Senate Resolution No. 1999

BY: Senator MONTGOMERY

COMMEMORATING the 150th Anniversary of St.
George's Episcopal Church of Brooklyn, New York

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 takes pleasure in commemorating the
150th Anniversary of St. George's Episcopal Church of Brooklyn, New
York; and

WHEREAS, This auspicious occasion will be celebrated at its Annual
Dinner Dance on Friday, October 18, 2019, at Russo's on the Bay in
Howard Beach, New York, followed by an Anniversary Sung Holy Eucharist
Service at the Church on Sunday, October 20, 2019; and

WHEREAS, St. George's Episcopal Church is centrally located in the
Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, which consists of a diverse
population of Afro-American, Caribbean, Hispanics, Asians, Native
Americans and Caucasians; and

WHEREAS, St. George's Church was formally organized in October of
1869; 18 months prior, services were conducted by Mr. Guion, founder of
the Church, in a small frame building on Clifton Place near Marcy
Avenue; this building later became a school and at the time Mr. Guion
began his work, was used during the week as a carpenter shop; and

WHEREAS, In this place a very small congregation met weekly from the
Spring of 1869, until the Fall of the same year, when a mission
Sunday-school building on the corner of Monroe and Marcy Avenues was
obtained rent free, not 300 feet from the present church; here, the
congregation worshipped until the basement of their new church was ready
for occupancy; and

WHEREAS, The parish's second church building was located on Greene
Avenue between Marcy Avenue and Tompkins Avenue, and the first service
was held on February 27, 1870, only four months after the cornerstone
was laid; and

WHEREAS, This building was where the first Communion of the parish
was celebrated on the third Sunday of occupancy, and in May of 1870, the
first Confirmation Service was held, at which time four persons were
confirmed; and

WHEREAS, As the congregation continued to grow, an application was
made for admission to union with the newly formed Diocese of Long Island
in 1873, and the Church was officially named St. George's Church of the
City of Brooklyn; and

WHEREAS, By 1885, the parish had outgrown the size of the church
located on Greene Avenue and worked to raise funds for the erection of a
new church; plans were drawn by R. M. Upjohn in the Fall of 1886, and on
June 24, 1887, the cornerstone of the church at the corner of Marcy and
Gates Avenues was laid by the Bishop of the Diocese of Long Island; and

WHEREAS, St. George's Episcopal Church was opened for worship on the
first Sunday after Epiphany in January of 1888; two years later, the
parish house was built, and it held society meetings and Sunday School
classes; and

WHEREAS, After a terrible fire in January of 1900, the congregation
persevered and rebuilt the Church; through the next six years,
improvements were made to the buildings, the mortgage on the previously
existing structure was completely paid, and the Church blossomed and
prospered and became a leader in its community; and

WHEREAS, During the World War I era, the Church became a church for
everyone; in 1949, Reverend Henry B. Hucles, III became the Rector, to
later become The Right Reverend Henry B. Hucles, III, Suffragan Bishop,
Diocese of Long Island; and

WHEREAS, By 1950, the church's membership had increased to more than
1,700, and church organizations such as the Episcopal Churchwomen, the
Altar Guild, St. Luke's Guild, the Rector's Guild, the Willing Workers,
the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, the Episcopal Young Churchmen and two
excellent choirs flourished; and

WHEREAS, In 1969, an adjacent four-stored building on 454 Gates
Avenue was acquired and renovated, providing needed space for the Church
School and doubled the capacity of the parish hall; presently, the annex
houses the offices of the Rector, Curate, Parish Administrator, the
church offices, a well-appointed meeting room for the Vestry and space
for the Church School; and

WHEREAS, In the Spring of 1972, the pipe organ was replaced by a
Saville 67-Stop Organ, at the time, the finest in electronic equipment;
in January of 1977, St. George's Episcopal Church was designated a
Brooklyn Landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission of the City
of New York; and

WHEREAS, Under the helm of Reverend C. David Williams, the Church
leased the plot of land at 804 Marcy Avenue from the City of New York;
the Church acquired the land in the mid-1990s, and purchased the
property to the immediate right of the leased land, 806 Marcy Avenue;
today, these two plots combine to form the present parking lot; and

WHEREAS, During this time, the Church also obtained an abandoned
building adjacent to the renovated four-stored building, 452 Gates
Avenue; and

WHEREAS, Since January 1, 2002, The Very Reverend Canon Dr.
Glenworth Dalmane Miles has served as the 14th Rector of St. George's
Episcopal Church; in this capacity, he was the driving force in the
completion of 452 Gates Avenue and the procurement of a Certificate of
Occupancy; and

WHEREAS, The Very Reverend Canon Dr. Glenworth Dalmane Miles was
instrumental in setting up an endowment fund to ensure the future of St.
George's Episcopal Church; implemented the Capital Campaign; purchased a
23-seat church bus and a Johannus American Classic-V Digital Organ;
established the first Community Breakfast Program and Food Pantry;
instituted a strong Stewardship Program, installed a new granite floor
in the parish hall, a computer training lab for the community and
parishioners, state of the art sound system, air-cooling system in the
Sanctuary and air conditioning in the Parish Hall; paved the parking
lot; and installed a security system; and encouraged parishioners to
donate stained glass windows; and

WHEREAS, St. George's Episcopal 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 custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 150th Anniversary of St. George's Episcopal Church of
Brooklyn, New York, fully confident that this commemoration reflects the
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 Very Reverend Canon Dr. Glenworth D. Miles, Rector,
St. George's Episcopal Church.