Needderduytse Taal Te Schawankonk

     The Reformed Church of Shawangunk was organized in 1750, and the present church edifice-the oldest in the consistory-was built the same year. The society first worshipped in the “Owl house,” a temporary structure near the kill.  Johannis Mauritius Goetschius came over from Switzerland and organized the infant church in the wilderness.  Barent Frooman, a native of Schenectady, was called to the pastorate at Shawangunk, New Paltz and Walkill [Montgomery], February 4th, 1751.  He was sent that same year to the University of Utrecht, where he remained two years.  He started home in company with Jacobus and Ferdinandus Frelinghuysen, and Johannis Schuneman.  The first two died on shipboard of small-pox. Frooman preached at New Paltz August 26, 1753, at Shawangunk September 2, and at Walkill [Montgomery] September 9. No record is given of any installation.  His salary was fixed at £90, one-third to be raised by either church. He lived at Shawangunk, now Bruynswick, a house and one hundred acres of land having been set apart there for his use.  He married Alida, daughter of  David Vanderhyken, of Albany.  He was called to Schenectady in 1754, and died at that place in 1784, in the sixtieth year of his age.
      Rev. Johannis Mauritius Goetschius was born in the Canton of Thorgan, Switzerland, in 1724.  He studied and practiced medicine before he entered the ministry, but was drawn to the study of theology and began to preach without due authority in 1754.  He was a warm advocate of the Coetus principles, and three years later was called to the pastorate at Schoharie at a salary of £60, parsonage house, one farm, and 40 schepels of wheat.
     Goetschius was called to Shawangunk and New Paltz in 1760.  He lived in the Shawangunk parsonage, then one story high, and was paid a salary of £80, one-half borne by each church.  He died at the parsonage March 17, 1771, of dropsy.  He was long sick, and was a great sufferer. He preached the last time at New Paltz September 9, 1770.  During the ten years of his ministry he baptized 320 persons at Shawangunk, and married 75 couples; at New Paltz he baptized 212 persons, and performed 41 marriage ceremonies.  He was buried under the pulpit of the Shawangunk church, in accordance with the ancient custom of the society, where his ashes still repose.  His widow, Catherine Hager, continued to live at Shawangunk, and married her husband's successor, Rev.  Rynier Van Nest.
      Van Nest, the third minister, was early converted, but studied late in life for the ministry. He was for several years clerk in a country store at Bound Brook.  He was licensed by the Synod of Kingston October 7, 1773, receiving his call to preach at Shawangunk and New Paltz April 16, 1774.  His stipulated salary was £60 and parsonage; New Paltz was to pay £20, and the service was to be divided accordingly.   The records say he baptized 384 persons at Shawangunk, and 45 at New Paltz.  His labors seem to have extended to Montgomery, where he performed 307 baptisms.  His pastoral connections were dissolved by the Classis in April, 1785.  His personal appearance is described as follows: height, five feet, ten inches; fleshy as he advanced in age; wore a wig, and was very neat and particular in dress; possessed regular features, with a somewhat prominent nose; he spoke with a loud voice, and was considered a good preacher when speaking in Dutch, but never succeeded well in English.  He was held in high estimation.  The fourth minister was Rev. Moses Freligh, who was licensed to preach in 1787 by the Synod of New York city, called to preach at Shawangunk and Montgomery February 20, 1788, and was ordained in the Shawangunk church the same year by Rev. Blauvelt Rysdyk, Steven Goetschius and De Witt.  First baptism at that place was a child of George Upright and Maria Rhinehart; first baptism at Montgomery, a child of  William Christ and Elizabeth Decker.
     Freligh married Sarah Varick, of New York, in 1788, and died at Montgomery February 10, 1807, at the age of 54 years.
      Rev. Henry Polhemus next succeeded to the ministry.  He was born at Harlingen, N. J.; was licensed by the Classis of New York in April, 1798; called to Shawangunk January 23, 1813; installation service June 13th of that year, Rev. Moses Freligh preaching the sermon.  Polhemus died in November, 1815. He had been to New Jersey, and on his way home was attacked with bilious fever.  His remains were deposited under the pulpit, along with those of Goetachius.
     The next in succession was Rev. G. B. Wilson, who was licensed by the Classis of New Brunswick, and was called to Shawangunk and Paughcaughnaughsink [New Prospect] in January, 1816.  He was dismissed in 1829 on account of feeble health. The following is a list of ministers up to the present time, with the date of settlement; Henry Mandeville, 1831; John H. Bevier, 1833; John B. Auger, 1845; Charles Scott, 1851;  Cyril Spaulding, 1868; P. K. Hageman, 1882.
     The stone edifice of this church has been subjected to changes suggested by modern taste.  The ancient pulpit, beneath which the remains of the two faithful pastors, Goetschius and Polhemus, were deposited, was located on the north side of the building, and the entrance was opposite the pulpit.  An extension, surmounted by a spire, and partially enclosing the present entrance to the building and a stairway to the gallery, has more recently been added to the west end, and the pulpit moved to the east side of the structure.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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