The Kinderhook Reformed Church in Columbia County was the sole congregation in New York state to receive a grant this year through the National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Fund for Sacred Places, which on Monday announced a total of $4 million for 24 historic and architecturally significant faith communities across the U.S.

The initial Reformed Church in Kinderhook was built by Dutch immigrants in what was New Netherlands in 1677, and the present Kinderhook Reformed Church was rebuilt in 1869 after a previous building was damaged by fire, according to the National Fund for Sacred Places.

A national fund grant of $100,000 will be matched by funds raised by the congregation to support exterior masonry and window repairs, along with ADA-related upgrades to ensure the building remains accessible for community programs and activities.

Designed by Nichols & Brown, architects of notable churches in the Albany area, the building features a distinct Romanesque Revival style. Martin Van Buren, the eighth president of the U.S., was baptized in the church and buried in the adjacent cemetery. It serves as a community center, providing space for a free monthly meal and several groups and organizations to meet.

The National Fund for Sacred Places supports congregations preserving historic and architecturally significant houses of worship.

“This year, we received nearly 500 applications, up 31% from last year,” said Rachel Hildebrandt, director of the National Fund for Sacred Places. “The growth we're seeing mostly is the result of word of mouth and underscores the reality that historic sacred places need external support to balance caring for their buildings and serving their communities.”