In commencing the Ecclesiastical History of Flatbush, it is proper to premise, that as all the early settlers of this and the neighboring towns, came from Holland, they were united in one religious faith. They all professed the doctrines, and order, which were established by the national Synod, which met at Dordrecht, in the year 1618-19. This Synod was summoned by the authority of the Staats General of Holland, and was attended by the most eminent divines of the United Provinces, and deputies from the reformed churches of England, Scotland, Switzerland, Bremen and other places. Seldom, if ever, has a more learned, pious and venerable assembly convened. The early inhabitants of the west end of Long Island, received as the symbols of their faith, the Belgic Confession, the Heidleburgh Catechism, and the Canons of this Synod. But as there was no ecclesiastical organization in this country, at that time, they were placed under the over-sight and authority of the Classis of Amsterdam, to whom the interests of all the Dutch and German churches in America were confided. A standing committee was appointed by this Classis, called the committee ad exteras and sometimes ad res maritimas to whom the affairs of these churches were referred, during the intervals of session by the Classis. This committee managed all the correspondence with these churches, provided them with ministers, and gave them such counsel as they needed. This arrangement continued until the year 1772, when the organization of the present Reformed Dutch Church, in this country took place, and independent Classes and Synods were established, on the model of the church in Holland. On Long-Island, each town had its own consistory, or bench of church officers; but all the churches in Kings county were combined, and constituted one charge, for the period of about one hundred and fifty years. Their ministers were colleagues; preached in turn in all the churches, and drew their salaries in certain fixed proportions from the several congregations. The place of their residence was Flatbush.

Although it is known that the inhabitants of Long-Island had among them the ordinances of the gospel at a very early date, yet the first account of building a church, is not till the year 1654. On the 15th of December, of that year, Governor Stuyvesant issued an order appointing the Rev. Mr. Megapolensis, who was one of the ministers of New-Amsterdam; John Snedicor and John Stryker, commissioners to build a church at Midwout. On the 13th of October, in the same year, it appears that an order was passed by the Governor, who seems to have exercised a controlling power in ecclesiastical as well as civil and military affairs, permitting the Rev. Johannes Theodorns Polhemus, a minister of the Reformed Church of Holland, to preach at Midwout and Amersfort, (or Flatlands.) The spot selected for the building of the church, was the site now occupied by the present building. The order of the Governor, directed that it should be sixty, or sixty-five feet long, twenty-eight feet broad, and from twelve to fourteen feet under the beams; that