Woodside Presbyterian Church was built for Henry Burden, owner of the Burden Iron Works, on land owned by Erastus Corning, of Corning's Albany Iron Works, as part of an apparent reconciliation between these two often-feuding 19th century industrial giants.
The later-built stone chapel was almost certainly designed by Robert Robertson, one of the Burden family's favorite architects, and was likely used by the Sunday school.
The First Presbyterian Church of Troy, New York on 11 March 1866 organized “The Mission Sunday School at the Nail factory” which met at Mechanic's Hall on Mill Street.
The interest in Sunday School was so great, that a committee was formed to pursue the matter of a Church for the “citizens of the Troy Iron Works”.
About a year later, 19 June 1867, the Troy Presbytery organized the South Presbyterian Church with 29 members meeting at Mechanic's Hall.
The dedicatory service was held on 15 July 1869, and on the inner wall of the church, a tablet was placed bearing the inscription: “Woodside Memorial Church, dedicated to the service of the Triune of God, has been erected to the memory of Helen Burden by her husband, Henry Burden, in accordance with her long cherished wishes and earnest desire.
The Meneely companies eventually closed in 1952 owing to metal shortages and the increasing popularity of electronic bells and chimes.
In 1883, an admirably appointed Sunday School building in the same style of architecture was erected on the East side of the church.
After the death of Henry Burden on 19 January 1871, his surviving children erected to his memory on the West side of the church a spacious and appointed Manse.
Upon Mrs. Marion Kendall Teal's death in 1973, a decision was made to demolish the building due to upkeep and cost to modernize it.
A modern Manse had been built on Williams Road in North Greenbush and was eventually sold to Hudson Valley Community College in 1972.
Henry Burden requested to be buried in Albany Rural Cemetery at a spot where he could overlook the church, and so it was done.
In 1869 and 1870, there were controversies over music used during the worship, such not having an anthem by the choir, not having the congregation singing and noisy demonstrations on the organ after the benediction.
Reverend Margaret E. Howland established the South End Summer Day Program, which was eventually taken over by Hudson Valley Community College, but now no longer exists.
Reverend Mosher introduced Woodside to the Neighborhood Shack in West Virginia where gifts would be sent at Christmas.
The major reasons for this decision were decline in member attendance, reduction of finances, and resignation of both the Pastor, and Organist effective 31 October 2003.
At the closing of the service, the Reverend Shaw, Charged and Ordered the Clerk of the Session, to Dissolve the Congregation, and, the Great Woodside Presbyterian Church.