By Barry Waugh The Old and New Sides are not the same as the Old and New Schools . From 1741-1758, Presbyterians in the American Colonies were divided into the Old and New Sides. The Old Side was the Synod of Philadelphia; the New Side separated from it along with non-affiliated ministers to become the Synod of New York. The published minutes source used for the current post was issued by the Old School as Records of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America…1706 to…1788 , Philadelphia: Presbyterian Board of Publication, 1841. It includes the Old Side records, “The Minutes of the Synod of Philadelphia, from A. D. 1717-1758” and the New Side records, “Minutes of the Synod of New York, from A. D. 1745 to 1758.” Why do the New Side minutes begin in 1745 rather than 1741 when the division took place? Because it was not until then that the New Side organized its synod which would come to encompass the presbyteries of New York, New Castle, and New Brunswick with the most influ