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Unity Without Uniformity: The Rhinebeck Church Community, 1718-1918

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"Unity Without Uniformity" documents the first 200 years of Christian community in the Hudson Valley of New York. Early settlers in 18th century Rhinebeck were Hollanders (Low Dutch) and Rhenish Germans (High Dutch), both Lutheran and Reformed. From the beginning they lived and worked together, for a while even sharing one church building. After the Revolution, Rhinebeck was known as the center of American Methodism for a time. Then came a Baptist classical scholar, all still maintaining a sense of unity. By the Civil War, Episcopalians and Catholics had founded churches, and the 5 Protestant churches were holding monthly "union" services throughout the year. This pattern has continued to the present. Although the book is a history of the churches of the area, it is also a marvelous story of the people, their customs and attitudes during different times in NY history. An enlightening read.