Greenpoint Reformed Church

Greenpoint Reformed Church is a Reformed Church in America church at 136 Milton Street in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York.[1] As of March 2012, it had a congregation of 80 people.[2]

Its fireplace tilework includes historic porcelain plaques depicting Robert Fulton and Robert Livingston. According to a curator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Union Porcelain Factory in Greenpoint probably manufactured the plaques in the 1870s.[3] The congregation has used the current building since it purchased it in 1942.[4]

The Reverend Ann Kansfield has been one of the church's pastors since 2003.[5] Her partner the Rev. Jennifer Aull has been co-pastor since 2006.[6] Kansfield and Aull were cofounders of the group Room For All.[7]

The church hosts a dinner and soup kitchen for its local community.[8] The church's food pantry program began in October 2007; it offers groceries to individuals and families, most of whom live in northern Brooklyn.[2] A homeless shelter briefly opened at Greenpoint Reformed Church in November 2012, but a few months later moved to another neighborhood church.[9]

The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church of Green-Point was organized with eight members, by a committee from the North Classis of Long Island, on the first Sunday of May, 1848. Public worship was maintained in the loft of a store house in Franklin Street, which had been fitted up for that purpose. Preaching services were maintained, without charge, by students from the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, and by the neighboring clergy, until August 1, 1849, when the Rev. John W. Ward, from the Classis of Orange, having accepted a call, was installed as first pastor of the church. The cornerstone for the first church edifice, on Java Street near Franklin Avenue, was laid on May 1, 1850, and the building was dedicated in November of that year.

Following the Civil War, plans were made for a larger church that was erected in 1869 on Kent Street. The new edifice cost over $50,000 and was described as being in the Rhemish style. At this location, the church was also known as the Kent Street Reformed Church. By the 1940s, the congregation had declined in number and it was decided to sell the property and building when a new location could be acquired. In 1942, the congregation purchased its present building, a Greek Revival residence that had been built for Thomas C. Smith, who once owned the Brooklyn Union. Prior to the purchase by the church, the Smith residence had been used by the Greenpoint YMCA. The old church on Kent Street was sold to St. Elias Greek Catholic Church (Byzantine Rite), which worshiped there until the parish closed in 2007. [10]

References

  1. ↑ "Directory of Brooklyn Churches". Brooklyn Council of Churches. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Fraser, Lisa A. (15 March 2012). "Greenpoint Reformed Church food pantry gives to record number of people". Queens Ledger. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  3. ↑ Kahn, Eve M. (October 6, 2008). "Scholars Stumble on Puzzle in Brooklyn Fireplace". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-07.
  4. ↑ "Greenpoint Reformed Church". The New York City Organ Project. The New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  5. ↑ Cohn, David (28 May 2006). "Don't Ask. Don't Tell. Just Pray.". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  6. ↑ Wakefield, Kylie Jane (6 May 2011). "Greenpoint Reformed Church Co-Pastor Jennifer Aull". Greenpoint Gazette. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  7. ↑ Paarlberg, Marilyn. ""We Have Faith" includes RfA Couple". News. Room For All. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  8. ↑ "Greenpoint Church Dinner/Pantry". Retrieved 17 March 2013.
  9. ↑ Furfaro, Danielle (13 February 2013). "Homeless shelter moves from Greenpoint Reformed Church to Church of Ascension". The Brooklyn Paper. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  10. ↑ http://www.nycago.org/Organs/Bkln/html/GreenpointRef.html

External links

Coordinates: 40°43′45″N 73°57′18″W / 40.7292°N 73.9550°W