A history of the churches, of all denominations, in the city of New York, from the first settlement to the year 1846, Part 11

Author: Greenleaf, Jonathan, 1785-1865. cn
Publication date: 1846
Publisher: New York, E. French; Portland, Hyde, & Duren
Number of Pages: 784


USA > New York > New York City > A history of the churches, of all denominations, in the city of New York, from the first settlement to the year 1846 > Part 11


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he received to the church by baptism, 297 members.


The second pastor of this church was the Rev. Benjamin Foster, D.D. He was settled in the month of September, 17SS, and con- tinued in the pastoral office until his death, · which took place from yellow fever, August 26, 1798, at the age of 48 years.


The third pastor of the church was the Rev. William Collier, of Boston. He offi- ciated here for some time as a licentiate,- hesitating about assuming a pastoral charge on account of feeble health. He, however, accepted the call of the church in October, 1800, and became pastor, but remained a little more than three years,-then resigning this charge, and accepting a call to the Baptist Church in Charlestown, Mass. He left New York, January 10th, 1804.


During the ministry of Mr. Collier the meeting-house was rebuilt,-the old one having become decayed, and, as was thought, unfit for occupancy. It was taken down in March, 1801, and the new house opened May 2d, 1802. It was SO feet by 65, and cost about $25,000. The sermon at its dedication was delivered by the Rev. Stephen


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Gano, D.D., of Providence, Rhode Island, the son of their first pastor.


After the dismission of Mr. Collier the church presented a call to Mr. Jeremiah Chaplin, of Danvers, Massachusetts, which he declined.


Rev. William Parkinson was the fourth pastor of the church. He became such in the spring of 1805, and continued in the pas- toral office for about thirty-five years, when, in June, 1840, he resigned the charge.


In the same year it was thought expedient to remove the place of worship, for the better accommodation of the congregation. The old meeting-house in Gold street was accord- ingly taken down, the ground sold, and a new and elegant building of stone was erected on Broome street, corner of Elizabeth street, measuring 100 feet by 75, which was opened for public worship in the spring of 1841. The Rev. Spencer .H. Cone, D.D., pastor of the Oliver Street Baptist Church, was called to the pastoral office in this, and entered on its duties July 1, 1841. He re- mains its pastor, with five hundred and eighty-six members in communion, as re- ported in June, 1845. 20*


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BETHESDA BAPTIST CHURCH.


When Mr. Parkinson resigned the charge of the First Church, as above stated, many of the members chose to remain under his ministry, and accordingly about seventy mem- bers took dismissions, and, in 1841, were or- ganized as a distinct body, calling them- selves the "Bethesda Church." They met in a schoolroom in Crosby street, where they . still remain, numbering eighty-eight mem- bers. Mr. Parkinson preached to them until, through infirmity, he was prevented from officiating any longer. The Rev. J. C. Hopkins is now their pastor.


SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH. -


In the year 1770 a difficulty took place in the First Baptist Church, then under the care of Rev. John Gano, respecting psalm- ody. It had been the usage of the church to have the lines parcelled out as sung, but a . large majority being in favor of a different mode, a difficulty arose, and at length four- teen members took their dismissions, and, on June 5th of that year, were constituted as a distinct church, under the name of the


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" Second Baptist Church in New York." The first pastor of this church was the Rev. . John Dodge, a native of Long Island, and bred a physician. He became a Baptist in Baltimore, and united with the Second Church in New York as their pastor on January 14th, 1771. It is not now known how long Mr. Dodge remained pastor of this church, nor is anything known of his minis- try. The war of the Revolution soon came on, and doubtless this church was scattered with all the others in the city. But a year or two after the peace, we find it again in operation. About the year 1790, some diffi- culties again occurred in the First Baptist Church,-then under the ministry of Dr. Foster, and eighteen members were dis- missed to the Second Church. But the Second Church was not happy in itself. Difficulties arose here, and, by the beginning of 1791, the church was divided into two . parties, both claiming the name of the " Second Church," and practically, if not really, excommunicating each other. But friends interfered, and at length they were both persuaded, and very wisely too, to re- ' linquish the name for which they had very


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foolishly quarrelled,-one part remaining on the minutes of the Association under the original date of 1770, and now to be called " The Bethel Church," and the other section, taking the date of the year when the transac- tion took place, 1791, was styled " The Baptist Church in Fayette street." So the " Second Baptist Church in New York" is no longer known by that narne.


BETHEL BAPTIST CHURCH.


When the division took place in the Second Baptist Church, just referred to, that church was occupying a house of worship then standing on Rose street, nearly oppo- site the present Friends' Meeting-House. After the division, the " Bethel Church" re- mained in the same place, and the name "Second Church" was still applied to it for several years. It was a small body of only thirty-seven members in 1793. The Rev. Adam Hamilton was their. pastor, who re- mained until 1795, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Charles Lahatt, who remained about seven years. In 1803, the Rev. Daniel Hall became pastor of this church, and continued to officiate in that office for


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nearly fourteen years, being succeeded in 1817 by the Rev. Johnson Chase. In the early part of the ministry of Mr. Hall, about the year 1806, a small wooden building was erected on the south side of Broome street, near the Bowery, and to this the church re- moved. But it was a small assembly, and when Mr. Chase commenced his labors, the church numbered in communion about one hundred members. But after this their circumstances were more prosperous. A large congregation was soon collected, and it became necessary to enlarge the place of worship. In 1S20, more than four hundred members were reported-in communion, and everything went on prosperously. The Bethel Church continuing to enlarge, in the year 1819 they erected a large brick edifice, measuring eighty-five feet by sixty-five, on the corner of Delancy and Christie streets. Here they continued in ordinary prosperity until the year 1830, when difficulties arose, and the church was split into parties. In the following year, the party opposed to Mr. Chase claimed to be the true Bethel Church. They were joined by the members of the Elizabeth Street Church, and their pastor, the


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Rev. William G. Miller, and the conflicting parties each came with the usual letter to the Association, one party claiming Mr. Chase as pastor, and the other claiming Mr. Miller. The matter was warmly contested, and post- poned for a year, till finally, the Association deciding in favor of Mr. Miller, Mr. Chase and those who adhered to him withdrew from that body, stating their reasons in writing, and- Mr. Miller, and those who ad- hered to him, were acknowledged as the true Bethel Church. Both, however, still claimed the house of worship, and in their struggles to retain it, much of very unchristian con- duct was exhibited, and some of the most disgraceful scenes enacted. But Mr. Miller and his party prevailed, and Mr. Chase and his party were driven out, and afterwards worshipped by themselves, first in Mott street, and since that in various places, having not been able as yet to procure for themselves a house of worship. They are now reduced to a small band, meeting in a hall in Christie street, below Grand street. Mr. Chase is still their minister, having neither resigned his charge nor been dismissed by his church. Mr. Miller and the party adhering to him,


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held possession of the meeting-house on Delancy street, where he continued to preach for a time, when the building being encumbered with debt, was abandoned. The church retired to a hall on the Bowery, and . afterwards to Sixth street. Mr. Miller re- signed his charge about the close of 1838. The church was continued on the minutes of the Association until the year 1840, when it was reported vacant, with about ninety members, one hundred and seventy-six hav- ing just then been dismissed to form the " Sixth Street Baptist Church."


The name of the Bethel Church is thence- forth dropped from the minutes. The meet- ing-house in Delancy street, about which there was such unholy contention, has been sold, and is now a public stable.


.OLIVER STREET CHURCH.


The street now called Oliver street was formerly called " Fayette street," and it was here that a portion of the Second Baptist Church established public worship, when a separation took place in that church in the year 1791. Both parties had claimed the original name, but at length both relinquish-


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ed it, that being called the " Bethel Church," and this, the " Church in Fayette street," and they continued to be known by that name until the name of the street was changed in 1821, and since that they have been known as the " Oliver Street Church." In 1795 this congregation erected a house of worship on the corner of Oliver and Henry streets, which being a small and inconvenient structure, was rebuilt in five years after. It was again rebuilt more permanently in 1819, and being destroyed by fire in 1843, it was rebuilt as it now stands, in the following year. -


This church has been highly favored with a regular and permanent ministry, and it is doubtless owing to this, in a great mea- sure, that its course has been " upward and onward," from its earliest dates. It has enjoyed the labors of three pastors. The Rev. John Williams was sole pastor of this church from 1793 to 1822, a period of nearly thirty years. On May 22, 1825, he was removed by death, at the age of 58. In the vear 1823 the Rev. Spencer H. Cone became his colleague. Dr. Cone remained pastor until July 1, 1841, when he became pastor


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of the First Baptist Church in this city, and was succeeded in October following, by the Rev. Elisha Tucker, the present pastor.


SCOTCH BAPTIST CHURCH.


This is perhaps the most convenient title by which to designate a small body of pro- fessing Christians still in existence in this city, although but little known.


Some time in the autumn of 1802, Mr. John Inglesby, a member of the Fayette Street Baptist Church, was licensed by that church to preach the gospel, and not long after a building formerly used as a museum, standing on Greenwich street, was fitted up as a place of worship, and opened as such on January 7, 1803, and Mr. Inglesby estab- lished a meeting there ; at first an evening service only, but afterwards a regular Sab- bath service was attended. The conduct of Mr. Inglesby was not approved by the . church, as being in their view disorderly, and they, moreover, objected to some of his doctrines as savoring of Antinomianism. But those who heard him constantly saw no such difficulties, and they proceeded to organize themselves as a church under his 21 .


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ministry. This took place on June 11, 1805; Rev. Messrs. Parkinson of New York, Layatt of Newark, and Bryant of Lyon's Farms, being present on the occasion. This church styled themselves the " Ebenezer Bap- tist Church," and Mr. Inglesby became their pastor. When they applied to be received into the Association, objections were made, and they have remained independent to this day. In the course of the next year (1806) the congregation purchased two lots of ground, and built a house of worship on Anthony street, near West Broadway. After a few years Mr. Inglesby resigned his charge, and the church disposed of their house of wor- ship, and for several years occupied as a place of worship, a small frame building in York street, which is a short street running east from the rear of St. John's Church to West Broadway. At this time they were generally called the " York Street Church," and have not been known since by their original name, which is now appropriated to another church.


. About the year 1825, this church was revived. Elder William Ovington became their pastor, and they met for a time in a


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school-room on the corner of Broadway and Reade street. After a few years they re- moved to a Hall on Canal street, near Varick, and thence to Houston street, and finally to a Hall on Broadway, near Bleecker street, where they still remain.


Mr. Ovington retained the pastoral charge of this church until his death, which took place about the year 1S34. He was suc- ceeded by Elder McBrier, who remained about four years. The church then elected Elder Thomas Hogg, who has the pastoral charge at the present time. The congrega- tion is quite small, and about thirty mem- bers are enrolled in communion.


WELSH BAPTIST CHURCH.


In the year 1807, a Baptist church was formed in this city, principally of Welsh people. They numbered seventy-six mem- bers in communion when they began. The Rev. John Stephens was pastor. The con- gregation met in Mott street, and kept to- gether about six years. Mr. Stephens re- signed his charge in 1811, and in 1813, being reduced to forty members, the church - was dissolved, the members removing to


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other churches. [See sketch of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church.]


ABYSSINIAN CHURCH.


This church was a colony of colored members from the First Baptist Church, then meeting in Gold street. It was con- stituted July 5, 1809. It was a small band at the commencement of only eighteen members, and for several years they had no settled pastor. A house of worship was procured on Anthony street, near West Broadway, which had been erected by the Ebenezer, or York Street Church, and the church was regularly supplied with preach- ing by the Rev. Jonathan Van Velsen and the Rev. Drake Wilson for several years, until, in 1824, the Rev. Benjamin Paul became stated pastor. .Mr. Paul remained with this church for about six years, when he left, and was succeeded in 1832 by the Rev. James Hayborn, who remained three years and was removed by death. The Rev. William I. Loomis was the next minister, and after him Rev. William Moore officiated. In 1841, the Rev. Sampson White was recog- nized as pastor of this church, and remains


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to the present time. The Abyssinian church has passed through many scenes of trial and difficulty, especially on account of pecuniary embarrassments, their house of worship having once been sold at auction over their heads. But they have survived these troubles, and their prospects are now far brighter. In spiritual things the Lord has smiled upon them, and they now num- ber more than four hundred and fifty mem- bers in communion.


NORTH BERIAN CHURCH.


This church was a colony of about thirty members from the First Baptist Church, formed November 13, 1809. They met for worship in Vandam street, then called Bud street. It was originally known as the " North Church," and continued to be called by this name until 1818, when the name " Beriah " was added. Not long after the formation of this church a frame building was erected on the north side of Vandam street, between Varick and Hudson, and continued to be the place of worship for this church, until the year 1819, when it was de- stroyed by fire. In the following year a brick


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building, large and commodious, was erected on McDougal street, near Vandam, and is the present place of worship for this church.


The first pastor of this church was the Rev. C. P. Wyckoff, who commenced his labors in 1812, and continued in the pastoral office until 1821, when he was succeeded by the Rev. Amasa Smith. The church was still rather feeble, having but seventy- five members, although they had been in


operation more than ten years. Mr. Smith remained with the Beriah Church less than three years, and was succeeded, in 1825, by the Rev. Aaron Perkins. Mr. Perkins remained in the pastoral office here about four years, and was succeeded in 1829 by the Rev. Duncan Dunbar. Mr. Dunbar has been stated pastor of the Beriah Church ever since, with the exception of about two years, viz. : in 1833, he was away, and the Rev. Nathaniel Norton supplied ; and in 1844, he was again away, and the pulpit was sup- plied by the Rev. Thomas Davies, John Blower, and Silas C. James. The history of the Beriah Church is somewhat peculiar. Their beginning was very feeble, and for several years they remained so, yet a very


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large number of members have eventually been gathered into that church. Three churches have arisen from this, viz., the " Salem Church," in King street, in 1834; " Berean," in 1838; and the " Providence Church," in 1845, besides a considerable number dismissed to aid in forming the Welsh Church, and the Sixteenth Street Church, both in 1833. About three hundred members still remain.


MULBERRY STREET CHURCH.


This church was formed in the year 1809, under the name of " James Street Church," with thirty-seven members, and it continued to be reported on the minutes of the Associa- tion until the year 1833, under the ministry of one man, viz., Rev. Archibald Maclay, D.D., for the whole length of time. Under these circumstances, it could not be supposed that any great changes should mark its history, and it continued uninterruptedly, as a large and flourishing church. In June, 1838, it appeared on the minutes somewhat weak- ened, reporting 211 members still in the church, but without a pastor, Dr Maclay having resigned his charge, with a view of


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advancing the interests of religion, as an agent of the " American and Foreign Bible Society." Pecuniary difficulties were also pressing hard upon the congregation, many more of the members left, until, before the close of the year, the church was reduced to about sixty members. Under all the circum- stances of the case, it was finally thought best to dissolve the " Mulberry street Church," and form another, which was ac- cordingly done; the old members who re- mained, were all transferred to the new Church, and a large colony came in from the " Oliver street Church" and the new body took the name of


THE " TABERNACLE BAPTIST CHURCH."


This organization was accomplished in the early part of the year 1839, when nearly three hundred members were enrolled. The re-organization was effected with kind feel- ings, and with a mutual good understanding. During the summer- following, the Rev. Benaiah Hoe supplied the pulpit, but in Nov., 1839, the Rev. W. W. Everts became the regular pastor of the church, and within two years from that time very large acces-


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sions were made to the church by profes- sion, so that, in 1842, they numbered but a little short of one thousand in communion. It was then thought proper, and no doubt correctly so, that the church should divide. Accordingly in Dec., 1842, a colony of more than one hundred members were dismissed, and taking the pastor with them, were con- stituted as "The Laight Street Baptist Church," and removed to the west part of the city.


On January 7, 1844, the Rev. Edward Lathrop became pastor of the 'Tabernacle Church, and continues in that office to the present time. The church is in a flourish- ing and healthy state, having now in com- munion eight hundred members.


LAIGHT STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.


As related above, the Laight Street Bap- tist Church was a colony from the Taberna- cle Baptist Church, dismissed for that pur- pose ; and joined by a few others, they pur- chased of the Laight Street Presbyterian Church the edifice they had formerly occu- pied, at the corner of Laight and Varick streets, and when received into the Associa-


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tion in June, 1843, they numbered two hun- dred in communion, having received one hun- dred and twenty-five by letter, and seventy- five by profession. They number at this time nearly three hundred members. Rev. W. W. Everts, who came with the original mem- bers from the Tabernacle, is pastor of the church.


ZOAR CHURCH.


A Baptist church under this name was constituted with thirty-four members, in the year 1811. They met in Rose street, and the Rev. Marmaduke Earle was pastor. But Mr. Earle resigned his charge in less than a year, and the church was dissolved.


SOUTH BAPTIST CHURCH.


This church was organized April 25, 1822. It consisted originally. of fifteen members, but in a few months three more were added by profession, and seven by letter, when the Rev. Charles G. Sommers, who had been pastor of the Baptist Church in Troy, became the pastor of this church. They first occupied the old German Church in Nassau street, near Maiden Lane, and in


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1824 the congregation purchased a stone building, standing on Nassau street, between Fulton and John streets, which was built in 1803 by the Associate Presbyterians, to which they removed. Here this church and * congregation have remained quietly and prosperously, with Mr. Sommers still as pastor, reaping the unquestionable advan- tages of a permanent ministry, unmarked by revolutions and changes.


STANTON STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.


In the year 1823 a Baptist church was formed in New York, with twenty-five mem- bers, and called the " Union Church." In the following year the Rev. Samuel Eastman became their minister, and continued his labors among them until the year 1830, when he was dismissed on account of ill health. The church had then increased to one hundred and thirty-seven members. Their place of worship was a wooden building standing on the Bowery, opposite Spring street, but about this time it was de- stroyed by fire, and they occupied a place of worship on Mott street, above Spring. In 1831 the Rev. George Benedict became


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pastor of the church. The labors of Mr. Benedict were very successful, and in three years the church had increased to two hun- dred and thirty-three members, and the con- gregation had been enabled to erect a con- venient house of worship on Stanton street, which they opened in March, 1834, and the name of the church was thenceforth changed to " Stanton Street Church." Here Mr. Benedict continued his labors very success- fully until the year 1811, when the church under his care had increased to seven hun- dred and fifty-eight members, and the house of worship was filled to overflowing. It was then resolved to colonize, and establish a new church. Accordingly, three hundred and sixty-four members, together with the pastor, were dismissed. This took place on January 27, 1841, and though a trying scene, it was accomplished with uninterrupted harmony and brotherly love.


Stanton Street Church remained destitute of a pastor but a short time, when the Rev. David Bellamy was settled, and remains with them to the present time. Divine in- fluences have continued to flow down, the places of those who removed have been supplied, and the place of worship is full.


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NORFOLK STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.


The colony of three hundred and sixty- four members, who, with their pastor, the Rev. George Benedict, were dismissed from the Stanton Street Church in January, 1841, as stated above, were in the following month constituted a new church, and having pur- chased a meeting-house built by the " Chris- tian Society" in 1829, standing on the corner of Broome and Norfolk streets, they com- menced worship in it, styling themselves the " Norfolk Street Baptist Church." A large congregation was soon collected, and Mr. Benedict continues his labors there. A divine blessing has evidently attended the ministrations of the Gospel, and "much people have been added to the Lord." Almost seven hundred members are now, enrolled in that church.


EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH.


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This church was organized in the year 1825, and met for worship in the northeast- erly part of the city. The church consisted of not over thirty members at its commence- ment, and has increased to a little over one


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hundred at the present time. The Rev. Leonard G. Marsh was their first pastor, and is with them still. 'The congregation built a small, but convenient house of worship, which was opened in 1833, situated on Ave- nue A, near Second street. Their pros- pects are encouraging.


PROVOST STREET BAPTIST CHURCH.


Franklin street was formerly called Pro- vost street, and on this street, a little west of " West Broadway," then known as Chapel street, a house of worship was erected in 1823, measuring 40 feet by 60, being a frame building, with a brick front. This house was occupied for a short time by a Presby- terian Congregation, under the pastoral care of the Rev. James G. Ogilvie : that congre- gation being broken up in the year 1825, the house was purchased by a church of general or open communion Baptists, of which the Rev. Thomas Hand was pastor. Very soon after this the Rev. Isaac Chase became pas- tor of this church, and continued to preach for three or four years, when his health fail- ed, and he resigned his charge. The church was small at its beginning, but increased,




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