The history of Christ’s First Presbyterian Church is closely identified with the history of Hempstead; in 1643, the Reverend Robert Fordham and John Carman found a suitable location for settlement here and purchased land from the Native American. The following year, families came having received a charter from the Dutch governor of New Netherland and the church was organized under the Reverend Richard Denton.

Reverend Denton had first settled in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, but left for Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1635 in order to practice his Presbyterian religion. Later he and his followers came to Long Island for religious reasons; they established Christ’s First Presbyterian Church in Hempstead in 1644. It is one the oldest Presbyterian churches in the country.

Many different buildings and ministers have served Christ’s First Presbyterian Church over the years; the first meeting house was a 24-foot square long house located near the intersection of present-day Franklin Street and Fulton Avenue. The first church on Denton Green, which was located at the west end, was built in 1762 and destroyed by fire in 1803. The building which served the church the longest was built in 1846-47 and was in use until 1969. A Christian Education Building was completed in 1956, Ludlum fellowship Hall, completed in 1960 and a beautiful new air-conditioned sanctuary completed in 1969 stand today in the heart of Hempstead.

Ministers who served in the twentieth century are the Reverend Frank Kerr, who was pastor from 18951951, Dr. Willis Baxter from 1952-1974, Reverend Wallace Winegard from 1975-1984, Reverend Nita Pringle from 1986-1992, Reverend Robert W. Ware as Interim Minister form 1993-1995 and Reverend Marvin Williams from 1995-2002. In the twenty-first century the Reverend William Causey served as Interim Minister from 20032005, Interim Minister Thomas Lawrence from 2006-2007 and Reverend Scott Williams from 2008 to present.

Christ’s First Presbyterian Church has long served the community fostering non-religious charitable aid dating back to support of patriots during the American Revolution (1776 -1783). Congregations have supported and fostered groups like the Red Cross, Friends of the Children (1978), which placed Vietnamese orphans with local families and more recently Hempstead Displaced Homemakers (1990). Space has often been provided for afterschool programs and summer day camp activities and trips during school vacation.

Today, under the mission and ministry of Reverend Scott Williams, Meals on Wheels daily prepares food for delivery to homebound Hempstead citizens; through partnership with Northwell Emergency Medical Services, Hempstead youth meet for Explorers Club learning emergency first-aid skills taught by medical technicians; Kerr Chapel is used several times a week for worship services by Spanish-language congregations: Iglesia Presbiteriana Hispana from1984-2013 and Iglesia Christiana Betel from 2016 to present. The congregation in collaboration with New York State Intergenerational Network/Long Island ESL/Citizenship Tutoring Program supported English as a Second Language small group instruction. Ludlum Fellowship Hall has historically been a meeting space for sororities, fraternities, universities and other community partners.

Christ’s First Presbyterian Church has endured through the ages and with Gods’ grace will remain for ages to come serving the needs of the congregation and supporting the community in which it was planted in 1644.