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The church destined to become the
Presbyterian Church of Saint Albans, grew out of cottage prayer
meetings. In 1898, the year before the town of
Saint Albans
was officially named, a group of Christians started
holding Wednesday evening meetings in their houses. They were
determined to worship even though there was no church in their
rural community.
The need for a place to worship God was great because the
farmers in those days had to drive their horses and buggies either
to Springfield or Jamaica, in order to attend services. In 1903
the Community Hall was built to house the growing congregation. It
still stands today as First Church of God in Christ. The Sunday
School was organized in 1904 with Mr. Hendrick Hendrickson as
superintendent, and Mrs. Adelia Place as pianist.
It was not until January 3, 1901 that the church was
organized by the Presbytery of Nassau with 3 charter members. Mr.
John M. Bayliss and B.A. Everitt were among the first elders. The
plot where the present edifice stands was donated by Mr. James
Nevis, a Brooklyn realtor, and the cornerstone was laid in 1907.
The first supply pastor was tile Rev. William Hendrickson. He
served for more than two years until a regular installed pastor,
the Rev. Frank Lee, was called in 1909. Rev. Lee was succeeded by
the Rev. Hilton R. Campbell in 1913; in 1913 by Rev. John Erickson
by Rev. John A. Harrer in 1920; by Rev. James Mayne in 1924; by
Rev. Arthur Ash in 1928 Dr. William A. Atkinson served as stated
supply from 1934-36. On October 16, 1936, the Rev. Francis D.
Wallace was installed as the seventh pastor. The Addisleigh United
Presbyterian Church united with the Saint Albans Church in 1937.
Rev. Wallace served the church for twenty years, leaving to become
General Presbyter of the Brooklyn-Nassau Presbytery in 1956.
Several students, including David Nakagawa and John Cato, filled
the pulpit until the Rev. Ambrosio M. Patacsil was called in 1957.
He was succeeded by the Rev. Cornelius O. Berry in 1961. Rev.
Berry served for 18 months. During Rev. Berry's tenure, the United
Presbyterian Women reorganized into "circles."
Rev. L. Charles Gray, who succeeded Rev. Berry, was installed in
1962. He resigned in 1969 to become director of the Manhattan
Division of the National Council of Churches. He returned to the
pulpit in 1971 and became Pastor Emeritus in 1983.
The 20 years during which the Rev. L. Charles Gray was pastor
proved to be a period when the Saint Albans Presbyterian Church
moved from a church of the Saint Albans community alone to a
church of renown in the southeast Queens area and beyond. Among
the many outstanding events that occurred during this period are.
1974 - Organization of the St. Albans/Springfield Gardens Senior
Citizens Center.
1976 - St. Albans Youth Outreach Center organized.
1977 - Host Church to Christian Peace Conference
During the interim period, 1969 to 1971,the Session engaged a
student minister, Mrs. Pat Mitchell, as a Youth Program Director.
The Youth Outreach Program was organized in 1976. Rev. Dr. Davis was
also engaged by the Session as Youth Program Director in 1971.
Rev. Lloyd Eversley and Candidate Michael Pope filled the pulpit
until Rev. Howard Bryant was designated Supply minister during
1983-1985.
Rev. Dr. Edward Davis was installed as the eleventh pastor on
February 11, 1985 by Sharon Davidson, Moderator of the Presbytery.
Pastor Davis took as the church motto: "Ministering Beyond the
Walls."
The Theater Ministry, "Theatre
of the Living Word" was organized by Millicent Jones.
The "Group" a fellowship organization of young singles and married
couples was organized in 1985. The Summer Vacation Bible Camp
reorganized with 30 youth, Miss Mauree Smith directed the camp.
In 1987, the Session voted for the church to become members
of the Queens Citizens Organization. In 1988 Rev. Dr. Davis was one of
the lead pastors from the QCO who approached Pathmark Corp. to
develop a Pathmark Supermarket in Southeastern Queens. Mr. Harry
Turner and Ms. Enola Phillips were instrumental in this community
effort. This development would provide 300 jobs. Groundbreaking
eventually happened in the Summer of 1999.
The Bible Study Group was organized their centering scripture
comes from Colossians 3:16 "Let the Word of Christ dwell within
you richly". The Prayer Group was called together through the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit and has been a powerful spiritual
arm of the church and its' outreach and internal ministries.
The Hymn Choir which sings during the 8:30 AM. Worship
service was formed in by Mrs. Helen Rutledge.
The Deacon Board under the guidance of Mrs. J. Malcolm and
Mrs. L. Toodles organized the St. Albans SHARE Program, a food
co-operative. Elders Judson Dinkins and Moley C. Wilson created
the Prison Ministry and coordinated our involvement in the Angel
Tree Project, a prison ministry which primarily works with
children whose parents are incarcerated in local and state
prisons.
Under the skillful guidance of Mr. James Casey, the conference
room was handsomely renovated.
At the annual congregational meeting in January of 1990, the
congregation voted to move forward with architectural drawing and
plans of Mr. Harry Simmons to expand the sanctuary, theatre, the
Alberta Alston Fellowship Hall, school complex, and multi-purpose
community center, adding an additional 10,000 square feet to the
current edifice.
At a Congregational Meeting on May 6, 1990, the congregation
voted unanimously to go forward with the expansion. On Fathers'
Day, the fundraising effort to raise $ 1.5 million dollars was
launched with a great deal of excitement and great expectations.
St. Albans
Presbyterian Multipurpose Community Center
was
organized as an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit entity. It
developed the Julius Erving Center which served over 300 youth as an after school mentoring and sports program. Later, the quarter acre plot on Farmers Blvd. was purchased as the future home of its outreaches.
Plans are now under way to establish a new Senior Citizen's Advocacy Center and an Educational Day Care Center with
an emphasis of education, arts & culture.
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