Historic Park Slope Church To Reopen For First Time In 8 Years

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — The borough's oldest congregation will reopen for the first time in eight years on Easter Sunday as the church completes the first step in a nearly $10 million restoration.

Old First Reformed Church, an 1891 church building on Carroll Street, suspended service in its "sanctuary" space after realizing that the ceiling might not be stable. The realization prompted a 10-year campaign to completely restore the historic building, which was designed by George L. Morse.

This Sunday, churchgoers will celebrate the first step in that long process, a $1.6 million project to repair the sanctuary's ceiling, floors and pews, making it safe for a public event for the first time in eight years.

“What a joy to be able to open our sanctuary doors again to welcome the community into this amazing space," Fundraising Chair Wayne Adams said. "It is a true blessing to the community and we are blessed to re-open for this first chapter.”

The sanctuary restoration is far from the end of the project to restore the building, though.

The church, along with help from the National Fund for Sacred Places, has so far raised $1.28 million. It will need another $8 million or so for the next two phases of the reconstruction, which includes restoring the sanctuary's walls, windows and organ for $4 million and another $4 million for reconstructing the bathrooms and classrooms and installing accessibility aides.

"In the process of raising funds for this opening, we realized that the fundraising need for Old First was much greater," Adams said. "We need to raise funds to restore the windows, provide ADA accessibility, and increase the capacity to host the myriad of services and rentals that happen every day in this building."

The church's historical significance includes stained glass by Tiffany Studios, early William Willet designs and triptych grouping by Otto Heinigke. It also has an 1891 Roosevelt pipe organ, a Virgillio Tojetti oil painting and a 212-foot tall Neo-Gothic spire of Indian limestone, the congregation said.

These significant pieces of architecture and art meant that the church was one of 13 out of 178 congregations that was selected for funding from the National Fund for Historic Places, which collaborates with the National Trust for Historic Preservation to pay for restoration of significant sacred places.

“The church is not only an architectural pillar of Park Slope, but has also been a welcoming place for neighborhood gatherings," Councilman Brad Lander said. "Even when the sanctuary was off-limits, Pastor Meeter provided space for a homeless shelter, a Hurricane Sandy relief kitchen, and many local organizations. We’re so glad the congregation and the community can now enjoy the building’s heart again, too.”

The reopening will include a free buffet breakfast at 9:30 a.m. and an 11 a.m. mass with a sermon by Rev. Daniel Meeter and music by Aleeza Meir and the Accord Treble Choir. It will be followed by an Easter egg hunt in the garden, the congregation said.