Formal dedication services were held over the last week of April 1919, at which the church was also designated the Ray Palmer Memorial.
His granddaughter donated the communion table and chairs, one of many interior furnishings given to First Congregational by supporters, most of which remain in use.
The church's baptismal font and bell had been salvaged from the 1866 church, deliberately chosen to symbolize the church's rebirth in the new structure and its continuing call to worship.

At the beginning of that year, the church had 255 members; roughly 50 more had joined by the end, enough to consider its move to Woodlawn successful.
It became the social center of a growing neighborhood, sponsoring civic activities and youth groups such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.
With a bowling alley in the basement, it sponsored a members' bowling team that competed against other Protestant churches in Albany.

First Congregational continued to enjoy healthy membership throughout the 1930s and 1940s despite the Depression and World War II.
In 1956, it merged with Second Congregational Christian Church, swelling its membership even more.
This growth, combined with the church's resulting strong finances, led the trustees of the time to finally undertake finishing Fuller's original design with a Sunday school wing.

The church commissioned Charles Schrade, an architect as prominent in Albany as Fuller had been a half-century before, to design a wing more in keeping with the times.
Fuller's design had continued the neoclassicism of the main block, with a broad hipped roof and columns and pilasters like those on the east facade.
Schrade, who had designed several other Albany churches of that area, instead delivered a modernist take, keeping the general form and red brick facing but replacing the hipped roof with a gently pitched gable and the classical decoration with more functional modernist touches such as the window bands and full-height glass facade at the wing's main entrance.

At a ceremony commemorating the church's 100th anniversary in April 1960, ground was broken for the new wing.
It was complete the next year.
Schrade's work was not limited to the wing.
In addition to renovating the main building's basement, he also added new heating and lighting.

A decline in membership in the early 2000s led to a crisis in the church several years later.
In the middle of 2011, pastor The Rev. Tony Green resigned after John Dennehey, the church's chief deacon, was arrested on charges that he had shown pornography and exposed himself to two boys studying with him in preparation for their confirmation.
Green told the Albany Times-Union he had been aware of the charges and had asked the man to resign his position, but he had refused to do so.
After Dennehey's parents, who were described as the most powerful members of the congregation following its recent decline, prevented Green from dismissing him, the pastor felt he had no option but to leave his post in protest.
Dennehey pleaded guilty to a two-count misdemeanor indictment of endangering the welfare of a child; he was sentenced to two months in jail and three years' probation.
The Rev. James Eaton was called to replace him and currently serves in the position.
Formal dedication services were held over the last week of April 1919, at which the church was also designated the Ray Palmer Memorial. His granddaughter donated the communion table and chairs, one of many interior furnishings given to First Congregational by supporters, most of which remain in use. The church's baptismal font and bell had been salvaged from the 1866 church, deliberately chosen to symbolize the church's rebirth in the new structure and its continuing call to worship.
At the beginning of that year, the church had 255 members; roughly 50 more had joined by the end, enough to consider its move to Woodlawn successful. It became the social center of a growing neighborhood, sponsoring civic activities and youth groups such as the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. With a bowling alley in the basement, it sponsored a members' bowling team that competed against other Protestant churches in Albany.
First Congregational continued to enjoy healthy membership throughout the 1930s and 1940s despite the Depression and World War II. In 1956, it merged with Second Congregational Christian Church, swelling its membership even more. This growth, combined with the church's resulting strong finances, led the trustees of the time to finally undertake finishing Fuller's original design with a Sunday school wing.
The church commissioned Charles Schrade, an architect as prominent in Albany as Fuller had been a half-century before, to design a wing more in keeping with the times. Fuller's design had continued the neoclassicism of the main block, with a broad hipped roof and columns and pilasters like those on the east facade. Schrade, who had designed several other Albany churches of that area, instead delivered a modernist take, keeping the general form and red brick facing but replacing the hipped roof with a gently pitched gable and the classical decoration with more functional modernist touches such as the window bands and full-height glass facade at the wing's main entrance.
At a ceremony commemorating the church's 100th anniversary in April 1960, ground was broken for the new wing. It was complete the next year. Schrade's work was not limited to the wing. In addition to renovating the main building's basement, he also added new heating and lighting.
A decline in membership in the early 2000s led to a crisis in the church several years later. In the middle of 2011, pastor The Rev. Tony Green resigned after John Dennehey, the church's chief deacon, was arrested on charges that he had shown pornography and exposed himself to two boys studying with him in preparation for their confirmation. Green told the Albany Times-Union he had been aware of the charges and had asked the man to resign his position, but he had refused to do so. After Dennehey's parents, who were described as the most powerful members of the congregation following its recent decline, prevented Green from dismissing him, the pastor felt he had no option but to leave his post in protest. Dennehey pleaded guilty to a two-count misdemeanor indictment of endangering the welfare of a child; he was sentenced to two months in jail and three years' probation. The Rev. James Eaton was called to replace him and currently serves in the position.
First Congregational Church of Albany