“God thinks you’re fabulous and so do we.” Those words greet everyone at Bushwick Abbey. This is not just a church. It’s a queer-friendly Christian community. It celebrates faith art and justice.
Bushwick Abbey stands in Brooklyn New York. It’s just off the L train. The church offers a fresh take on Episcopal traditions. Services blend live music prayers readings and sermons. Coffee hour follows.
The church extends a warm welcome. It doesn’t matter where you’re from or who you love. Bring your whole self to Bushwick Abbey. Bring your questions about the divine. There is room here for everyone.
Bushwick Abbey is led by Vicar Nell. She was ordained in the Episcopal Church in 2010. She also serves on several committees in the Diocese. Nell lives in Carroll Gardens with her wife Nancy. They have three children and a dog named Biscuit. She enjoys gardening reading historical fiction and running.
The area now known as Bushwick was once part of a Dutch settlement. It was called the Town of Bushwick. The land was purchased from the Canarsie Indians in 1638. Governor Peter Stuyvesant chartered it in 1660. He named it Boswyck meaning refuge or town in the woods.
The early settlers were Dutch French and English farmers. They grew tobacco and food. They supplied the New York market. Dutch was the main language until the 19th century.
Bushwick remained rural until the 1850s. Then it was mapped and sold for homes. The Town of Bushwick merged with Brooklyn in 1855. The population boomed. Many Germans and Austrians settled here. They created a Little Germany. They opened breweries and built churches.
Bushwick Avenue became a street of mansions. Brewers and doctors built homes here. The area flourished between the wars. The Bushwick Theatre was a famous vaudeville venue.
Bushwick suffered greatly during the Blackout of 1977. Many stores were looted and destroyed. Fires raged. The neighborhood declined. But the community persevered.
Today Bushwick Abbey stands as a beacon of hope. It welcomes all. It embraces diversity. It celebrates faith in a modern way. The church embodies the spirit of Epiphany. It reveals God’s light to all nations. Arise shine for your light has come.
So as you stand before Bushwick Abbey take a moment. Reflect on its history. Appreciate its mission. Know that you are welcome here.