Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 96

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : Munsell
Number of Pages: 1360

USA > New York > Kings County > Brooklyn > Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y. > Part 96

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The cost of the entire church property was $34,000. To Messrs. Wm. B. Barber and Isaac Henderson the church is largely indebted for its financial success.

Ministry: 1850, Rev. S. M. Clark; 1851, Rev. Gad. S. Gilbert; 1853, Rev. Win. F. Collins ; 1854, Thomas H. Burch ; 1856, Rev. Joseph H. Rylance; 1858, Geo. C.Robinson; 1859-'61, Rev. George Taylor; 1861-'2, Rev. Charles E. Glover; 1862, Rev. R. M. Hatfield; 1863-'66, Rev. Albert S. Hunt; 1866-'69, Rev. John A. Roche; 1869-72, Rev. Wm H. Thomas; 1872-'75, Rov. Albert S. Hunt ; 1875, Rev. John W. Barnhart; 1876, Rov. Chas. M. Giflin; 1877, Rev. Wellesley W. Bowdish ; 1880, John E Cookman, D. D .; 1882-'84, Rev. W. W. Bowdish.

Rev. W. W. BOWDISH, D. D., born in Fulton, N. Y .; grad. Wes. Univ .; was Prof. in B'klyn Lay College; located B'klyn and New York, 1866-'83.

St. John's M. E. Church (formerly known as Third, or South Fifth st.), E. D., was colonized from the First M. E. Church of Williamsburgh, and was organized May 6, 1849 ; its first trustees being : James D. Sparkman, Nathaniel Briggs, Dr. S. Wade, Thomas Lewis, William Y. Hemmingway, Gilbert Potter, Wm. Morgan, Geo. W. Smith, and Geo. D. Hub- bard. Ground was purchased on the corner of Fifth and South Fifth sts., the Rev. E. L. Janes placed in temporary charge of the society, and services held in the lecture-room of the Re-

formed Dutch Church, corner of Fourth and Second sts., until the completion of their building. It was dedicated July 25, 1850, by Bishop Morris. The congregation increased and prospered, so that, in April, 1866, it was decided to erect a new building, and lots were secured for the purpose on the corner of Bedford ave. and Wilson st. At a meeting of the trustees, held on the 18th of the same month, it was resolved to call the church the St. John's Methodist Episcopal Church, and a large sum of money was contributed toward its erec- tion. This building was dedicated April 3, 1868, the sermon being delivered by the venerable Bishop Janes. The new edifice is built in the decorated Gothic style of the 13th cen- tury, of Belleville brown-stone, and has a frontage of 100 feet on Bedford av., including 20 feet of parsonage. It ex- tends a depth of 167 feet on Wilson st., including lecture- room, etc. There are five entrances from the outside, three on Bedford ave. and two on Wilson st .; and two towers, one ending in a spire, 180 feet high. The audience-room is 95 feet in length, 68 feet in width, and 44 feet in height; with 140 pews on the main floor, and 62 in the gallery. The pew- are of black walnut, and capable of accommodating one thousand one hundred and fifty persons. There are, also, five class-rooms, one Bible class-room, a lecture-room, seating about four hundred persons ; parlors, kitchen, closets, etc. The Sabbath-school room, which, including the infant-class room, seats more than one thousand children, is the hand- somest in the city, and a model of elegance and convenience. The school has a fine library and organ, and is very flourish- ing. The windows are of stained glass, and the interior of the structure, the audience-room, is, at night, lighted by glass jets, arranged in a dome, similar to that in the House of Representatives, at Washington. The choir is in the rear of the pulpit, in a recess, around which are triple columns, from which the ceiling springs in rich ribbed work, etc. Be- tween these columns are the organ pipes. Altogether the church is one of the most complete in the city. The cost is from $225,000 to $230,000. The parsonage adjoining the church, on Bedford ave., is a neat, brown-stone dwelling, built in the same manner as the church.

Ministry : Revs. E. L. Janes, 1849-'50 ; B. Creagh. 1851- '52, F. W. Bill, 1853-'54 ; H. J. Fox, 1855-'56 ; E. L. Janes, 1857-'58; W. S. Studley, 1859-'60 ; A. S. Hunt, 1861-'62 ; C. D. Foss, 1863-'64 ; C. H. Payne, 1865-67 ; E. G. Andrews, 1868-'69-'70; J. A. M. Chapman, 1871-'73-'77-'78; II. W. War- ren, 1874-'76; J. O. Peck, 1878-80; Wm. V. Kelley, 1881 -'84.

Rev. WILLIAM V. KELLEY, D. D. (Wes. Univ.), born in Plainfield, N. J., 1843 ; grad. Wesleyan Univ., 1865 ; Prof. Math, and Sciences in Pennington Sem., 1866 ; Pastor, Burl- ington, N. J., 1867; Camden, N. J., 1868; New Brunswick, N. J., 1870; Buffalo, 1873; Phila., 1874; Newark, 1878; Brooklyn, 1881-'84.

This church has been aptly styled "The School of the Bishops," three of its Pastors, Foss, Andrews, and Warren, having become Bishops, while Bishop Harris was once one of its class-leaders; and Rev. Dr. Payne, under whose iuth- ence the present edifice was erected, is President of a Westem Methodist College.

Fleet Street M. E. Church, corner of Fleet and La- fayette streets, originated in the action of certain members of the Sands street and Washington street M. E. churches, at a meeting in the early part of March, 1850. During the same month, land was purchased for $4,000, and the erection of an edifice, fifty by seventy feet, and two stories high, com- menced. The congregation was organized in May, 1850, and the new brick lecture-room was dedicated in September of the same year.

ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

1035

WHICH DELAR METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

ST. JOHN'S METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

AREFE

1036

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

AHHHH

FLEET STREET M. E. CHURCH.

In June, 1852, the Rev. R. M. Hattield was appointed Pastor, and the church edifice commenced. It was completed and occupied in the early part of 1853, at a total cost, exclusive of ground, of $27,000. In May, 1854, the Rev. J. S. Inskip was appointed Pastor ; and was followed, May, 1855, by the Rev. Dr. James II. Perry; April, 1857, by Rev. William Lawrence; April, 1859, by Rev. C. D. Foss; April, 1861, by Rev. J. F. Booth; April, 1863, by Rev. R. M. Hatfield (second term); April, 1865, by Rev. B. M. Adams; 1868-'9-'70, S. H. Pratt; 1871-'2-'3, B. M. Adams (second term) ; 1874-'5-'6, W. C. Steele; 1877-'8-'9, J. Simmons; 1880-'1, John Pegg, Jr. ; 1882-'4, Rev. J. Pullman.

In 1859, the parsonage was erected and the lecture-room enlarged for Sunday-school purposes. In 1872, thorough repairs were made on the church and lecture-room, costing about $4,000. The value of church, chapel and parsonage with furniture and ground is estimated at $80,000, free of debt.

Rev. JOSEPH PULLMAN, D. D., born in Ireland, 1839; grad. Wesleyan Univ., 1863 ; previous locations, New York, New Haven, Ct., came to Brooklyn, April, 1882.

Summerfield M. E. Church .- Early in 1851, Messrs. Robert Ibbotson, James De Gray, J. H. Havens and Daniel J. Darling united in erecting a church on the corner of Washington and Greene avenues, at a total cost, including furniture, of $5,800.

The present church was erected in 1856, and ded. Feb. 22d, 1857. Its entire cost, including the parson- age and two additional lots, was about $40,000; the property being now worth $75,000. The seating capacity is 1,000. The efficient services of Rev. J. M. Reed in superin- tending the erection of the church are remembered.

Ministry : Revs. Chas. Fletcher, 1851-'52; David Osborn, 1853-'54; John M. Reed, 1855-'56; William S. Studley, 1857- 58; George R. Crook, 1859-'60; Thos. J. Osborn, 1861; Chas. B. Sing, 1862-'63; Levy S. Weed, 1864-'65; E. L. Janes, 1866; J. M. Buckley, 1867-68; William S. Studley, 1869-'70-'71; J. M. Buckley, 1872-'73-'74; Albert II. Wyatt, 1875; Geo. F. Ketell, 1876-'77-'78; C. M. Sims, 1879-80; W. L. Phillips, 1881-83.

Rev. W. I. PHILLIPS was born in Troy, 1850; grad. Wes- leyan Univ., 1872; studied Boston Theo. School: located So. Yarmouth, Mass .; Fall River ; New Bedford ; Brooklyn, 1881-84.

St. Paul's M. E. Church was formerly known as the WVil- liam St. M. E. Church. Its buildings having been sold, the

society was partially disbanded, being without a pastor. In April, 1879, the Rev. W. W. Bowdish, D. D., Pastor First Place M. E. Ch., was appointed to look after the society. IIe met with them in private houses until the present place of worship was secured and fitted up for Divine services. On the 1st of May, the Hall on Van Brunt street was opened.

The Sunday-school was org. May 4th, with an attendance of about 60, the pas- tor acting as superintendent. Jas. Boyd soon became supt .; under his direction the Sunday-school prospered greatly and in membership increased to 250. Too great honor cannot be given to him for his devotion to this work. During the first year, the pulpit was supplied by students from Drew Theological Semi- nary who contributed much towards the success of the work. At the close of the year, 62 members in full connection and 20 probationers were reported.

Rev. Wm. Burt was appointed as Pastor in April, 1880. He remained three years doing efficient work. At the close of his pastorate, lie reported 117 full members and 19 proba- tioners. The Rev. Millard F. Compton succeeded as Pastor in April, 1883. The church has been a great blessing to this part of Brooklyn. Statistics cannot represent the work of this heroic band of Christians. It is situated in the 12th Ward of the city of Brooklyn, upon emphatically missionary ground. The work is among the men who follow our canals; sailors: the men employed in the Atlantic Dock, the Erie Basin and the ship-yards and factories that line the shore of the 12tlı Ward.

The congregation worship at present in a " hired room " on Van Brunt st. The society expects to build a church, in the near future, on their property, corner of Richards and Sullivan streets.

Warren Street M. E. Church .- Prior to 1852, a small room. for religious meetings was fitted up at 313 Baltic st., by Caleb Leverich. In 1852, he set apart the upper stories of three contiguous houses, in Butler st., for the use of the Hledding Mission, which was established during that year.

In 1853, the mission was united with that of Ilicks st .; but, on the formation of the Hicks Street Church, it was left alone; and, in 1855, it removed to the old Reformed Dutch Church, on the corner of Court and Butler sts .; soon after- ward, to a hall, cor. of Court and Sackett sts. ; and in 1858, to the parlor of a house on Warren st.

In 1859, the church was incorporated under its present name, and the site of the present church building, on War- ren st., was purchased for $7,150. The corner-stone of the church building was laid Nov. 10th, 1859, the basement was dedicated June 24th, 1860, and the audience-room July 14th, 1861. Its cost was about $22,750.

In 1869, it was renovated and refurnished at an expense of $2,600. It is a brick structure. While the society was a mission it was supplied by the Local Preachers' Association, and Matthias E. Willing, 1852, William F. Collins, 1853, Al- bert Nash, 1854-55; Joseph Palmer, 1856-'57, offieinted.

The first Pastor, after the organization of the church, was Joseph Law; succeeded by Revs. John Mitchell, 1861; Abram S. Francis, 1862-63; Elisha Sands, 1861-'65; Wellesley W. Bowdish, 1866-'67-'68; George A. Hubbell, 1869-'70 '71; Ed- win F. Hadley, 1872; J. V. Saunders, 1873; John Parker,

1037

ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

374-'75-'76; C. W. Gallagher, 1877-'78-'79; Spencer H. Bray, 380; A. Stevens, 1881; A. S. Kavanagh, 1882-'83.

Summerfield M. E. Mission, Park ave., bet. Spencer and Talworth sts., is the continuation of the East Brooklyn First lission Sabbath-school and Society, founded in Oct., 1851, y the Rev. Harvey Newcomb. The first building occupied y it was an academy building in Skillman st.

In 1853, the society was org., and lots purchased on Park. ve., bet. Spencer and Walworth sts., where a wooden chapel as built, and opened first in Feb., 1861. This was enlarged 1 1869, and will now accommodate 300 people.

From its foundation to 1874, it was conducted by workers hiefly from the Franklin Avenue Presbyterian Church. uring nearly the whole of this time, the Sabbath-school, hich was its chief feature, was superintended by Mr. John . Cook, of that church.

In 1874, it was relinquished to the M. E. Ch., a society of hich denomination was org. in it, largely by the labors of the late Rev. A. S. Francis, in recognition of which, the hurch that was formed was called the Francis M. E. Church. Ministry: Revs. Brower, 1877; Nathan Hubbell, 1878; J. 'ilkinton, 1880; J. S. Whedon, 1881. W. Platts, 1883.

In the spring of 1883, the organization, which had strug- led under great difficulties in its history, was taken under he care of the Summerfield M. E. Church of Washington ve., and its name changed to its present style, the Summer- ield Mission. Its present Pastor is the Rev. William Platts. ts membership is 60. The membership of the Sabbath- chool is 200.

The South Third M. E. Church, cor. Union ave., E. D., vas org. 1854, by members from the old South 2d Street Church. Ministry: 1854-'55, A. S. Francis; 1856, L. C. Cheney; 1857, Daniel Curry; 1858-'59, Sam. W. King; 1860-'61, T. S. Peck; 1863, Benj. Pillsbury; 1864-'65, J. S. Inskip; .866-'68, A. C. Eggleston; 1869-'70-'71, W.T. Hill; 1872-'73-"74, 7. W. Ware; 1875-'76, I. Simmons; 1877-'78-779, W. C. Steele; 880-'81-'82, A. S. Graves; 1883, F. Brown.

The First German M. E. Church of Brooklyn, was org. n 1855, with about 25 members. They worshiped first in a private house in Atlantic street.

In 1857, the present house of worship was built on Wyckoff street, bet. Smith and Hoyt sts. It is a brick building, with 300 sittings. The church is now called the Wyckoff Street M. E. Church.

The Pastors of this church have been Rev. J. W. Freind, 1858-'59; Frederick F. Zimmerman, 1860-'61; Henry Rasten- deick, 1862-'63; Frederick Bonn, 1864; William H. Kurth, 1865-'66-'67; Francis G. Gratz, 1868; F. Rey, 1869; George Abele, 1870-'71; Christian F. Grimm, 1872-'73-'74; Jacob Wolff, 1875-'76-'77; C. Jost, 1878-'79-'80; C. A. Brockmeier, 1881.

The New York Ave. M. E. Church originated in a prayer meeting which was established in the latter part of 1855, on the old Clove road, near the present Eastern Parkway, by John McKillop, a local preacher, and his wife. Meetings were at first held in a private house; but, in March, 1856, a house was hired for a temporary chapel. In June of the same year a church organization was effected, under the name, "Nathan Bangs M. E. Church." A plain church building was erected on what is now Nostrand ave., between Butler and Douglass sts., and ded. in March, 1857. Its cost was $4,376. In 1873, the property of St. Andrew's P. E. Church, on New York ave. was purchased for $13,500, and the present name adopted.

In the latter part of 1880, the building was thoroughly ren- ovated and enlarged, and a chapel, 90 by 24 feet, erected. The seating capacity of the church is about 500.

While the church was known as the Nathan Bangs Church, it was served by the following Ministers : 1857-'8, Rev. S. H. Platt: 1859-'60, A. S. Hunt; 1861, A. C. Eggleston; 1862-'3 ; W. F. Hatfield; 1864. John McKillop (local preacher); 1865-'6, H. P. Shepherd; 1867-'8, John McKillop; 1869, A. S. Francis, 1870, to April, 1873, D. McMullen. Subsequent Ministry : H. B. Hibben and D. H. Hanebergh, till April, 1874; 1874-'5-'6, G. L. Westgate; 1877, T. R. Slicer, J. T. Gracey; 1878-'9-'80, D. A. Goodsell; 1881, L. S. Weed, D. D .; 1873, N. G. Chee- ney.

Hanson Place M. E. Church, Hanson place, cor. of St. Felix st., was first Dean St. M. E. Church, which was reorg. January 3, 1858, under its present name. In that year a very neat and commodious church edifice was erected, and dedicated by Bishop Janes Jan. 3, 1858. When it was opened, there were but seventy members of the church. There are now 1,100. Pastors: Rev. Joseph Law; 1859-'60, James H. Perry; 1861-'2, Cyrus D. Foss; 1863-'4-'5, G. W. Woodruff; 1866-'7-'8, W. F. Watkins; 1869-'70-'1, A. S. Hunt; 1872-'3-'4, Emory F. Haynes; 1875-'6-'7, Geo. E. Reed; 1878 -'9-80, J. M. Buckley, D. D .; 1881-'2-'3, J. O. Peck, D. D.

In 1872, the church was taken down and a larger edifice erected on the same site; and the new house was dedicated, also, by Bishop Janes, on the first Sunday in January, 1873. This building is faced with Philadelphia brick, and trimmed with Ohio free-stone. The auditorium is of the amphitheatre form, and has two galleries. Its seating capacity is 1,500.

At the rear of the church is a Sabbath-school room and chapel, with accommodations for 1,000, and with the usual class-rooms, etc. The Christian Union connected with the church numbers 180 members, and presents attractive pro- grammes at its semi-monthly meetings. OFFICERS, 1883-'4 : R. E. Selmes, Pres .; E. M. Travis, Vice-Pres .; Chauncey W. Browne, Rec. Sec .; Louise Gilbert, Cor. Sec .; Chas. R. Ran- dall, Treas.

Rev. J. O. PECK, D. D., born in Groton, Vt .; grad. Amherst, 1862; author of published sermons; located at No. Amlierst, 1860; Chicopee Falls, 1861; Chelsea, Mass., 1862-'3; Lowell, 1864-'6; Worcester, 1867-'9; Springfield, 1870-'2; Chicago, 1873-'5; Baltimore, 1875-'8; Brooklyn, 1878-'83.

Janes Methodist Episcopal Church, Reid ave., cor. Mon- roe st., had its origin as Janes Mission, in a Sunday School organized in a private house in June, 1858, by Daniel North- rup, of Washington Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church.

Ebenezer Willson and wife, of Nathan Bangs' Church on Clove road (now New York Avenue Church), afterward hired a house on the cor. of Patchen ave. and Madison st., where the Sunday-school was continued with class-meeting, prayer- meeting and occasional preaching. The building was desig- nated by a white flag by day, and a lantern by night.

The preaching was for several years provided by the Local Preachers' Association of Brooklyn, prominent among whom was Rev. John McKillop, of Nathan Bangs' Church. Rev. Job G. Bass, a local preacher, was acting pastor for about two years. During his ministry lots were bought on the south-east cor. of Reid ave. and Monroe st., and a frame church erected (36x60 feet), at a cost of $3,600.

The first Board of Trustees were: Jabez Ross, John W. Brush, Gilbert Draper, David B. Morehouse, John McKillop, Ebenezer Willson and William Taylor.

The church was ded. by Bishop Janes, Nov. 20, 1859. A year afterwards, Rev. Charles Packman was appointed to take charge of the church, which then consisted of eleven members and twelve probationers. He remained until the spring of 1862.

The Pastors succeeding him were: Rev. A. C. Eggleston, 1862; Rev. Wm. H. Simonson, 1863-'4-'5; Rev. Henry C.

1038

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

Glover, 1866-'7-'S; Rev. Wm. II. Russell, 1871-'2-'3; Rev. J. H. Stansberry, 1874-5-6; Rev. Geo. L. Thompson, 1877-'8-'9; Rev. I. Simmons, 1880-'1-'2: Rev. Robt. W. Jones, 1883-4. In 1868, a Sunday-school room was added, and the audito- rium improved.

New lots were bought on the south-west cor. of Reid ave. and Monroe st., in 1882, for $4.100. Plans were drawn for a new church in June, 1883, by Mr. John Welch, architect, 90x65 feet, of brick with stone trimmings, to cost $30,000, with a seating capacity for 1,000 persons.

The Sunday-school, which was really the mother of the church, has kept in advance of her interests and now num- bers 600 scholars.

Its superintendents have been Daniel Northrup, Ebenezer Wilson, Gilbert Draper, Peter Backman, Wm. A. Fitch, Samuel B. Terry, Allen R. Jollis, J. T. McFall, Alfred E. Pearsall, H. C. Stoothoff, Charles L. Potter, Hiram Bedell, James II. McIntoshi.

Rev. ROBT. W. JONES, born in Bethlehem, Pa .; grad. Wes- leyan Univ., 1871; located in Cochranville, 1862-'3; Enter- prise, Pa., and Philadelphia, 1864-'5; Windsor, Ct., 1868-'70; Hartford, Ct., 1871-'3; Norwalk, Ct., 1874-'6; B'klyn, 1877-'9; Flushing, L. I., 1880-'2; B'klyn, 1883-'4.

Rev. JOB GARDINER BASS, born 1816, in Charleston, S. C., was Chaplain 90th N. Y. Vols., 1861-'5; of Seaman's Friend Soc. two years; of Kings Co. Jail and Penitentiary, 1867-'84; located B'klyn, 1855.

Nostrand Avenue M. E. Church .- A mission was estab- lished, in 1860, at the residence of Ebenezer Wilson, on Quincy st., near Nostrand ave. In 1861, it was removed to a building, erected for the purpose by Mr. Wilson, on Gates ave., ncar Nostrand.

In June, 1862, the mission was org. as the Gates Ave. M. E. Ch. Having again outgrown its accommodations, it was re- org., in 1865, under its present name. A place of worship was erected on the corner of Quincy st. and Nostrand ave., which was occupied in April, 1867.

In 1876, a parsonage was built; and, in 1881, the present edifice (see opposite page) was completed, at a cost of $31,750. The total value of the church property is $70,000. The scat- ing capacity is 1,225. The acoustic arrangement of the audi- torium is one of the best in the country.

Ministry: Revs. Stephen Rushmore, 1861; S. M. Hammond (1st Pastor appointed by the conference), 1865-66-67; R. S. Rust, 1868-69 ; C. E. Glover, 1870-'71-72; M. Griffin, 1873- '74-'75; James Pullman, 1876-'77-'78; Geo. W. Woodruff, D. D., 1879-'80; Geo. E. Reed, 1881-'83.

Rev. GEO. E. REED, born at Brownville, Me., 1846 ; grad. Wesleyan Univ., 1869; and Boston Theol. Sem .; located at Fall River, Mass., Stamford, Ct., and Bklyn., 1875-78-81-83.

Fleet Street Bethel (colored) Af. M. E. Church was an offshoot from the Wesleyan African M. E. Church, Bridge st., about 1861. In that year, the church edifice of St. Mark's Church (Episcopal), was purchased at $6,500. The congregation was, from the first, numerous. The first l'astor was Rev. (now Bishop) R. H. Cain, followed, in 1865, by Rev. Joshua Woodlyn, and he, in succession, by Revs. Theodore Goukl (now Business Manager of A. M. E. Book Concern), in 1868; Robert J. Wayman, 1871; J. B. Murray, 1874 ; C. T. Sebaffer, 1877: H. H. Lewis. 1881-'82; Geo. Dardis, 1883. In 1541, the church was enlarged, renovated, and refitted, at an expense of $4,000.

During the pastorate of Rev. J. B. Murray, the Metro- politan Mission was established, by a portion of the members of this society.

Greenpoint Tabernacle was commenced 1864, by members of the M. E. Ch. of Greenpoint, under the leadership of Rev.

J. F. Booth. In January, 1870, a new and commodious building was dedicated. It is of brick, massive in appear- ance, surmounted by a high-peakcd roof, is 90 feet in length, by 60 feet wide, with a large extension containing class- rooms, infant-class, and church parlors. The church affords 1,100 seats, with standing room for 200 more; while the base- ment seats 700 persons. Valuc of real estate and building, about $80,000. It is a prosperous church, with a very large Sunday-school, and exerts a wide influence in the neighbor- hood where it is located. Ministry: 1864, J. F. Booth ; 1866- '67, D. A. Goodschl ; 1869-'70-'71, Freeman P. Tower; 1872, C. E. Harris ; 1873-74, T. H. Burch ; 1875-'76, J. S. Brecken- ridge; 1877, S. H. Platt ; 1878, J. W. Barnhart : 1879-'80, W. H. Simonson; 1881-82-'83, W. D. Thompson.

THE WILLOUGHBY AVENUE M. E. CHURCH.

The Tompkins (or Willoughby) Avenue M. E. Church .- In 1865, many members of DeKalb Ave. M. E. Church were dissatisfied with the Pastor sent them by conference. the Rev. Gad Smith Gilbert, and, on March 16, forty-two of his adherents withdrew and organized John Wesley M. F. Church, but were incorporated as the "Tompkins Ave. M. E. Church."

Lots on the north-west corner of Tompkins and Willoughby avenues were secured, and a Tabernacle, costing $1,900, was immediately erected and occupied ten days later. Rev. Gad Smith Gilbert became the first Pastor. . The corner-stone of the present edifice was laid April 25th, 1867. On August 2, 1868, it was dedicated by Bislı. Janes. In 1872, a chapel was added. These are frame structures in the modern gothic style, with stained-glass windows. They occupy land frout- ing 100 feet on Tompkins ave., and 120 on Willoughby ave. The church is 75 by 60 ft, in size, with galleries on three sides and a seating capacity of 1,200. The chapel is 33 ft. wide by 60 ft. deep. The entire cost of buildings and land was $46,169.84.

On Aug. 6, 1868. a number of the members, who were din- satisfied with the conference appointment of pastor, withdrew and held their first service as the Greene Ave. M. E. Church

The Wesley Church became more and more involved in debt. The membership increased to 230. The Sabbath-school numbered 270.

ECCLESIASTICAL ORGANIZATIONS.

1039

- ..

NOSTRAND AVENUE M. E. CHURCH.

1040

HISTORY OF KINGS COUNTY.

Ministry as follows : 1865, Rev. Gad Smith Gilbert; 1866- '69, Rev. Francis C. Hill; 1869-'71, Rev. J. W. Barnhart; 1871-'74, Rev. C. B. Ford; 1874-'77, Rev. Frederick Brown; 1877-'79, Rev. J. H. Stansbury. In 1879, the debt was nearly $40,000.

In March, 1879, the property was sold under foreclosure, and purchased by the Williamsburgh Savings Bank for $15,000. Subsequently, Miss Anna Oliver contracted with the bank for its purchase for $14,000. The first thousand was paid by voluntary contributions from four men and

the New York East Conference. It was decided to postpone the raising of the purchase price until the church should have demonstrated its ability to continue. The church and donors of the first thousand requested Miss Oliver to hold the property in her name. This she reluctantly consented to do, at the same time declaring that she held it for the church.

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Civil, political, professional and ecclesiastical history, and commercial and industrial record of the County of Kings and the City of Brooklyn, N. Y., Part 96

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909. Publication date: 1884 Publisher: New York : Munsell Number of Pages: 1360

Author: Stiles, Henry Reed, 1832-1909.
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: New York : Munsell
Number of Pages: 1360