USA > New York > Kings County > Flatbush > A history of the town of Flatbush, N.Y. > Part 8
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First M. E. Church of Flatbush was organized May 21, 1844. Previous to this time occasional services had been held in the village, by itinerant and local preachers of the denomination. Tradition states. that frequently on suinmer Sabbath afternoons, services were hield under the shade of the large linden, or bass-wood tree at the north-west corner of Church Lane and the main road, near the old Zabriskie house. Rev. Lorenzo Dow Stansbury, an exhorter from the M. E. Sauds St. Church, of Brooklyn, often preached here. In May, 1844, a church organization was formed by the election of Amaziah Foster, Richard Halliby, Philip S. Crooke. Wm. H. Story, Adrian Vanderveer, M. D., Rem, John and Rem R. Hegeman and Samnel Youngs as Trustres ; with a connection of several families, and a membership of ten persons. The first sermon preached to the new
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congregation, by a regular preacher, was in 1845, under a large willow on East Broadway ; and, for three or four years thereafter, services were regularly held at Mr. Rem Hegeman's house. In the winter, protracted meetings during the week were also held at this house. These services, conducted principally by local preach- ers from Brooklyn and elsewhere, were often continued from five to six weeks at a time, and were largely instru- mental in increasing the membership, and the numbers of the congregation. During the first season thirty-two converts were added to the church. In 1845 a lot, cor- ner of East Broadway and Prospect street, was donated by Dr. Adrian Vanderveer, valued at 8900. In 1549, a frame building, 50x36 feet, facing on East Broadway, was erected by Rem R. Hegeman, as master-mechanic, at a cost of about $1,200. For many years this congre- gation was supplied by Conference with preachers, who also included Flatlands and other neighboring places, in their ministrations.
Ministers .- Lorenzo Dow Stansbury, an exhiorter from Brooklyn, is named by the best authorities (in the absence of early records) as having had charge of the congregation as early as 1842. He labored for several years, and was largely instrumental in building up the church in its infancy. After he left, Flatbush was asso- ciated with Gowanus, and Rev. H. D. Latham preached at both places. Then followed Rev. N. Orchard. Flat- bush is first mentioned in the minutes of the Confer- enee in 1845, when it was associated with Gravesend, and Rey. L. D. Nickerson was pastor. 1846 (Centen. M. E. Ch., Brooklyn and FI.), Jolin C. Green ; 1847 (Fl. and 18th St. M. E. Ch., Brooklyn), E. S. Ilebard. The first pastor of Flatland M. E. Church, after it became a separate charge, was Rev. G. W. Woodruff, 1848-'50; succeeded by Rev. T. II. Barch, 1:50-51. The next year the church was supplied by local preachers. In 1854 Flatbush and Flatlands churches were united as one charge under Rev. Jacob Shaw ; 1856, Rev. S. W. Law ; 1857-55, Rev. Wm. Gothard ; 1561, Rev. Geo. N. Pratt ; 1862 (Fl. joined with Cook St. Cli., Brook- lyn), Rev. Joseph Henson ; 1863-4, Flatbush and Flat- lands were united. During this period Mr. John Rowlee, of Fleet St. Ch., Brooklyn, became interested in this church and took charge of the congregation ; 1865, Rev. F. S. Weedon; 1865-70, Rev. J. C. Thomas. During his pastorate, and through his labors, a new church edifice was erected on Diamond street, near Flat- bush avenue, the corner-stone of which was laid July 28, 1869. The building is of brick, with a chapel and Sabbath-school room on the ground floor and a large audience room for church service above. The size is 40×35 feet. The cost of the building was $17,500. The land cost $6.500. At first only the ground-floor. or Sunday school room, was furnished. The first services were held in the new edifice July 6, 1870 ; the first ser- mon by Rev. Benjamin M. Adams July 10, 1870 ; and the church was dedicated October 30. The Sunday-
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33
COLORED AND METHODIST CHURCHIES.
school was organized with three teachers, and now has eighteen ; with twenty scholars, and now has seventy- five. Superintendents : Joshua Hamblin, George Mat- ton, John B. Rowlee, Dr. John Robinson, John Kers- well, James A. Hamblin, R. S. Seckerson. The Rev. Mr. Thomas labored with great assiduity, contributing very largely of his own income to the church in whose his- tory his pastorate forms a bright page. He was suc- ceeded by Rev. Moses Bedell in 1870 ; Rev. W. E. Tompkins, 1871 ; Rev. James Robinson, 1872 ; Rev. C. Kelsey, 1873-'74 ; Rev. T. M. Terry, 1875-'78 ; Rev. T. D. Littlewood, 1878-'79. During the pastor- ates of these latter two, the church debt was cancelled. In 1880, Rev. John A. Roche, D. D., was appointed pastor, a man of great zeal, godliness and superior talent, whose labors were largely blest. He was succeeded, 1882, by Rev. C. W. Powell; the Flatbush and Sheeps- head Bay churches being united in one charge.
"Church in the Woods."-In 1835 the colored Methodists established a church, since known by the above name, at the eastern terminus of East Broadway, at the crossing of the Flatland Neck road. In 1838 it was fully organized by Rev. Samuel Todd, Presiding Elder. Frank Cummings and Cato Oliver were made trustees, in connection (according to the statement of Mr. Samuel Anderson, Sen., one of the few surviving members of the old church) with seven trustees of the Fleet St. Church of Brooklyn. A frame church was built, with help from friends in Flatlands, Flatbush and Brooklyn, on land bought from Richard Johnsou, next the woodland of Michael Stryker's estate. Money was raised by subscription in Flatlands and Flatbush, with some slight help from Brooklyn, and a frame edifice erected. The church was afterwards burned, and dis- sensions arose among the members, so that it was finally decided to organize anew as an Independent or Con- gregational Church. By the aid of Rev. Dr. Storrs, of Brooklyn, it was so organized as a Congregational Church, with Rev. Abram Brown (colored) as acting pastor; and a new edifice of brick, cost $800, was erected. Ministers : Revs. George Leviere ; Marbley ; James Carter. The church is partly supported by the Home Missionary Society of the Congregational Church.
Flatbush Mission School .- Mrs. Gertrude L. Vanderbilt organized, in February, 1856, a colored Sun- day-school, which for some three years assembled in a little room at the rear of Judge Vanderbilt's house. Through Mrs. Vanderbilt's exertions it resulted iu an incorporated " Society for the Amelioration of the Col- ored Population of Flatbush." A church was erected on the north side of the main road to Brooklyn (site now enclosed in south-east corner of the deer-paddock in Prospect Park); and, when the land was afterwards taken for the park, it was removed to lots upon the north-west terminus of Catharine street. When these lots were afterwards cut away by the extension of the Brighton Beach Railroad,-and Catharine street was ob-
literated by the opening of Malbone street, Washington and Tompkins avennes-the church organization was dissolved; not, however, without having accomplished much good among the colored population of the vil- lage.
M. E. Church, of Parkville, organized 1865,- John L. Strong, son of Rev. Dr. Strong, in 1853, soon after the founding of Greenfield, went over to the new village one Sunday afternoon to arrange for the estab- lishment of a Sunday-school. With assistance from Adrian and his son John N. Bergen, and Wm. H. Tay- lor, they soon had a flourishing school, which mnet in the house of Mr. Teunis Bergen, and became the pa- rent of all the evangelical churches in the village. In 1865, a few professing Christians, under the lead of Mr. Edward Ridley (Ridley & Sons, Grand street, New York), then of Gravesend, established religions services at the public school-house; afterwards, at resi- dences of Mr. Sutherland, W. H. Taylor and J. Tib- bets. Finally, during the year, an organization was effected; with Edw. Ridley, J. Tibbets, W. Whitely, W. H. Taylor, Geo. Wilson, as trustees. Lots were purchased, on the corner of Foster and Second streets, and a frame structure was erected, at a cost of $4,500, which was dedicated April 1, 1866, by Bishop Janes. Before this, however, the church was supplied by Rev. L. W. Anderson; in April, 1866, the Rev. Nich. Or- chard was appointed pastor; followed, in 1869, by Rev. Geo. A. Graves. During his pastorate the opening of the new Ocean Parkway or Boulevard necessitated the removal of the church, and it was so removed to Law- rence street, west of the Boulevard, between Second and Third streets. But, finally, through Mr. Ridley's efforts, a new edifice and parsonage were erected in 1872, at a cost of $16,000. It has a fine steeple, is ele- gantly furnished, and was dedicated October, 1873, $10,000 being subscribed toward the liquidation of the debt, at the second meeting of the congregation. Rev. W. P. Estes, pastor from 1872, was followed, 1875, by Rev. II. Asten; he, 1878, by Rev. John 1. Roche, D. D .; he, 1880, by Rev. Geo. Taylor; and he, 1881, by Rev. W. C. Blake. After the disbanding of Mr. Strong's Sunday-school, consequent on the gradual de- velopment of several church organizations in the vil- lage, the Methodist Episcopal Church appointed Mr. Wm. White, of Brooklyn, as superintendent. He served one year, and was followed (by successive re- elections) by Mr. Edw. Ridley, to the present time. The Sunday-school building is remarkably elegant and well equipped for its special purpose; and the school is self-supporting, costing about $600 per annum. Teach- ers assert that the opening of this Boulevard his ex- ercised a very demoralizing effect, not only upon the at- tendance of the school, but upon the churches and other portions of the community.
Parkville Congregational Church was organized April 10, 1866, by the New York and Brooklyn Congre-
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34
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF FLATBUSII.
grational Association, by appointment of Joseph Suth- erland, Daniel M. Cumisky, Standish Mason, Willi.mm - Staites, Richard Perrin, Charles A. Bermers, Ezekiel Robin and John Wilson, as Trustees. The first officers were John Wilson, Clerk ; Standish Mason, Ezekiel Robin and John Wilson, Deacons. A neat and com- modious church was soon built, at a cost of $10,000, and Rev. J. B. Hopwood became pastor in 1-66 ; fol- lowed, 1868, by Rev. H. Belden. who served three years. In 1874, Rev. J. W. MeEekron was called ; but, in 1877, was followed by Rev. Thomas Douglas, who resigned after three years, and was succeeded by Rev. W. H. Shannon, the present pastor. Present Officers: J. V. N. Bergen, James Sutherland, William Speneer ; Mr. Bergen, Clerk. The Sunday-school, organized 1866, has had, as Superintendents, J. V. N. Bergen, Thomas II. Stevens, W. II. Hudson, James Sutherland, Rev. W. H. Shannon.
Windsor Terrace Sabbath-School .- After es- tablishing a flourishing Sunday-school at Parkville, Mr. J. L. Strong, in 1854, undertook a similar enterprise in the new village of Windsor Terraee ; and, with Mr. George Hudson and others, organized a prayer-meeting, which proved a success. Upon Mr. Strong's leaving for l'en- sylvania, in 1855, Mr. John D. Prince, Superintendeut of the Sunday-school of the Flatbush Reformed Church, was indueed to assume the charge of this work; and for nearly twenty-five years. "rain or shine," he rode across the country, every Thursday night, to fulfill his appointment at Windsor Terrace. He resigned in 1880, leaving in the village a religions element which ulti- mately bore fruit in a church organization. In connee- tion with this prayer-meeting, a Sunday-school was organized August 16, 1871, of which Lewis P. Eager was Superintendent, E. B. Estes, Secretary, and Hoyt Palmer, Treasurer; the school meeting at .a house on the north-west corner of Coney Island road and Van- derbilt street. The school is well equipped and has had, as Superintendents, J. S. K. Wittke, 1873 ; and, since 1875, by re-election, Mr. C. C. Martin, the well known Bridge Engineer. Although there exists at Windsor Terrace a legally appointed incorporation, there is, as yet, no organized church ; but those in charge of the Sunday-school felt that upon them devolved the responsibility of providing ineans of reli- gious worship to those who were coming into the place from the city. Several efforts were made, but unsne- cessfully, till Mrs. C. C. Martin enlisted her husband's interest. By his efforts was secured a certificate of incorporation for an association under the title of " The Windsor Terruce Sabbath-school," the corporate mem- bers of which were C. C. Martin, E. B. Estes, J. S. A. Wittke, Sammuel P. Seaman and John S. Willridge; application made December 23, 1873, and granted by a Judge of the Supreme Court Jannary 5, 1574. This association, with legal rights to purchase and transfer property, ete., secured a site on the west side of East
Fifth street, between Greenwood avenue and Vander- bilt street, on which was built a frame chapel for lecture and school purposes, which was dedicated February 15, 1874. Ti - was accomplished largely by the efforts of Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Wittke. Regular Sabbath and week-day services have since been maintained, con- dueted by pastors of churches in the city and vicinity, especially Rev. Thomas H. Wray. The enterprise still depends on voluntary subscriptions, but has accom- plislied a good service to the village.
Roman Catholic Church of the Holy Cross .-- (Sketch contributed by Peter J. Curran, M. D., of Flatbush). Prior to 1848-9, the few Catholic residents of Flatbush, and of Kings County generally, outside of the City of Brooklyn, had no place of worship, and were only occasionally accommodated by missions con- ducted by the elergy of the Jay Street Roman Catholic Church of that eity. Under the pressure of a long-felt want for a more accessible place of worship, the old "Curran House," still standing in the Cemetery ground-, tlen recently purchased, was selected for the purpose, and a weekly mass and confessional established. The first priest in charge was Father Quinn, from St. James', Brooklyn. Hle resided in the upper part of the house, a portion of the lower being used as a chapel. From the latter part of 1848, to about the middle of 1850, Fathers Quinn, Briody and Gillespie, in the order named, served as pastors. Meanwhile the number of Catholics in Flatbush had inereased ; and, with the consent of Father MeDonough, the Vicar-General of Long Island, they purchased eight lots on the corner of the present Erasmus and Prospect streets. On these, in the fall of 1851, they erected a neat and commodious frame church, abont 75x50 feet in size. It had a low, slanting, shingle roof, and was surmounted by a plain Roman eross of wood. With but slight alterations, the building, like its predecessor in the cemetery, still exists and is now used as the parochial school-house. In this edifice, costing $1,300 (no debt incurred), mass was first offered by Father Bacon, of Brooklyn, after- wards Roman Catholic Bishop of Portland, Maine. Father Gillespie, the resident pastor, removed to Cali- fornia in January, 1852 ; and the church was served by Father Engene Cassidy and others until April, when Rev. Andrew Bohen was installed as its first regular pastor, removing the pastoral residence to Erasmus street, one door from Prospeet. In the winter of 1:52, a parochial school, the first in the county towns, was established in the gallery of the church, under charge of Mr. John Savage, and with abont 125 scholars, of both sexes ; there being, at this time, about 450 par- ishioners. A Sunday-school was also established; and. in 1833, a seristy was added to the church. In is54 a division was made of the Holy Cross parish ; that por- tion of New Lotts called East New York being made a separate parish and the Church of St. Malachi erected. For awhile, the Flatbush priests served these parishes
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ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES.
alternately ; and, in 1855, Father Bohen was succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. John Dowling. The teacher, Mr. Savage, also left Flatbush, and was succeeded by Timothy Hurley, a gentleman of the highest culture, who chose to hide his abilities in a village-school. His invariable snit of "pepper-and-salt" was known through- out the five towns of the county-a decent garb, as warm in winter as it was cool in summer. With close shaven face, sharp pinched features, a keen gray eye, a broad honest forehead, a large and powerfully chiselled mouth, with a chin of ponderous size, both bespeaking firmness-the whole a pale, kind countenance-he was ever and completely the school-master. He lived to see almost two generations schooled in his manly, but gentle ways ; and left behind him a name synonymous with education throughout the county towns. Mr. Mc- Donald, Mrs. John Hoey, Charles Mclaughlin (brother of Rev. James) have also been honored teachers of this school. Mr. Hurley also had a second term of service after these. The church gallery, which had hitherto served as a school, in 1855-6 became too straitened for the increase of scholars; and a small frame structure (formerly a carpenter's shop) was presented to the par- ish by Patrick H. Curren for the purpose, and was moved from its original site to the present location of the Convent of the Sisters of St. Joseph. It is now used as a dwelling-house on Grand street, to which it was removed years ago. Father Dowling was killed by being thrown from his wagon, September 28, 1858, and is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery. Father Bartholomew Gleason succeeded to the pastorate, and became the first occupant of the new parochial residence, purchased by the parish, corner Prospect street and Dutchman's Lane, now East Broadway. In Septeniber, 1860, Rev. Stephen Cassidy became pastor, but died in October, 1861, from ailments contracted in the dis- charge of his duties. Rev. Thomas Mclaughlin fol- lowed ; under him the school-house was enlarged, the parochial property improved, and the whole parish felt the influence of his large-hearted character and personal magnetism. Ill health caused him to leave in 1804, and his place was taken by Father Strain, during whose time a new school-house was improvised out of an old coach-house, on the site of the old one. It was removed in 1872, when the Sisters of St. Joseph came to Flat- bush. Father Strain took an especial interest in the school, and under his supervision it, as well as the religious societies of the parish, flourished. He died suddenly, and was followed by Rev. James Moran, and he by Rev. Michael Moran. In 1869, Rev. James J. Doherty became pastor, and gave a new impetns to the surroundings of Holy Cross. Through his efforts the new church, the largest and richest in the county towns, was ereeted ; the Sisters of St. Joseph were introduced ; the old church was converted into a school-house ; a . curate was provided ; the parish was divided into two districts and a new church organized in the village of
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Parkville, and placed under the care of the learned Father James MeKiverken. September 1, 1872, the cornerstone of the new church was laid, and the com- pleted edition vas dedicated June 8, 1873. It is 65x127 feet, of Croton-brick, with Dorchester-stone trimmings, and in the nineteenth century French-Gothic style, with a tower and spire in the northeast corner, 150 feet high. Its interior decorations are in polychrome, and it accom- modates a congregation of 1,000, and cost about $40,000. Thomas P. Houghton, of New York city, was the archi- tect ; and Thomas Ryan, the builder. Father Doherty, much broken in health, closed his pastorate of nearly ten years, May 22, 1881, and was followed by Rev. Bernard McHugh ; Father Marron being curate. Under their care all the various Roman Catholic interests of Flatbush are prospering. 1751307
The Sisters of St. Joseph, who now have charge of the Roman Catholic parochial schools, for both sexes, came into the parish November, 1872, from the Mother Honse, at Flushing, which is also the Convent of St. Joseph. The first sisters here were Sister Alphonsus, Superioress ; Sister Aurelia, Sister Loyla and Sister Gertrude. The present community comprises the Su- perioress, and teachers, as follows : Sister Sylvester, Sister St. Heri, Sister Sidonia and Sister St. Ignatius. Miss R. Moan is the church organist and also instructor in the school. The services of the Catholic clergy of Flatbush, not only in their parish, but in their faithful ministrations at the County Asylum, Hospital, Nunnery and Almshouse, not to mention the Small Pox Hospital, located in this town, entitle them to most unstinted praise.
Roman Catholic Church at Parkville .- Before the erection of the Roman Catholic church at Flat- bush, the catholic residents of the country towns were entirely dependent upon the city of Brooklyn for their religions privileges; though, on certain occasions, ser- vices were held at the convent, at New Utrecht. After the Flatbush Roman Catholic church was erected, the catholics of Parkville, New Utrecht and Gravesend were all included within its juristiction. In the latter part of 1869, Rev. Mr. Moran, resident priest at Flatbush, initiated an organization at Parkville, which was completed in 1870, for a congregation and the erection of a church edifice for those of his faith. A neat frame edifice, in the Gothic style, was erected on Lawrence avenne, near First street, at a cost of $12,000, the corner-stone of which was laid August 21, 1870, and the building finished November 27, 1870. It was dedicated by Rt. Rev. Roman Catholic Bishop of Brooklyn, and received the name of " Church of St. Rose of Lima." The church is prosperous and well attended. During its first three years the church was supplied by the Flatbush church : Rev. James MeKiverken. appointed October, 1874, the first and present pastor of this and Sheepshead Bay flock, has, since July, 1879, been assisted by Rev. William Doherty. There is a
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HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF FLATBUSH.
flourishing Sunday-school in connection with this church.
Cemetery of the Holy Cross .- Several "efforts, previous to 1849, to purchase property for a Roman Catholic cemetery, failed, owing to the unwillingness of the towns-people to have a cemetery of any character within the limits of the town. But, during the spring of that year, a tract of land in the eastern section of the town was secured, and the Cemetery of the Holy Cross founded. The farm, of which this land formed a part, originally belonged to Joost Van Brunt. In 1772 he sold it to Hendrick Suydam, who, at his death, left it to his son, Cornelius. In 1837 certain speculators con- ceived the idea of laying out a village in this section of the town. Through John A. Scudder, as their repre- sentative, a section of this farm, containing 18 acres, was purchased in 1837 from Mr. C. Suydam, at $300 per acre, and divided into small village lots. A num- ber of these lots were sold. Dr. Adrian Vanderveer purchased at this time another section of this farm, con- taining 12 acres, lying to the north of the first pur- chase. During the panic, in 1837, Scudder failed to meet his payments, and was obliged to relinquish his section. John Gill, who had purchased a small lot and built a house on it, now bought the portion sold by Scudder. Many unsuccessful attempts were made to procure this property from these parties for a cemetery. At length James Duffey, a coffee and spice merchant in Brooklyn, made a proposal to buy the land and erect there a large mansion, as well as to build and operate spice-mills. This gave color to the idea that the me- chanics engaged in the mill would buy lots and build here. Gill finally consented to sell for $2,700. After the property came into Duffey's control, he changed his mind in reference to the spice-mills; and accepted a tempting offer from Rev. James McDonough, pastor of what was then St. James Church, Brooklyn, but afterward became the Brooklyn Cathedral.
This first purchase for the cemetery, of 17 acres, 3 rods, was made in June, 1849, by Rev. J. McDon- ough acting for Right Rev. John Hughes, who was then Bishop of New York and Brooklyn. Dr. Vander- veer would not sell his section. On July 14, 1849, Thomas Moran, who was the first victim of the cholera in the town, died, and was the first person interred in the cemetery. The second purchase was made from Mr. Samuel Young, whose house, in the rear of the cemetery, had been accidentally destroyed by fire. Not desiring to rebuild in this locality, he sold his land, consisting of one aere, to the cemetery, for $500. The third purchase was in 1837, from the heirs of the estate of Adrian Vanderveer, M. D., who sold 19 acres 3 rods, at $500 per acre. This portion was not used for twelve years, until November 3, 1860, when the first interment was made. During 1869 another sec- tion, consisting of 22 acres, was bought from Leffert Cornell. This was formerly the Cornelius Vanderveer
farm. For this section about $18,000 was paid by the cemetery.
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