WOW! This Hudson Valley Church Is Oldest in New York State: 1685!

We have done many stories about Upstate New York churches. And we always get a lot of "action" from our readers when we do!

This gallery is about one church in particular. Have you been to it? The Old Dutch Church is in Sleepy Hollow, NY. This is the area where famous writer Washington Irving wrote his classics, including "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow."

And, this area is the Sleepy Hollow from his book!

The church dates back 350 years. Amazing. It is open for services during the summer months, and many tourists fill its pews. It is also open a few times during the year for special events. Of course, with so much fame attached to this church and to Washington Irving himself, many of these events rotate around is books and tales.

And, you can bet there will be a lot of "Headless Horseman" sightings during the fall months (one of the prettiest times to visit this historic part of the Empire State). Yes, you can "lose your head" at any number of festivals each year here in the Fall.

Washington Irving is buried in the small churchyard cemetery here, and his splendid 10-acre mansion, "Sunnyside," is close by. Hundreds visit his grave and his home each year. "Sunnyside" is located on the shore of the Hudson River.

All tours of the church and public events help raise funds for the upkeep of this....New York State's oldest church!

A Remarkable Look Inside 26 Of Upstate New York's Most Historic Churches!

There are just way too many beautiful churches in Upstate New York to even begin a comprehensive list of them all. So this gallery is a bit different. It is unique in that for each of the 26 historic places of worship we highlight, we also include a video tour of the interiors of the place (if available). If no video of the interior was possible, we inserted a video of the exterior, grounds, etc. If not, we found great photos. So you can do your exploring from the comfort of your own laptop! You will enjoy seeing the splendor of these magnificent places in our gallery.

Here you will see majestic cathedrals, a Tibetan monastery, a church that ultimately found fame as a fort, a church that is world-renowned as a "temple to the art of Tiffany windows," two important churches that were way stations along the Underground Railroad, a spectacular church made of sandstone, and an unbelievable church built by the Rockefellers who commissioned two of the world's most famous artists to contribute to the interior. Plus the smallest church in the world!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

LEGEND! The Oldest Church in New York State Is In the Hudson Valley

The oldest active church in New York State is in Sleepy Hollow, NY. The Old Dutch Church is dated back to 1685! Wow. It still holds services and public events and is a popular stop for any visitor along the Hudson Valley tourism route. It is surrounded by one of the most famous cemeteries in America. The Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, which abuts this old church, is the final resting place of dozens of familiar names, from millionaires to politicians, to entertainers and to scoundrels. Washington Irving is buried here, near the church he made famous through his 1820 classic "Tales of Sleepy Hollow." As one can imagine, during the Halloween season, the scary story of the "Headless Horseman" is remembered vividly here on the church grounds!

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

21 Famous Literary Giants With Deep Roots in Upstate New York

This is a list of 21 literary legends who have deep connections with Upstate New York. Some were born here, some went to school here, some are buried here. The list is is amazing! How many of these authors' books have you read?

Gallery Credit: Chuck D'Imperio

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