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as “a distinctive intact example of nineteenth-century religious architecture in Delaware County and for its association with the history of the town of Kortright."

Source: Kathleen LaFrank (June 2002). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: West Kortright Presbyterian Church." New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.