The Palisades Presbyterian Church was organized, founded and built by a group of faithful Presbyterians led by Mr. Winthrop Gilman who could not tolerate the absence of religious services on the Sabbath while visiting their country homes. A meeting was held in the spring of 1863 at which time it was decided to erect a small church building and to secure the services of a young minister as soon as was practical. The first pastor, the Rev. Joseph Greenleaf was hired on May 11, 1863. He led services on Sunday afternoons in the Methodist church (located on the present Closter Road) while construction on the Presbyterian Church began.
The lot on which the church is situated was given by Mr. Charles F. Park as a portion of his donation to the new church. The lot on which the manse sits was a gift from his widow two years later. Construction began on the new church on June 1, 1863 with the first service being held on January 3, 1864. Mr. Park and Mr. Gilman rang the bell for the first time on New Year's Eve 1863.