The History of The Presbyterian Church in Garden City
Lay Message: July 5, 2015
On this Fourth of July Weekend, while Americans celebrate their founders and their
founding principles, it seems appropriate to recognize the birth of our own, precious church, as
we observe our 85th year of ministry and mission. Eighty-five years ago tomorrow ground was
broken on a barren plot at the corner of Chester Avenue and Adams Street, in the virtual noman’s land between Stewart Manor and Garden City. As you shall see, this church, like this
country, was born in a time of challenge and turmoil. And the vision of our country’s Founding
Fathers and our church’s founding fathers (and mothers) was the same: to survive and succeed
in the name of the one the Declaration of Independence called “the Supreme Judge” of the world.
This morning, as I recall the events that led us here today, I ask you to consider this
verse from Romans 15:4: “For whatever was written in former days [that is to say, in our own
past] was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of
the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Hope. Today’s message isn’t just about history, it is about hope, our hope for the future.
And our foundation is not brick and mortar but God Almighty himself: “In the beginning was the
Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
“Tell me the old, old story,” the ancient hymn goes. This is our story, of labor and love,
servant and service, family and faith, commitment and communion. Take pride in where we’ve
been, who we are, and where, with faith in God, we can go together.
The Presbyterian Church in Garden City has been the spiritual home for approximately
2,500 members in its 85-year history. As illustrated by the red, white and blue of our nation’s flag,
we are truly blessed to be multi-cultural and multi-racial. Look around and take joy in that.
Three of our current members entered our family more than 65 years ago:
[Above: Mr. and Mrs. Kiesel]
Adele Kiesel in 1941 and Bill Kiesel in 1944, and Barbara McVeigh in 1949.
[Above: Barbara McVeigh with her granddaughter, a young Kaitlin Harrison]
When then-12-year-old Kaitlin Harrison joined on May 15, 2004, she became the fourth
generation from her family, following her mother Lisa (in 1982), grandmother Barbara and late
grandparents Paul and Doris Stellwagen (around 1940).
Our church roll also includes members from the 1960s (Ruth Campisi, Terry Prekopa and
Everett Vilander) and the 1970s (Muriel and Richard Drewitz, Chris Campisi and Christine
DeNoia.)
Our congregation began as a mission church of the New York Presbytery in 1929, due to
the development of Western Nassau County. But we weren’t alone. Our neighbors at Christ
Episcopal, St. James Lutheran and St. Anne’s Roman Catholic all took root around this time.
Thus, our seeds were planted to the dying strains of the Jazz Age and the opening bell of the
Great Depression.
1929 also marked the first appearance of baby Jacqueline Bouvier in East Hampton,
Grumman Aircraft on Long Island, Adelphi University in Garden City, the Empire State Building
construction in Manhattan, Mother Theresa in Calcutta, Popeye in the comics, All Quiet on the
Western Front on bookshelves, Gerber baby food on grocery store shelves, as well as Jones
Beach State Park, the Academy Awards, the Museum of Modern Art, and the St. Valentine’s Day
Massacre. It was an eventful year, to be sure.
On June 9 of that year, our church started as a Sunday School class conducted by Miss
Mary Kyle, a New York Presbytery missionary. The site was 154 Salisbury Avenue, the home of
the Rev. MacIntosh MacLeod, who would soon become our first pastor. That address is now 64
Salisbury Avenue.
The first preaching service was led by the Rev. A.H. Griffith, pastor of the First
Presbyterian Church of Queens Village, on the evening of July 29, 1929 in a storefront at 84
Covert Ave. in Stewart Manor.
[Above: View of Covert Avenue in 1926]
This is what Covert Avenue looked like in 1926, when Stewart Manor was known as
Sunrise Gardens, and this is an early view of our namesake village.
[Below: View of the Village of Stewart Manor]
The building next door to our church housed the Fire Department in the front and the
Village offices in the rear. That Covert location is now the CPA firm of Baldessari and Coster.
The fledgling church developed rapidly in the fall and winter of 1929-30. On October 23,
1929, the last day of American normalcy before the calamitous stock market crash began, the
Women’s Service League was organized. The Presbyterian Women, as they became known, as
well as the Thursday Ladies, have been indispensable throughout our history, as exemplified by
the untiring efforts of long-time president and much-missed Jean O’Brien.
[Below: Jean O’Brien]
On November 3, 1929 Rev. MacLeod, formerly of the Westminster Church of Brooklyn,
became our first pastor. Meanwhile, the Grim Reaper that was the Great Depression began
claiming its own. According to the official history of Stewart Manor, the Village became known as
Suicide Manor because of the “twelve or more suicides that occurred in a short period.”
[Above: Rev. MacIntosh MacLeod with shovel]
The necessity of a center of worship could not have been greater. So on Feb. 6, 1930 the
United Presbyterian Church of Stewart Manor was permanently organized. “Stewart Manor” was
appropriate because our history began there, when it was already an incorporated village. But
then, the very next year, in 1931, we found ourselves officially in the Village of Garden City, when
the Western Property Owners Association was created. But as we shall see, “Stewart Manor”
would remain part of our name until 1985.
Records show that the first membership roll was established on April 20, 1930 with 93
people. Two months later, the church was incorporated with 91 members. The church needed a
permanent home, a place where men, women and children in their respectful Sunday best could
put their faith in the Almighty when faith in the Almighty Dollar was plunging. So on July 6, a
ground-breaking ceremony for the sanctuary took place right above us. The $65,000 edifice
($910,000 today) was dedicated on December 14, 1930.
[Above: 1930 Cornerstone of the Church]
[Below: Color Photograph of our Church before the construction of the Education Wing]
Here’s how The Brooklyn Daily Eagle previewed the big event that morning. And note
how the headline and dateline refer to Garden City:
“Headline: Will Dedicate New Church at Garden City
Dateline: Garden City, L.I. Dec. 13: The Rev. Dr. R.A. Hutchinson of Pittsburgh,
Pa. will officiate tomorrow afternoon at the new United Presbyterian Church here
at Chester Ave. and Adams St. The Rev. MacIntosh MacLeod, pastor of the
church, will assist in the service.
For the past year the church has been conducted in a storeroom on Covert Ave. with a
fully organized Sunday School, Women’s League, Men’s Club and Young People’s Society. The
new structure, of Colonial architecture, has a main auditorium and balcony providing seats for
350 and a basement hall of seating of 300 for recreational activities. [This seems to have been
before fire code capacity regulations!] The new building will be open for inspection on the
evenings of Dec. 16, 17 and 18.”
This was a big event worthy of an official proclamation, which you can see hanging in the narthex.
[Above: Photograph of the Church Proclamation]
The United Presbyterian Church of Stewart Manor enjoyed its greatest growth and
influence during the pastorate of the Rev. Dr. J. Kenneth Miller.
[Above: Dr. J. Kenneth Miller]
He began his impressive 31-year tenure on February 21, 1937, arriving from
Pennsylvania and guiding the church through the end of the Great Depression, World War II, the
Korean War and the beginning of the Viet Nam War. He was a firm but beloved leader, serving
both our congregation and many ministerial organizations. During his service, the church added a
pipe organ and chimes in 1948 and hosted in 1957 the 100th annual meeting of the New York
Synod, of which he was the long-time Stated Clerk. Membership grew to more than 900,
necessitating double services, an assistant pastor, a second manse and in 1962 a $150,000.00
($1,158,339.68 today) education wing expansion that increased the church’s floor space by 75%.
It was a busy and exciting time, but probably a parking nightmare.
[Above: Photograph of a Crowded Worship Service in the Sanctuary]
[Above: Lines of Congregants waiting to enter Church for Worship]
[Below: A view of the construction work on our new Education Wing]
[Above: Ceremony for the laying of the cornerstone of the new Education Wing]
Preparations for cornerstone laying were no doubt distracted by the October Cuban
Missile Crisis, so after that fretful moment passed there must have been special joy, and thanks
to God, when the ceremony took place on Veterans Day, November 11, 1962.
Another significant leader of that period was Dr. Florence Wilson, who left an
endowment in 1965 that still provides substantial support for our Christian Education program.
[Above: Dr. Florence Wilson]
This vitally important tradition of generous philanthropy has been exemplified in recent
years by members like the late Annette Schroeder and Bill Fuller, as well as the aforementioned
Kiesels, and Muriel Drewitz, among others.
[Above: The Late Mrs. Annette Schroeder]
And if time is money, words of gratitude will never equal the priceless contributions of Bill
Doherty, our Corporation President since 2005, or our former and much-missed Adams Street
neighbors, Stu and Wendy Boysen. Stu and Wendy, come home!
[Above: Stu and Wendy Boysen]
Returning to our history, Dr. Miller was permanently succeeded by the Rev. James C.
Roof on September 8 of the tumultuous year 1968: The Viet Nam war raged, Martin Luther King
and Bobby Kennedy were assassinated, and America elected a President who would later be
forced to resign. In the fall of 1969, our own assistant pastor, the Rev. Florence Hedwall became
the first woman to be ordained in the Long Island Presbytery—a proud moment, indeed, in our
church’s history.
[Above: Rev. James C. Roof]
In the years since, our congregation has had five more full-time pastors and four interims.
Our full-time ministers were: the Rev. Robert Mogge (who arrived in 1971) ...
[Above: Rev. Robert Mogge]
… the Rev. Charles Cureton (in 1973),
[Above: Rev. Cureton]
… the Rev. Steve Sibson (in 1985),
[Above: Rev. Sibson]
… the Rev. Robert Close (in 1999) …
[Above: Rev. Close]
... and our current pastor, the Rev. Wanda Lawry Hughes (in 2002).
[Above: Rev. Lawry Hughes]
[Above: Revs. Lilley (left), Prickett (center), and McColloch (right)]
Notable among the interims were:the Rev. Dr. Theodore Lilley (on the left), who served
three different terms, following Dr. Miller, Rev. Roof and Rev. Mogge, and the Rev. Donna
Prickett (in the center), who followed Rev. Cureton. The third person in this photo from our 60 th
anniversary in 1990 was the Rev. Laurence McColloch, a former assistant pastor to Dr. Miller.
[Above: Pastor Wanda (left), with Revs. Meyers (center) and Evans (right)]
This photograph from our 75th anniversary shows Pastor Wanda with two other gifted and
beloved interims, the Rev. Ed Meyers, who succeeded Rev. Close and the Rev. John Evans, who
followed Rev. Sibson.
Now, here are some other significant highlights from our past: We celebrated our 25th
anniversary in the heady days of 1955 with a dinner at the Garden City Hotel, a sumptuous
location probably beyond our means today. Consider these affluent numbers from 60 years ago:
The Sabbath school, alone, had a staff of 32 and pupil enrollment of 343. We observed the 50 th
anniversary in 1979, and the following year we began sponsoring a family from Viet Nam. On
October 20, 1985, the congregation voted to change its name from The United Presbyterian
Church of Stewart Manor to The Presbyterian Church in Garden City, designating, at last, its true
location.
For several years beginning in May 1989, various members of our congregation
volunteered at a homeless shelter in Hempstead. From July 1989 through December 2004, we
shared our facilities with the Korean Church of Long Island. At the worship service for our 60 th
anniversary in May 1990 Rev. Sibson preached a positive message that is as true today as it was
then, “This Ain’t the Titanic!” Two months later Rev. Sibson took another form of transportation to
Scotland for a month-long pastor exchange with the Rev. A.M. Roger from Newton Mearns,
Scotland near Glasgow.
Many of us recall our most exuberant anniversary, the 75th Anniversary. Boy, does time
fly: 10 years ago!
[Above: Photograph of a commemorative candy bar wrapper]
This was a year-long June 2004-to-June 2005 extravaganza that included a barbecue, a
concert, an antique car show, a Presbyterian Women’s dinner, a February Sunday Service and
Italian luncheon and a Grand Gala Weekend with a Friday night concert, Saturday night dinner
dance at the Hempstead Country Club and a Sunday Service and luncheon. A year’s worth of
memorable hearty partying: It was terrific!
[Above: Cover of Anniversary Booklet]
[Above: Mr. and Mrs. Lee]
[Above: Rev. Wanda Lawry Hughes and her husband, Mr. David Hughes]
Now, here are some other highlights that have occurred during Pastor Wanda’s tenure,
which began on December 1, 2002:
March 2003 — Pastor Wanda created the Transformation Team to examine all aspects of church
life and develop specific recommendations for Christian renewal and revival.
September 2004 — Carol Dort became Choir Director and Organist and began restoring and
rescoring the church’s music program.
[Above: Carol Dort sitting by our Church Organ]
2005 — Club 413 began, leading to increased youth participation in worship, and domestic and
international mission trips. Kelly Reeves, Peter Cianciotto, Joseph Watson, Zach Naglieri and
Renee Watson have all been delegates to the Youth Triennium. Under Pastor Wanda’s loving
influence, we have seen our young people grow in confidence, wisdom and faith. We are blessed
by it.
[Above: Our Youth Mission Work]
[Below: Our Youth Christmas Pageant]
March 2007 — The church created the Society of Angels to honor people who include the church
in their bequests and planned giving. If you haven’t already, give it some thought.
June 2006-June 2014 —The church hosted a weeklong Vacation Bible School, initially under the
direction of Linda Chencinski ...
[Above: Linda Chencinski]
... and then Mary Lou McCann.
[Above: Mary Lou McCann (left) with Matthew Hughes (right)]
November 2008 — The church created the Magi Society to honor those people who have
generously provided funding for specific church gifts above and beyond their stewardship pledge.
I urge you again: give it consideration!
June 7, 2009-June 20, 2010 – The church observed its 80th anniversary by asking members to
take part in an “80 for 80” campaign—80 acts of service or participation through donating Time,
Talent or Treasure. Those purposes and that mission should continue for as long as we are here.
2010 – 2014 — The church operated a yearlong mission program for a class of immigrant Central
American students at Westbury’s Powell’s Lane School. One of my favorite memories was
watching Lois DeGroff interact with those fun-loving kids.
[Above: Photographs featuring Central American students at Westbury’s Powell’s Lane School]
March 2012 — The church became the host location for Our Precious Angels Daycare Center
and its five-days per week operation.
June 2012 — Pastor Wanda served as a delegate to the Presbyterian General Assembly in
Pittsburgh.
June 2013 – August 2014 – The church served as host location for the Portledge Driving School.
June 2014 — And, I say this with great humility, only as a tribute to the church where it has been
my privilege to be a member since 1983: I also served as a delegate to the Presbyterian General
Assembly, in Detroit, and later in the year was elected to be the Long Island Presbytery
Moderator in 2017. They wanted three years to be able to change their mind!
And so, here we are today, 85 years after the ground was broken for this very building.
Like those brave patriots of 1776, and the noble women who supported them, we know that we
shall continue, in the Declaration’s words, through our “firm reliance on the protection of divine
Providence.” May Divine Providence always be with us.
[Above: Our Church in the wintertime]
[Above: Our Church in the summertime]
I also recall the prophetic words of the 25th anniversary celebrants in 1955, as proclaimed
on their official program for that event: “What [the Church] has done and is doing it will continue to
do, for each year sees it becoming larger and stronger in all of the ways of service.” May that
joyful optimism guide us, as well.
Happy Anniversary, everyone.
Larry Keith