This is the church I will be holding services in beginning next Sunday, September 7, 2014 for Friends Christian Church, Inc. We begin at 8am and conclude at 9am. All are welcome to worship with us. Heres a brief historical overview of the building. The Reformed Protestant Dutch Church in the town of New Lots was founded July 4, 1824. In that same year the present church building was constructed (at a cost of $35.00). New Lots was part of a collegium of six churches sharing a ministry: Flatbush, Flatlands, Brooklyn, New Utrech, Bushwick, and Gravesend. These churches are still part of the Brooklyn Classis of the Reformed Church in America. Consistory meetings consisted of one minister serving six churches with a widely scattered membership. Rev. Malcom Evens, in his historical sketch written for the 140th Anniversary Celebration, retells how New Lots was built. In 1821 an ‘‘Act of God,’’ as hurricanes are often called, hastened a decision by the residents of New Lots to build their own church. The hurricane toppled many oak trees. The Dutch, noted for being a frugal and prudent people, accepted God’s gift of lumber. After the wood had seasoned for about a year and a half, they began to cut, hew and saw the trees in preparation for building their house of worship. Abraham and Cornelia Van Siclen deeded over to the building committee one-quarter acre of land on New Lots Road (later renamed New Lots Avenue) and Schenck Avenue. In 1832 a fundraiser was held and volunteer workers and well wishers came from near and far. Through the united efforts of the congregation, the edifice was reportedly built for somewhere between $25 to $35. Wooden pegs secure this building of colonial architecture with timber notched and joined. It stands today as a tribute to the soundness of the craftsmanship of the Dutch people. In 1972, in order to meet the growing needs of the community, the church built the modern educational complex next door—The New Lots Family Center. Over the years, the church building began to lean and a large wooden truss broke in the ceiling. In 1990, the congregation was compelled to vacate the sanctuary and worship in the New Lots Family Center until repairs could be made. Upon completion of the renovations, the sanctuary was rededicated in 1991. The church was designated an official city landmark in 1966.
Posted on: Sun, 31 Aug 2014 14:11:23 +0000
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