Its congregation was founded in 1869 as the mission chapel affiliated with the Riverdale Presbyterian Church, serving the workers at the nearby Johnson Iron Foundry.

The church, described by the AIA Guide to New York City as a "picturesque eclectic sanctuary",[3] was designed by architect Francis Kimball in a mixture of styles – Romanesque Revival, Tudor Revival and Shingle style[2] – and was built from 1888–1889.

[4] It features stained glass windows designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany.

Plans were announced to close the church and convert it into a community center, the pastoral leadership was assumed by the Rev.

[6] The church was designated a New York City landmark in 1980 under the name "Riverdale Presbyterian Chapel",[2] and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on 1982.