By Stephen R. Barney, Jr.
Abraham Lincoln said: “To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.”
The Macedonia AME Church is the third oldest church in Flushing, established in 1811. It has survived many fiscal and other attempts to destroy it. In the early 20th century the church survived condition issues and was restored. Despite the Great Depression of the 1930s, the church cemetery was removed to make way for an expansion. The remains from the cemetery were re-interred under the church bell tower. In the 1950s the Flushing African-American neighborhood was destroyed and the church was under siege by Robert Moses’ slum removal plan, but the church was spared due to its Sacred Status, which resulted from the re-interment. To induce cooperation New York City surrounded the church with a municipal parking lot.
Through the efforts of former Queens Borough President Helen Marshall, the New York City Council and many others, the parking lot has given way to Flushing Commons and Macedonia Plaza, correcting that longstanding misdeed.
Now the church is threatened with demolition from within by a few egotistical church officials. These officials are supposed to be the stewards of the church not the destroyers. These officials will be on the wrong side of history and will be made infamous rather than famous.
Macedonia AME has been a longstanding African American, as well as an early American historic place in Flushing, like Grace Episcopal Church, the Society of Friends Meeting House, and Bowne House. Macedonia AME has been established as a station of the Underground Railroad and involved in many other milestones in American history. It should be restored, not demolished.
Recommendations have been made that Macedonia AME should be made a New York City Landmark and should be added to the New York State and National Register of Historic Places. These preservation programs would offer assistance for restoration. Other land should be appropriated for a church expansion, if needed, but the current church should be restored to its rightful glory and place in history.
I am asking the public to write to their government representatives, religious, cultural and community leaders and the press to stop the plan to demolish the Macedonia AME Church.
Stephen R. Barney, Jr.
Citizen and Voter
