Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew (Brooklyn) facts for kids
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St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church
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(2013)
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 520 Clinton Ave. Brooklyn, New York City |
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| Built | 1888–1891 |
| Architect | John Welch |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003364 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 16, 1982 |
The Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew is a very old and beautiful Episcopal church. You can find it at 520 Clinton Avenue in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City.
This church started as St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church in 1842. It was built because Brooklyn was growing beyond its first settlements. The land for the church was given by George W. Pine. Over time, this church became the largest in the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island. It joined with St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in 1943. Later, in 1993, it also merged with the Church of St. Michael and St. Mark.
Contents
The Church Building's History
First Building (1835)
The very first building for St. Luke's Church was built in 1835. A builder named Elias Combs constructed it. His widow later said he was never paid for his work. She claimed that when the first church (Trinity Church) went bankrupt, a new group called "St. Luke's Church" bought the building cheaply. They didn't have to pay the old debts.
St. Luke's Church said this was a misunderstanding, not a trick. They offered Mrs. Combs a special pew in the church and a deed for her husband's burial vault as payment.
The church building faced some challenges. In 1846, someone tried to set it on fire, but the fire was stopped quickly. In 1856, lightning hit the steeple, causing some damage but not destroying the main structure.
In 1880, the church got some big updates. They added a larger entrance and a new front porch. The old rectory (the pastor's house) became a parish hall. In 1881, a secret donor paid for a new chapel and Sunday school building. This new chapel opened in 1882.
By 1883, the church bought the house next door at 520 Clinton Avenue. This became the new home for the church's rector (pastor).
A big fire happened in November 1887. It was caused by a faulty furnace. The organ, altar, and front part of the church were destroyed. However, the main building was still standing. Services continued there while new Sunday school and parish hall buildings were constructed.
Current Building (1888)
The church building you see today at 520 Clinton Avenue was built between 1888 and 1891. It was designed by John Welch. The style is called Romanesque Revival, which looks like old Roman buildings. Experts have called it "one of the grandest church buildings in Brooklyn."
This new building was constructed after the 1887 fire. It included a new organ, which cost $6,000 and was given by a church member. A new Sunday school building and parish hall were also part of this project. The old stone church, damaged by the fire, was taken down. A brand new building, big enough for 1,500 people, was finished in 1891.
This big building project cost a lot of money. But the church members worked hard to raise funds. By 1896, they had paid off all their debts! Many of the beautiful windows in the main part of the church were installed in 1896. They were made by Tiffany, a famous company. The round rose window was a gift from the Sunday school children in 1890.
Sadly, another major fire hit in 1914. This fire destroyed the inside of the building and made parts of the roof fall in. But the strong outer walls stayed standing. The damage was estimated to be very expensive.
Rebuilding in 1915
After the 1914 fire, the church was rebuilt. They used the strong outer walls that were still standing. The new design was very similar to the old one. The Sunday school area was made larger, and the parish hall was redesigned.
The church was covered in scaffolding for a year. It reopened on September 19, 1915. The organ was rebuilt in Maryland. It was designed to be the largest organ in New York City at the time!
Recent Repairs (2010s)
On December 23, 2012, a fire caused some damage to the church. Most of the damage was in the entrance area and front doors.
In 2017, the church improved its front sidewalk. They added a special garden that helps soak up rainwater. This helps the environment. In 2018, the church started a project to sell "air rights." This means they allowed a tall residential building to be built nearby. The money from this sale helps pay for repairs to the church's outside walls and other improvements. This is important because the church is a protected landmark.
Church Activities
Free Church for Everyone
Even though the church had money problems at first, its debts were paid off by 1864. In 1869, St. Luke's became a "free church." This meant that no one had to pay to rent a pew (a church bench). Anyone could attend services for free! St. Luke's was seen as a great example of how a free church could be successful.
Starting New Churches
In 1883, St. Luke's decided to help start new churches in Brooklyn. In 1884, they opened St. Luke's Chapel. This chapel later became its own independent church called St. Bartholomew's Church.
Music at the Church
Music has always been a big part of life at St. Luke's. The church had a choir very early on. In 1865, the women of the church held a fair to raise money for a new organ. By January 1866, a new organ was installed. It was one of the largest in the city!
By 1885, the church had three choirs: a main church choir, a chapel choir, and a Sunday school choir. Charles O. Banks became the choirmaster and organist in 1924. He was known for his amazing organ playing and for organizing many organ concerts.
Merging with St. Matthew's Church
In 1943, St. Luke's Protestant Episcopal Church joined with St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. The new church was named the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew. They continued to use the St. Luke's building on Clinton Avenue. St. Matthew's Church brought a beautiful stained glass window of Apostle Matthew from its old building. This window was placed in the chapel of the current church.
This merger happened partly because fewer people were attending church and neighborhoods were changing.
Helping After Hurricane Sandy
In 2012, after Hurricane Sandy hit, the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew became a main center for Occupy Sandy relief efforts in Brooklyn. Volunteers used the church space to collect and sort supplies to help people affected by the hurricane.
In 2015, another nearby church, the Church of the Redeemer, also merged with the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew.
Church Leaders
Many different leaders have served the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew over the years. Here are some of them:
- Rev. Dr. D.V.M. Johnson: 1835–1836
- Rev. Dr. J.W. Diller: 1842–1879
- Rev. George R. Van DeWater: 1880–1887
- Rev. Dr. Edward A. Bradley: 1887–1892
- Rev. Dr. Henry C. Swentzel: 1892–1926
- Rev. John S. Putnam: 1943– ?
- Rev. Richard F. Brewer: 1986–2010
- Rev. Michael Sniffen: 2010–2015
- Rev. Canon Andrew Durbidge, Priest in Charge: 2019–present
Burials at the Church
In 1845, General Gilbert Reid Jr. was buried in the family vault at the old church building. However, in 1853, the church decided to stop burying people in the church vaults. This was done for public health reasons.
See also
