On the Corner of God's Love and Neighbor's Love
First Presbyterian Church of Smithtown has stood on East Main Street in Smithtown, New York, for nearly two centuries, and the congregation's roots reach back much further, to a meeting house built near the mouth of the Nissequogue River in 1675. Members describe their identity simply: they see themselves as living at the corner of the love of God and the love of neighbor, and the church's doors have stayed open to the wider Smithtown community for generations. The sanctuary itself is a historical landmark for the whole community, and many local organizations use the church's facilities as much as the congregation does.
Faith in Jesus Christ is central to the church's life, and members see that faith as something to be both spoken and lived. Newcomers are warmly welcomed, including those on a spiritual journey, those who feel they have lost their way, and those simply looking to start over. The congregation meets for worship every Sunday at 10:00 AM, and the service is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube for those joining from home.
A Heritage Going Back to 1675
The congregation's heritage begins in 1675, when a first meeting house was built near the junction of River and Moriches Roads, on land given by the children of Richard Smith, founder of Smithtown. A monument marks the approximate location. By 1750 the population center of the town had shifted, and the meeting house was relocated onto land donated by Obidiah and Epenetus Smith, the very property the church still occupies today.
Between 1751 and 1755, the pulpit was filled by the Reverend Napthali Daggett, who went on to become a professor at Yale College and later its sixth president. During the Revolutionary War, the Reverend Joshua Hartt preached under fire, literally: British soldiers shot at him in the pulpit and later imprisoned him in New York City for the inflammatory nature of his sermons. The church was officially incorporated in New York State on April 29, 1794, and its first trustees were elected.
In April 1823, with $1,410 in hand, the trustees contracted George Curtiss to build a new house of worship, and the Reverend Ithamar Pillsbury dedicated the Presbyterian Meeting House on September 9, 1827. The narthex followed in 1898, providing space for Sunday School, meetings, and social gatherings. The organ was installed in 1909, the building was electrified in 1916, the parish hall was added in 1950, the Christian Education wing was dedicated in 1963, and the most recent addition of offices was completed in 1975. On December 23, 1977, the church was included in the National Register of Historic Places, and commemorative plaques are displayed in the vestibule behind the pulpit and beneath the bell tower in the balcony.
Sunday Worship and the Lord's Supper
The 10:00 AM Sunday service takes place in the sanctuary, and the order of worship follows the Presbyterian tradition. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is celebrated on the first Sunday of each month, as well as on Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Christmas Eve, Easter, and Pentecost. For those unable to attend in person, the service is livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube, so the same Sunday gathering can be joined from home.
Music for the Congregation and the Children
Music holds a central place in Sunday worship. Dr. Pablo Lavandera serves as the church's organist and choir director, and the organ installed in 1909 still anchors the music program. Joanna Huang leads the children's music ministry, bringing songs and musical formation to the youngest members of the congregation.
Mission Beyond the Building
The church's commitment to outreach extends from Smithtown to El Salvador and beyond. Active ministries include the FPCS Prayer Shawl Ministry, the Adopt-An-Angel Christmas program, an El Salvador Educational Outreach, and support for Protestant Campus Ministries. Youth members are sent to the PC(USA) Youth Triennium in Indiana through Triennium scholarships.
Locally, the church supports the Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry and the Charlotte Cheatham Hunger Relief Fund, and participates in Bread for the World, an inter-church effort toward international famine relief. Through the Presbytery of Long Island and the PC(USA), the congregation also connects to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and other relief efforts, including Church World Service Blankets. The Presbyterian Women's sisterhood circles provide care, kindness, and compassion to neighbors, friends, and members of the congregation.
Supporting the Work
Gifts to the church are organized into several funds. The General Operating Fund supports the day-to-day life and ministry of the congregation, the Deacons Fund supports the work of the deacons, and a special Parking Lot fund is raising money for repaving the lot. The Per Capita Apportionment, set at $42.51 per member, supports the wider work of the Presbytery of Long Island and the PC(USA). Seasonal offerings include Adopt-An-Angel at Christmas, One Great Hour of Sharing, and Church World Service Blankets.
Leadership and Office Hours
The Reverend Karen Crawford serves as pastor. She is joined by Dr. Pablo Lavandera as organist and choir director and Joanna Huang as musician and children's music ministry leader.
The church office is open Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 10:00 AM to 12:00 noon, and the pastor and staff welcome phone calls at (631) 265-5151. The church sits at 175 East Main Street, Smithtown, New York 11787, in the heart of a Long Island town the congregation has served since the seventeenth century.