Bayside, known for its beloved Bell Boulevard eateries, beautiful park spaces and Bay Terrace shopping center, has a rich, little known history about its religious institutions.
This Queens neighborhood occupies land that was once inhabited by the Matinecock Native Americans, one of the 13 Native American tribes that lived across Long Island. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Dutch settlers toiled on the rich farmland and Bayside began its industrial development in the early 1900s.
As the Bayside community began to form, the creation of churches and places of worship became increasingly important. In 1893, one of the first church services in Bayside was held at the All Saints Episcopal Church. Over 100 years later, All Saints Episcopal Church and other historical churches in the neighborhood are still standing.
As time advanced, the demographic landscape of the neighborhood transformed significantly. Initially a vibrant nexus for Irish, Italian and German immigrants, it evolved into one of New York City’s most prominent Asian communities. Today, Bayside boasts an Asian population that constitutes approximately 44% of its demographic makeup.
The welcoming of new cultures meant the need for other religious institutions as well, and by the 1980’s several Korean Christian churches were erected within the Bayside community.
Below is a list of a few of Bayside’s historical and modern religious institutions:
Located in the picturesque Bayside Hills, this Protestant Church has been serving the Bayside Community since 1938.
Location: 54-02 217th St.
On Christmas Day, 1894, the first mass ever to be celebrated in Bayside was said by Fr. Matthew Tierney in Literary Hall, Bayside Village. Due to the positive reception of the mass attended by over 250 residents, Fr. Matthew Tierney built the Sacred Heart Catholic Church. By Apr. 12, 1896 the first mass was celebrated in the newly built Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Location: 215-35 38th Ave.
St. George Russian Orthodox Church
According to the church’s website, the St. George Russian Orthodox Church was founded almost a century ago. The parish of the Russian Orthodox Church is one of 35 other parishes in the United States. It serves community members of Russian descent and holds services in English and Slavic languages.
Location: 211-43 46th Ave.
The Korean Presbyterian Church of Bayside
In 1991, this church held its inaugural service at 214-15 45th Dr. By 1999, the church found its home at 45-62 211 St. It continues to hold services for the growing Korean-American community in Bayside, Queens.
Location: 45-62 211th St.
The Overflowing Church, formerly known as the “New York Korean Church” and the “Grace Korean Presbyterian Church,” held their first service at an American church in Elmhurst, Queens. The church was located in Woodside until 1994, when it moved to its current location in Bayside, Queens.
Location: 216-50 28th Ave.
All Saints Episcopal Church
The All Saints Episcopal Church can trace its history to the 1860s. A Sunday school was created in the local school district by The Brotherhood of St. George, a missionary society of St. George’s Church in Flushing. In March of 1892, parishioners broke ground on the creation of the new church after receiving a generous donation of four plots of land. The first church service was held in October, 1893.
Location: 214-35 40th Ave.
Chabad Synagogue of Northeast Queens
Chabad Synagogue is a part of the Chabad Lubavitch movement, a branch of Hasidism that spread through Russia and surrounding countries. The movement is led by the teachings of its seven leaders (Rebbes), starting with Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi. The 21st century Chabad-Lubavitch organization can be traced to the early 1940s. Currently, there are over 5,000 emissary families directing more than 3,500 institutions, including 2,000 based in the U.S.
Location: 212-12 26th Ave.
