"In the year of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 1788, was by the Grace of God here at Durlach and Rhinebeck, founded a High German Reformed church by the Reverend F. C. L. Droffel (Broeffle), of Schoharie.

The following officers were ordained:

• Peter Young
• Philip Karker
• Abram Mereness
• Martinus Vrooman
• Conrad Eker
• William Heintz (Hynds)
• Johannes Engle
• Hendrick Adams

The settlers of Rhinebeck, belonging to this society, worshipped in the present Rhinebeck church, with the Lutherans, until an edifice was built at this place in 1800, which stood a few yards to the sought. The Society intended to build upon the present Winne farm, which was given by Johannes Lawyer for that purpose, but as the citizens of Dorlach built the present Reformed church in 1795, and quite a settlement was anticipated here, the Rhinebeck branch decided to build as they did, and formed a legal organization in 1797, as required by law.

The sacrament of the Lord's Supper was first administered to this branch on the 21st of August, 1796. The first settled minister of the united congregation of Dorlach and Rhinebeck was Rev. Christian Bork, of the city of Berlin, and was ordained in Albany on the 2d of March, 1796.

Those that have followed are as follows:

• M. Gasple
• Isaac Labagh 1805
• Nicholas Jones
• Isaac Labagh (recalled in 1821)
• B. Bassler
• William Lockhead
• Cyriel Spaulding
• E. S. Hammond
• D. B. Hall
• H A. Raymond
• J. H. Van Wort
• J. Markle,
• G. A. Reis
• William P. Davis, present pastor

Upon the record in the clerk's office, at Schoharie, we found the following:

"Whereas by virtue of an act entitled 'An Act making such alterations in the Act for Incorporating Religious Societies' as to render the same more Convenient to the Reformed Protestant Dutch Congregation passed 7th March, 1788.

"We, the subscribers, Christian Bork, Minister, Johannes Young, Joshua Cook, Salah Jackson, John M. Brown, Elders, and William Brown, Johannes Kerger, Sylvanus Parkinson, Deacons, of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Church or Congregation, formed and established at Rhinebeck, in the county of Schoharie, having assembled together at Rhinebeck in the county aforesaid on this 20th day of April, in the year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred and Ninety-Seven, by virtue of said act, do by these presence Certify that the trustees of the said church of Congregation, and their Successors in office, forever as a body corporate, shall be called, distinguished, and known by the Name, Style and Title of the Minister, Elders and Deacons of the Dutch Reformed Church of Rhinebeck, in the county of Schoharie.

In Witness whereof we the said Minister, Elders and Deacons have hereunto set our hands and seals this day and year last above written. Signed Sealed and Delivered in the presence of
Nicholas Kerger,
Peter Bork,

Christian Bork, Minister

Johannes Young,
Joshua Cook,
Salah Jackson,
J. M. Brown,
Elders

William Brown,
Johannes Kerger,
Sylvanus Parkinson,
Deacons.