Today I was doing some research in the Reformed Presbyterian Minutes of Synod. I was in the old dusty copies- early 1900s through 1940s. What struck me was the number of congregations that used to be in, what are called, 'strategic' cities. I began to be curious about what some of these buildings looked like and began using 'Google Street View' to see some of the old buildings and neighborhoods that used to be RP strongholds.
Sadly, the RP Church no longer has a witness in some of the most important cities across the United States and Canada. I will leave it to the seasoned church historians to give all of the reasons why some of the oldest RP congregations are no longer with us. From 'white flight' to changing priorities in the denomination- many reasons have left some of the oldest congregations behind (along with grand buildings and hurting neighborhoods).
It is my prayer that we can again have a voice in these cities and neighborhoods. When will we see a congregation in New York city again? We used to have a large number of them. When will we see congregations in Portland, OR, or San Fransisco, CA, or Detroit, MI, or Kansas City, MO, or Miami, FL, or even downtown Pittsburgh?
Of course, it is not just the RP Church, but conservative Reformed Churches across the board. Many have given up on the cities and urban areas of this nation and Canada. Our churches thrive in suburbs and country areas. It does not have to be that way only. We can, once again ,seek out the urban areas for the cause of Jesus Christ. Reformation does not have to be in suburbia and in the pastures only (although those places are important too). I would like to see the cause of Christ advanced in the cites of this country- in the cities that used to have much light coming from thriving Reformed and Presbyterian Churches.
Below are some of the old RP Churches that have been lost to the denomination. I noticed that one is now Antioch-Baptist, one is African Methodist Episcopal Zion, and some are boarded up or torn down. These are just a few of the many former RP congregations.
Sadly, the RP Church no longer has a witness in some of the most important cities across the United States and Canada. I will leave it to the seasoned church historians to give all of the reasons why some of the oldest RP congregations are no longer with us. From 'white flight' to changing priorities in the denomination- many reasons have left some of the oldest congregations behind (along with grand buildings and hurting neighborhoods).
It is my prayer that we can again have a voice in these cities and neighborhoods. When will we see a congregation in New York city again? We used to have a large number of them. When will we see congregations in Portland, OR, or San Fransisco, CA, or Detroit, MI, or Kansas City, MO, or Miami, FL, or even downtown Pittsburgh?
Of course, it is not just the RP Church, but conservative Reformed Churches across the board. Many have given up on the cities and urban areas of this nation and Canada. Our churches thrive in suburbs and country areas. It does not have to be that way only. We can, once again ,seek out the urban areas for the cause of Jesus Christ. Reformation does not have to be in suburbia and in the pastures only (although those places are important too). I would like to see the cause of Christ advanced in the cites of this country- in the cities that used to have much light coming from thriving Reformed and Presbyterian Churches.
Below are some of the old RP Churches that have been lost to the denomination. I noticed that one is now Antioch-Baptist, one is African Methodist Episcopal Zion, and some are boarded up or torn down. These are just a few of the many former RP congregations.
Enjoy the tour, via Google Streetview:
First Boston RP Church
Warren Ave. and Brookline Street
Chicago RP Church
66th Place and South Normal Ave.
Kansas City RP Church
44th Street and Wyoming Street
Second New York City RP Church
308 West 122nd Street
Third New York City RP Church
1932 Walton Ave. Bronx
First Philadelphia RP Church
40th Street and Sanson Street
Third Philadelphia RP Church
Franklin Street and Dauphin Street
Portland, OR, RP Church
5935 North Minnesota Ave.
Toronto RP Church
754 Samman Ave.
5 comments:
Here is another one. 81st and May, Chicago.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=81st+and+may+chicago&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=32.939885,79.101563&ie=UTF8&ll=41.747638,-87.652359&spn=0.007572,0.019312&z=16&g=81st+and+may+chicago&iwloc=addr&layer=c&cbll=41.746804,-87.65235&panoid=vKX-J0bY0xZ14ginqtctRA&cbp=12,314.9999999999998,,0,5
Thanks for this, Nathan. I have often considered the grand old buildings in the center of cities. It seems sad that there are these big buildings, where there is very little Gospel preached (not all cases, of course), whereas the faithful must gather in a recreation center. But it is not only about the building; it is about a sound Gospel witness in the center of the city.
Tim Lindsay
Thanks for this, and welcome to SoCal.
Chuck
Orange County
Truly fascinating; thanks for sharing. I wasted who knows how long looking around on Google Earth!
Also, any chance that, in your ongoing research in the RP Synod Minutes, you might sometime encounter that report on the Good News Bible that I mentioned on my blog?
I wonder if anyone can tell me what happened to the Church Hill Reformed Presbyterian congregation that was located in Coulterville, Illinois. My great-grandfather, Edward Graham Elsey, was pastor there from 1896 to 1901. I wonder when it was disolved and if it was incorporated into the Sparta or Bethel congregations.
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