Christ Episcopal Church

 church, Gothic revival (architecture)

The early settlers of Oyster Bay had set aside an area on high ground between two swamps as the town common, and in 1675 authorized the construction of a town hall, to be twenty feet wide and twentyfour feet long. This would have been the “Town-House” where Rev. George Keith, a converted Quaker, and itinerant missionary of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, preached in 1702, and where John Thomas held services in 1705. The town common was the present church property, and the town hall was located right about where Christ Church now stands.

The next town hall, authorized in 1707, was designed with seating for church purposes, and then in 1750 a true church building was erected on this site. In short, the town hall had morphed into a church, and in due course the town gave the common and the building to the Anglican congregation of Oyster Bay. The current stone church was built in 1878 by the architects of Potter & Robinson with later alterations by Delano & Aldrich after a gift was deeded by Cornelia A. Beekman. Also added were stained glass windows by recognized artist Oliver Smith. President Theodore Roosevelt and his family worshipped here for 30 years and a plaque marks their pew.

In the Cemetery and Memorial Garden are six Doughty (Doty) family burials 1751-1808 plus four stones of other families. Two stones are located under the church building, one of which is dated 1756.

www.christchurchobay.org/worship.htm
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