James Duane’s big plans for Duanesburg never quite materialized, but the modest wooden church he built about a mile west of the small hamlet named after him has endured for more than 200 years.
Christ Episcopal Church, built in 1793, stands now much as it did two centuries ago. The only major difference is a tower that was added in 1811, the money for that coming from one of Duane’s daughters. Situated on Route 20 at Duanesburg Churches Road in the town of Duanesburg, the church is a plain but dignified two-story white building that was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
“There are four very special historic buildings in Duanesburg, and that church is foremost among them,” said town of Duanesburg historian Arthur D. Willis. The Duane Mansion, the North Mansion and the Quaker Meeting House round out his list. “You can tell a lot of care went into the building of that church, and the congregation and the different ministers over the years have done a great job taking care of the building and preserving it.”
Interesting. My 3rd great grandfather was rector there from about 1798-1801.
The rector, Fr. Shaw Mudge, has been the Secretary of the Diocese of Albany, but he and his priest wife Julia, are moving to Lima, Peru, where they will be involved in helping SAMS operate St. Augustine’s Seminary there. There they will be more involved in MAKING history than in preserving it. Hats off to them! God bless them.
David Handy+
Proud to be a priest canonically resident in Albany, even though not geographically resident there in many years.