This year we celebrate the 345th anniversary of the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica. The Church is a diverse congregation committed to minister the word of God through biblical teaching and to serve our congregation and the community to help meet their physical, emotional, mental and spiritual needs. This is our calling, our heritage and our obligation.
Our History
For the past 345 years, the First Presbyterian Church in Jamaica has worshiped and served in the same Queens community. Organized in 1662, more than 100 years before the founding of the country, our Church is believed to be the oldest continuously serving Presbyterian congregation in the United States. Although there are older Presbyterian congregations on Long Island, First Church in Jamaica has never interrupted service. With roots in the New Netherlands settlement of Rustdrop, meaning “Quiet Village,” today the church is located on the very same property. Our three buildings are in the heart of Jamaica Center.
The original congregation began holding worship services in a public meeting house in what was then a sleepy, pastoral village with a sprinkling of farms and thick forests. This area is now metropolitan Jamaica, where extensive office and commercial redevelopment is under way.
In 1699, the villagers built a 44-foot-square stone church in the middle of the main road, now Jamaica Avenue, opposite Union Hall Street. The congregations of what are now known as Grace Episcopal, First Reformed, and First Presbyterian worshiped as one congregation from 1662-1702, when they were then allowed to become three congregations. The Pastors of these congregations continue to meet monthly for prayer and planning. The churches jointly provide soup kitchen every weekday, along with their partners from the Catholic and Salvation Army traditions.
In 1813, the stone church was razed and replaced by the current Sanctuary a block away on a farm that extended from what is now Jamaica Avenue to north of Hillside Avenue. It faced Jamaica Avenue near 163rd Street.
In 1920, the Sanctuary was placed on logs and pulled by mule to its current location around the corner, facing 164th Street. In the same year, the 1834 manse, which had faced Jamaica Avenue at 164th Street, was moved to its present location facing 164th Street between the Sanctuary and the soon-to-be-built Magill House. This manse was not used as such from 1870-1926 because of the “noise of farm market wagons and horse cars,” and later “motor vehicles, clanging trolley cars, and the thunderous elevated railway.” Today the Manse is the operational base for First Jamaica Community & Urban Development.
In 1925, a large church house known as Magill Memorial Building was erected to accommodate the Sunday School, church offices, and other activities, with a gym, bowling alleys, auditorium, parlor, library and classrooms.
The “Magill years,” (1912 - 1946), opened with a 250th anniversary commemoration - a week long celebration; included another Grand 275th anniversary celebration; covered two world wars and the stock market crash; grew the membership to more than 1,000 and demonstrated that it was aware of the importance of providing a safe and spiritually nourishing environment for the community, in particular the youth.
On June 12, 1960, a special service was held to rename the Church House. A bronze memorial tablet located at the right hand side of the entrance to the Church House was unveiled and it was re-dedicated, thereafter to be known as the Magill Memorial House.
In 1969, Magill Memorial House became the home of the “Adult Program.” The Program gave birth to the Jamaica Service Program for Older Adults whose “Theodora Jackson Center” is a major service center in Queens today.
From 1990 - 1998, the congregation grew to include people from more than 30 countries. Reverend William Stark led in a constant effort to create a reconciling, healing “worship” community and a sensitive, caring “service” community. The First Church campus underwent major renovations that were not only a visible symbol of our “spiritual renewal” but also a demonstration of our determined focus to serve the community.
First Church Today
First Church Jamaica is ideally located in the heart of Jamaica Center, at the end of the main subway line and two blocks away from one of the major bus terminals in Queens. Magill House includes a computer lab; a fully equipped, modern kitchen; a full size gym and an auditorium with a seating capacity of 300. The sanctuary, with a seating capacity (including balcony) of 650, is equipped with a kitchen and “fellowship” hall for approximately 150 people.
With its excellent facilities, the Session has led the congregation beyond the traditional Sunday School and worship programs. Programs include mid-week Bible study, GED and ESL classes, tutoring, Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, a soup kitchen, clothing closet, emergency food distribution, twelve step programs, volleyball, basketball, youth/adult choirs, parenting classes, the Alice Horn Gift Shop, computer training, a comprehensive youth program incorporating education, recreation, socialization, mentoring, and leadership training. An Adult Program that is intellectually challenging provides opportunities for participants to enhance physical and mental health, develop social networks and remain actively engaged in living life to the fullest.
First Church is a member of the Queens Citizens Organization, a social action consortium of 30 Protestant and Roman Catholic parishes that provide support services to immigrants as they move toward citizenship. We are an active partner of the Queens Federation of Churches, Habitat for Humanity, the Greater Jamaica Development Corp, and the Jamaica Center and Improvement Association.
Today the calling of First Church Jamaica is to respond to the needs of a diverse community. The Church must preserve a multicultural congregation in an increasingly divisive society, expand outreach programs to provide a place of safety and support for the community, and develop effective systems to involve and care for new members.
In recent years, we have become an exciting multicultural congregation, representing some 35 nations. Despite having experienced earlier “lean” years, the membership has doubled in the last five years and now counts 750 active members.
In 2005, the Church launched the Touching Tomorrow Together Campaign - a three-year capital campaign to raise funds to build The Tree of Life Center - a facility needed to house the ever-expanding programs and services needed in the community. The Tree of Life - like the Church House - will be the visible sign of our commitment to minister to the holistic needs of our community.
Our Future – The Tree of Life Center
The Tree of Life Center, whose estimated cost will be approximately $7.5 million, will connect 29,000 square feet on four levels to our existing facilities. It will significantly enhance and expand our existing programs. In addition to church-operated programs, the center will work with social-service providers in the community. The Tree of Life Center will serve as a clearinghouse for their programs and services or will deliver them within our facility.
The Tree of Life mission will address the crucial needs of our community, one of the most ethnically diverse in the United States, made up of non-white Hispanic, Asian-American, Caribbean, African and African-American ethnic minorities, many of whom are immigrants.
We will also serve the youth of our community. More than 15,000 young people pass through the downtown Jamaica area daily, attending six schools in a small radius. These youth, many considered at-risk, lack structured programs to re-direct their time and their energy.
Jamaica is also home to many who are trying to restore their lives and break free of their dependence on the welfare system. Downtown Jamaica is truly a starting or restarting point for many, and First Church sees its mission as empowering people to take the next step in their lives.
The Tree of Life Center will offer:
Educational and skill development - The Tree of Life seeks to expand our offerings of GED and ESL classes; literacy classes; writing classes; SAT Preparation; one-on-one tutoring; computer literacy; LPN training and preparatory classes for New York City entry level tests for the NYPD, Transit, Corrections, and FDNY.
The provision of financial literacy and economic opportunities - The Tree of Life seeks to help low-income and immigrant families access the economic supports necessary to establish credit, resolve past credit problems, reduce debt, learn more about financial budgeting and increase their financial security by saving and investing.
The promotion of health and positive images - We will build on the screenings for cancer and diabetes, which are currently being offered at the church. We will provide advice and assistance to individuals preparing for job interviews concerning clothing, hair style and grooming.
Strong community advocacy - Utilizing the Industrial Areas Foundation model of community organizing, individuals will be taught how to organize for power so they and other residents can address local issues, which affect their lives.
Spiritual and moral development - Using religious practices, small group experiences and life change classes, individuals will be challenged to strengthen their will and change their behavior.
The First Church leadership has been walking down this road for a long time and continually searches for ways partner with other organizations to serve the community. Through our partnership with the Board of Education, we provide ESL and GED classes five-days-per-week. Our partnership with FoodChange provides free tax services, and this project resulted in more than six million dollars in refunds to the community this year alone.
We would like you to become a partner with us in The Tree of Life. Your donations will help us achieve our goal. If you would like to help, please send your donation to: First Presbyterian Church, 89-60 164th Street, Jamaica, NY 11432. Phone: 718-526-4775.
Visit us on the Web at www.firstchurchjamaica.org.
HAVE YOU BEEN LOOKING FOR A WARM AND FRIENDLY PLACE TO GO ON SUNDAYS?
Come Be Our GUEST:
Sunday 10/21
Celebrate with us 345 Years of Service to the Jamaica Community.
Guest Preacher: Pastor Anthony Trufant,
Emmanuel Baptist Church, Brooklyn, New York
Sunday 10/28
Get Connected!
Meet new friends, receive encouragement
and learn about God in a casual atmosphere
Sunday, 11/4
Take time to remember your loved ones who
have gone on at our “Not Forgotten” Memorial Service
Bring a picture or some item of remembrance with you.
2 Convenient Worship Services
9 a.m. or 11 a.m.
Reverend Patrick O’Connor
Reverend Anna Taylor Sweringen
