Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Flushing facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Reformed Dutch Church of Flushing
Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Flushing (Bowne Street Community Church)
General information
Architectural style	Romanesque Revival style
Location	143-11 Roosevelt Avenue (38-01 Bowne Street), Flushing, Queens in New York, New York
Coordinates	40°45′42.1″N 73°49′26.7″W / 40.761694°N 73.824083°W / 40.761694; -73.824083
Completed	1892
Governing body	Private
Design and construction
Architect	George E. Potter
New York City Landmark
Designated:	December 13, 2016
Reference #:	2137

The Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Flushing (also known as Bowne Street Community Church) is a historic church in Flushing, Queens, New York City. It's known for its tall corner bell tower and beautiful stained-glass windows. This church is built in the Romanesque Revival style, which means it looks a bit like old Roman buildings. The church's history is connected to the early Dutch settlements in America.

A Look Back: The Church's History

How the Church Started

The Flushing Reformed Dutch Church began on May 20, 1842. Seven church members, including some from nearby churches, came together to form this new group. Before this, people in Flushing had to travel to churches in Jamaica or Newtown.

The church officially became the "Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Flushing" in 1843. They built their first church building at Prince and Washington (now 37th Avenue) streets. The stones for this first building came from Blackwell's (now Roosevelt) Island. Some of these original stones were later used to build a fireplace in the current church.

Moving to a New Spot

By the 1870s, more and more people joined the church. The town center was getting crowded, so the church decided to move. In 1873, they bought a large piece of land at Bowne and Amity streets (now Roosevelt Avenue). This spot was thought to be the best place in Flushing for a church.

A house for the pastor (called a parsonage) was built on the land in 1877. However, it took another 20 years to raise enough money to build the church itself. In 1890, Reverend James Demarest became the pastor. The old parsonage was sold in 1899 to help pay for the new church. A new parsonage was added in 1907.

Building the Current Church

The current church building was started by Edward Richardson. The first stone was laid on October 10, 1891. The first church services were held there in May 1892. The church was officially opened on November 6, 1892. It was much larger than the old building and could seat about 700 people.

Church Design and Features

The church has a large bell tower at its corner. It features many arched openings and detailed brick and stonework. The beautiful stained-glass windows were made by the Tiffany Glass Company of New York. A famous designer named Agnes Northrop created these windows. She was known for her skill with opalescent glass, which has a milky, glowing look.

The bell in the tower was made by the Meneely Bell Foundry in Troy. The bell tower itself was recognized as a New York City landmark in 2017.

The church also has a large organ. It was made by the Skinner Organ Company in 1929. This organ has many different sounds and parts. It was updated and made even bigger between 1977 and 1988.

Church Community and Members

The Reformed Church of Flushing is part of the Reformed Church in America (RCA). This group was founded in 1628 and is the oldest Protestant Christian church group in the United States.

In 1851, some members left the original church to form the First Congregational Church of Flushing. This church was located across the street until it was destroyed by fire in 1970. As the church grew, an organ was added in 1859. Also, the church started preaching in English instead of Dutch.

Coming Together: The Merger

The Reformed Church of Flushing and the First Congregational Church of Flushing joined together in 1974. This happened because both churches had fewer members. The population of Flushing was changing. It went from being mostly white Anglo-Saxon Protestant in the 1930s to having large Chinese and Korean communities by the 1970s.

The First Congregational Church, which is part of the United Church of Christ, agreed to the merger in 1970. The combined church changed its name to the Bowne Street Community Church. Today, the building is used by the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ, and the Taiwanese Zion Christian Church (since 1988). An independent Korean church, the New York Yeram Church, also has its offices and holds services there.

See also

• John Bowne House
• List of the oldest Christian denominations in the United States
• List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Queens
• Old Quaker Meeting House (Queens)
• The Weeping Beech
• Chinese in New York City
• Koreatown, Long Island
• Chinatowns in Queens#Flushing

Images for kids

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  Protestant Reformed Dutch Church of Flushing (Bowne Street Community Church)