COMMEMORATING THE PAST-CELEBRATING THE PRESENT -COMMITTING TO THE FUTURE
HOW WE GOT HERE
The Flatbush-Tompkins Congregational Church of Brooklyn is celebrating both its 120th and 145th Anniversaries simultaneously because of a union between two historic churches in Brooklyn. The Tompkins Avenue Congregational Church of BedfordStuyvesant was founded in 1875 and the Flatbush Congregational Church established in 1899. On May 27, 1942, at a Special Corporate Meeting, The Flatbush Congregational Church voted to merge with the Tompkins Avenue Congregational Church. The Tompkins Avenue Congregational Church moved to the Flatbush Congregational Church site in Ditmas Park, located at East 19th Street and Dorchester Road, forming the Flatbush-Tompkins Congregational Church. On October 4, 1942, the first service of the combined churches was held in Ditmas Park. The membership of the merged churches was 4,100, making it the largest Congregational Church in the United States at the time.
The Tompkins Avenue Congregational Church of Bedford-Stuyvesant was founded in 1875 and the Flatbush Congregational Church established in 1899. On May 27, 1942, at a Special Corporate Meeting, The Flatbush Congregational Church voted to merge with the Tompkins Avenue Congregational Church. The Tompkins Avenue Congregational Church moved to the Flatbush Congregational Church site in Ditmas Park, located at East 19th Street and Dorchester Road, forming the Flatbush-Tompkins Congregational Church.
On October 4, 1942, the first service of the combined churches was held in Ditmas Park. The membership of the merged churches was 4,100, making it the largest Congregational Church in the United States at the time. The Tompkins Avenue Congregational Church was established in June 1875 and held its first worship services in a schoolhouse.
A month later, the former Tompkins Avenue Presbyterian Church building, located on the corner of McDonough Street and Tompkins Avenue, became available due to foreclosure on its $61,000 mortgage, and was rented for the use of the new church. In March 1881, the society purchased the building at a cost of $40,000. Under the pastorate of the Rev. George F. Pentecost, D.D., the church membership had steadily grown to almost 1000.
In 1887, the Rev. Dr. Robert R. Meredith of Boston was called to the pastorate, and by 1888 it became apparent that a larger church would be needed. A plot of land directly across the street from the old church, on the southwest corner of Tompkins Avenue and McDonough Street, was purchased for $26,000. Plans were drawn up for a new church which would be completed by January 1, 1889, cost $70,000, and seat over 2000 people
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From the Chair of the Anniversary Committee
In the spring of 1899, committed neighbors held a home meeting on Newkirk Avenue that led to the formation of the Flatbush Congregational Church.
In the summer of 1899, Sunday worships were held in a Masonic Lodge on Flatbush Avenue, between Caton and Church Avenues.
By September 1899, their membership was 39 members.
On November 5, 1899 they moved to a store on Flatbush Avenue,
between Cortelyou and Dorchester Roads.
They subsequently purchased land on Dorchester Road; and upon the open land they built a church that was dedicated on October 14,1900.
That wooden church, we call : The “Concert Hall.”
The membership was then 121 members.
By October 2, 1910, they erected and dedicated a 2nd church building upon the Dorchester Road section of the land.
That majestic bricked building is the building in which we now worship.
On May 27, 1942, At a Special Corporate Meeting, The Flatbush Congregational Church voted to merge with the Tompkins Avenue Congregational Church;
Thus becoming: The Flatbush-Tompkins Congregational Church.
On October 4, 1942, the first service of the combined churches was held. It was Holy Communion Service.
In 1943, according to the 1950 yellow book, Active Members of the merged churches was close to 4000 members, thus making the church one of the largest Congregational Church membership, here in the United States of America.
Finally,
Can we grow this church membership again?
With God as our leader;
And with all of us: Members & Non-members
Working harmoniously together;
YES WE CAN!!
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