South Bushwick Reformed Church

A beacon of white against the bustle of Bushwick Avenue, the South Bushwick Reformed Church has witnessed the ebb and flow of life in this vibrant Brooklyn neighborhood for nearly two centuries. The South Bushwick Reformed Church, affectionately known as the “White Church,” stands as a testament to the enduring power of faith and community. The story of the South Bushwick Reformed Church begins in 1851. A group of families, primarily members of the older Reformed Church of Bushwick, sought to establish a place of worship closer to their homes in the then-developing area of Bowronville. Their petition was granted, and the South Bushwick Reformed Dutch Church was officially organized. Land for the church was generously donated by brothers Andrew and Abraham Stockholm. While the church was being constructed, services were held in a nearby Methodist church, a testament to the spirit of interfaith cooperation. The cornerstone of the South Bushwick Reformed Church was laid in 1852. The design, a harmonious blend of Greek Revival and Gibbsian classical styles, was conceived by the enigmatic “Messrs. Morgan.” The church, completed in 1853, cost around $5,900, with a significant contribution of $2,000 coming from the Collegiate Church of New York. The finished structure, a two-story frame building clad in clapboard, could accommodate around 500 worshippers. The church’s most striking features include the grand fluted Ionic columns of the entrance portico and the towering steeple, a square base rising to an octagonal lantern and spire. This steeple design, reminiscent of Christopher Wren’s London churches, adds a touch of old-world elegance to the Brooklyn streetscape. In 1854, Reverend John S. Himrod became the first pastor of the South Bushwick Reformed Church. The adjacent Himrod Street was later named in his honor, further cementing the church’s place in the neighborhood’s history. The church continued to evolve, with the addition of a Sunday school building in 1881, designed by J.J. Buck. This “elegant and commodious” structure, initially separate, was later connected to the main church building. The South Bushwick Reformed Church, a landmark since 1968 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, stands as a symbol of continuity and resilience. Even now, as it undergoes renovations following storm damage, the South Bushwick Reformed Church continues to serve its community, offering virtual services and reminding us of the enduring power of faith and community.