A 300-Year History

The history of St. Peter's begins with the arrival of the Rev. Thomas Barclay, a mission for the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (S. P. G.), an arm of the Church of England whose primary function was to spread Anglicanism in the colonies.

Barclay formed the first Anglican church in Albany -- st. Peter's -- in 1714 and oversaw the construction of the first church building (pictured right). His task was to aid in establishing friendly relations with the powerful Haudenosaunee (sometimes called the Iroquois) Confederacy of the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Tuscarora and Seneca nations — and to bring sobriety and restraint to the 200 men and officers garrisoned in Fort Frederick, the British fort at Albany. The first church was built in the center of what is now State Street, close to the Fort.

In 1768, King George III granted a charter of incorporation to the parish. The formal charter was signed in April of 1769. Following the American Revolution, the parish was reorganized in 1787 and in 1789 by special act of the state legislature. The original charter and grants of Saint Peter's were confirmed, and its legal title changed to that which is has since borne: "The Rector and Inhabitants of the City of Albany in Communion with the Protestant Episcopal Church in the State of New York."

The site of the present church was deeded to the parish in 1790 by the City of Albany in exchange for the site on which the first church stood in the middle of State Street. In 1802, the second edifice, designed by Philip Hooker, was built. It, in turn, was demolished in 1859 because of structural problems that rendered the building unsafe.

The foundation stone for the present structure designed by Richard Upjohn was laid on St. Peter’s Day, the 29th of June 1859. A classic example of Gothic architecture, it is listed in the National Registry of Historic Landmarks. Inside the sanctuary, historic flags of the original colonies, plus others of relevance to our history are hung above the tall columns on either side of the center aisle. The stained glass windows on all four sides of the church are from the finest American and English studios from the late nineteenth century. The mosaic tile floor throughout the church is a fitting early twentieth century addition to this truly historic building.

Note: This brief history was borrowed extensively from "Historic Albany: Its Churches and Synagogues," edited by Anne Roberts and Marcia Cockrell. We are especially indebted to articles by Charles P. Richardson and Warren E. Roberts.