Senate Resolution No. 2797

BY: Senator MYRIE

COMMEMORATING the 150th Anniversary of Lenox Road
Baptist Church of Brooklyn, New York, to be
celebrated on October 2, 2022

WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and

WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay
tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to
the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the
150th Anniversary of Lenox Road Baptist Church of Brooklyn, New York, to
be celebrated on Sunday, October 2, 2022; and

WHEREAS, The Lenox Road Baptist Church began as a prayer group in
February of 1871, with many of its first meetings in the Schoenmakers
Hall, now 893 Flatbush Avenue; the church itself was formally organized
on March 12, 1872, and publicly recognized as a regularly constituted
Baptist Church on April 12, 1872; and

WHEREAS, The Lenox Road Baptist Church began as an all-white
congregation in 1871, and continued so up to the early 1970s; the racial
transition started during the early 1960s when there was a tremendous
amount of social unrest; and

WHEREAS, The community and the church went through several
demographic and socio-economic changes; many migrated from the southern
states as well as from the Caribbean, Panama, British Virgin Islands,
Costa Rica, and Guyana, as well as other parts of the world; and

WHEREAS, During this period, housing and business ownership by the
new immigrants changed the racial and ethnic composition of the
community and the church; as more African Americans and
Caribbean-Americans became members of the Lenox Road Baptist Church, the
direction and focus of the church's ministries changed to a more
socially oriented service; and

WHEREAS, On December 23, 1975, the 103-year-old landmark church was
completely destroyed by fire; this event appeared to have been the
catalyst that brought the "old" church and the emerging new membership
to a new direction in doing ministry, and the rebuilding of the old
church was the main thrust and motivation; and

WHEREAS, The community responded to the need of the church by
providing a meeting place for Sunday services at the Grand Theatre; the
membership continued to grow despite the fire, and the church called on
its first African American minister in 1977; and

WHEREAS, It took 13 years to rebuild the Lenox Road Baptist Church
where it is today; the first worship service in the new sanctuary was

held in 1988, and again the Church stood proudly as a beacon in the
community; and

WHEREAS, Since its inception, Lenox Road Baptist Church has had a
total of 18 pastors, including its current one, The Reverend Dr.
Kirkpatrick G. Cohall; and

WHEREAS, Time and time again, the door of Lenox Road Baptist Church
have provided refuge to those who sought the Lord; during times of
social unrest, changing values, and demographic shifts, it has truly
served as an anchor to both its congregation and the Brooklyn
community-at-large; and

WHEREAS, Under the luminous direction of The Reverend Dr.
Kirkpatrick G. Cohall, the Lenox Road Baptist Church stands on the
threshold of tomorrow, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming
decades while retaining that spiritual resolve which characterizes its
past; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to take note of
this venerable institution which has so long endured, bringing the
commemoration of this most significant milestone to the attention of all
of the people of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 150th Anniversary of Lenox Road Baptist Church of
Brooklyn, New York, confident that this commemoration reflects our
belief in those values which enhance the dignity and purpose of life;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Reverend Dr. Kirkpatrick G. Cohall, Lenox Road
Baptist Church.