News Summary

• In 2001 congregants found a buried obelisk believed to have once marked the grave for the founder of Astoria.
• Historians long suspected the church was his final resting place, but no grave could be found.
• A standoff is brewing between the city, which has said the First Reformed Church should be demolished, and preservationists hoping to save the historic building.
• In-person services haven’t been held at the church since the pandemic.
• The church steeple and much of the main brick building still stand.