St. George's Church (Queens) facts for kids
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St. George's Church
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2016, with new steeple
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 135-32 38th Avenue, Flushing, Queens, New York 11354 |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1854 |
| Architect | Henry C. Dudley and Frank Wills |
| Architectural style | Neo-Gothic |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000143 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 7, 2008 |
St. George's Church is a special church in Flushing, Queens, New York City. It's a place where people from many different countries and who speak different languages come together. This church is part of the Episcopal Church. Since the 1700s, it has welcomed people from over twenty different nations. The church building you see today was built in 1854. It is considered an important historical place in New York City and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
How St. George's Church Started
St. George's Church began way back in 1702. It was started as a "mission" by the Church of England. A mission is like a special project to spread a religion. This mission was led by a group called the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. Three reverends, George Keith, John Talbot, and Patrick Gordon, were part of this effort. Reverend Gordon was sent to Jamaica, Queens.
In September 1702, Reverend Keith, who used to be a Quaker, visited the Quaker Meeting House in Flushing. He announced he was a missionary and talked about his beliefs. Early on, St. George's history was connected to Grace Church in Jamaica. Reverend Patrick Gordon, the first leader, lived there.
Growing the Church Community
In 1704, Reverend William Urquhart took over. He held services in Jamaica one week, then in Flushing, and then in Newtown (which is now Elmhurst). Over time, the community in Jamaica became Grace Church. The group in Flushing grew into St. George's. And the one in Newtown became St. James.
The first church building was finished in 1746. Before that, services were held in an old Guard House. In 1760, a man named John Aspinwall gave money for a steeple and a bell.
Important People and Changes
Francis Lewis, who signed the Declaration of Independence, was a leader at St. George's Church from 1765 to 1790. His son, Francis Lewis Jr., was also a leader later on. The three churches (St. George's, Grace, and St. James) were officially linked for about 100 years.
In 1803, St. George's decided to work with Newtown to hire a new leader, Reverend Abraham L. Clarke. By 1809, Reverend Clarke moved to Newtown. This made St. George's Church independent, meaning it had its own leader and plans.
The Current Church Building
A second church building was built in 1821. The church building you see today is the third one on the same spot. It was built in 1854. Two architects, Henry C. Dudley and Frank Wills, designed it. They used a style called Neo-Gothic, which looks like old European churches.
The large bell in the tower was made from the metal of the original 1760 bell. It still has the words "The gift of John Aspinwall, Gentleman, 1760" on it. In 1761, King George III of Great Britain gave the church a special paper called a Royal Charter. This paper gave the church official rights. After the American Revolution, the church changed its prayer book. They covered up the "Prayer for the King" and added a "Prayer for the President."
Welcoming New Cultures
As the population of Flushing changed with many new people from Latin America and Asia, St. George's Church started to welcome these new neighbors. In 1988, Reverend Dr. Franco Kwan was hired to help the Asian community. He became the leader for the Chinese-speaking members. A priest was also brought in to help the Spanish-speaking members.
Today, the church holds special services where readings are done in English, Chinese, and Spanish. Copies of sermons are also given out in these languages. This helps everyone feel included.
Landmark Status and Repairs
In 2000, the church, its old Parish House, and the graveyard next to it were named City Landmarks by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. This means they are important historical places that need to be protected. In 2002, St. George's celebrated its 300th birthday!
On September 16, 2010, a strong storm called a microburst hit Brooklyn and Queens. The church's 45-foot wooden steeple was destroyed. It crashed down onto two New York City buses parked on Main Street. The steeple was rebuilt in 2013.
The Church's Organ
The church has a large pipe organ built in 1922 by the Ernest Skinner Organ Company. In 1952, it was updated by another company. This organ has 37 sets of pipes and can be played using four keyboards and a pedalboard. Phillip R. Lamb has been the Director of Music and Organist since 2015.
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