History

The congregation was formed in 1885 with the merger of a "dwindling" orthodox congregation, Anshe Emeth (People of Truth) and a "growing" Reform Congregation, Beth El (House of God.)

Architecture

The congregation's 1887 building, located at Lancaster and South Swan Streets in Albany, is considered to be one of the few surviving 19th-century synagogues

Oldest synagogues in the United States

The designation of the oldest synagogue in the United States requires careful use of definitions, and must be divided into two parts, the oldest in the sense of oldest surviving building, and the oldest in the sense of oldest congregation...

 in the United States. The architect was Adolph Fleischman, with Isaac Perry. The building is in Richardson Romanesque style. As of 1993 it was the home of the Wilborn Temple First Church of God in Christ

Wilborn Temple First Church of God in Christ

Wilborn Temple First Church of God in Christ is a Pentecostal church in Albany, New York.-History:Wilborn Temple First Church of God in Christ, Inc. was formed in 1927 by Ms. Elsie Black and Mrs. Alice Charles Harmon. Under the leadership of Elder L. W. Parsons, the church moved to 79 Hamilton...

.

The congregation's 1957 building was designed by Percival Goodman

Percival Goodman

Percival Goodman was an American urban theorist and architect who designed more than 50 synagogues between 1948 and 1983. He has been called the "leading theorist" of modern synagogue design, and "the most prolific architect in Jewish history."-Biography:Percival Goodman was born in New York City...

. http://www.bethemethalbany.org/webmail/history/index.cfm