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The Origins of the Church In 1785, Judge William Cooper of Burlington, New Jersey, acquired a large tract of land in the vicinity of Otsego Lake. He journeyed northward on horseback to inspect his new possession, and the decision was to plan for immediate settlement of the area.
In 1797 the Rev. Thomas Ellison of Albany preached in the courthouse in Cooperstown, the first time divine services according to the rites of the Episcopal Church were performed here in this village. In 1806, Judge Cooper set aside a tract of land for the construction of a church following these rites.
Construction of the new church began in 1807. It was consecrated by the Rt. Rev. Benjamin Moore, Bishop of New York on July 8, 1810. On January 1, 1811, the Parish of Christ Church Cooperstown was legally organized, and the Rev. Daniel Nash was installed as its first rector.
The Structure of the Church The nave and tower are of the original building which was 54 ft long and 42 ft wide with three windows on each side. By 1840, an addition in stone was erected on the west (or pulpit) end of the church. In the same year extensive alterations to the windows and ceiling changed the original Romanesque design to the newly popular Gothic under the direction of James Fenimore Cooper on his return from abroad. The original outline of the windows is clearly visible on the exterior. In 1891 the west wall was moved back and a stone chancel erected in memory of Mrs. Jane R.A. Carter. A model showing both exterior and interior of the original church was made by George Pomeroy Keese, vestryman and warden, around 1900 and is still available for study. |
