Episcopal Churches of Brooklyn collection
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Abstract
The Episcopal Church in America was organized following the end of the American Revolutionary War when it was forced to separate from the Church of England because, according to English canon law, no clergy could be consecrated without taking an Oath of Allegiance to the English Crown. Under the new church organization in America, the first Anglican services were held in Brooklyn in 1784. The Episcopal Churches of Brooklyn collection spans the years 1832 to 1985 and contains records or materials relating to 16 Episcopal churches that were once or are still located in Brooklyn, N.Y. Included in the collection are church programs, annual reports, membership lists, yearbooks, directories, and newsletters. The yearbooks are of particular interest as they often contain membership lists.
Historical note
The Church of England established its first parish in Jamestown, Virginia in 1607 and was designated as the established church in New York in 1693. The Episcopal Church in America was organized following the end of the American Revolutionary War when it was forced to separate from the Church of England because, according to English canon law, no clergy could be consecrated without taking an Oath of Allegiance to the English Crown. Under the new church organization in America, the first Anglican services were held in Brooklyn in 1784. By 1786, because English clergy helped to change the law requiring the oath of allegiance, the Church of England was able to offer episcopal consecration to churches outside England.
The first Episcopal Church established in Brooklyn was St. Ann's Church, incorporated in 1787 in the neighborhood of Brooklyn Heights.
There are two official names for the church: The Episcopal Church and The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Until the mid-19th century, Episcopal churches in America used Protestant Episcopal in their official names. After the mid-19th century many churches dropped the word Protestant.
Sources:
- Wright, J. Robert. "Episcopalians." In The Encyclopedia of New York City, edited by Kenneth T. Jackson, 378-381. New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Press; New York: New-York Historical Society, 1995.
- The Episcopal Church. "NewsLine." Accessed November 29, 2010. http://www.episcopalchurch.org/newsline_22035_ENG_HTM.htm
Scope and Contents
The Episcopal Churches of Brooklyn collection spans the years 1832 to 1985 and contains records or materials relating to 16 Episcopal churches that were once or are still located in Brooklyn, N.Y. Included in the collection are church programs, annual reports, membership lists, yearbooks, directories, and newsletters. The yearbooks are of particular interest as they often contain membership lists.
Churches represented in the collection include: Christ Church (both the original Bedford Avenue location and the current Clinton Street location); Church of St. Mark (also known as St. Mark's); Church of the Atonement; Church of the Good Shepherd; Church of the Messiah; Church of the Nativity; Church of the Redeemer; Church of the Reformation; St. Bartholomew's Church; St. James Church; St. John's Episcopal Church; St. Luke's Episcopal Church (now known as the Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew); St. Mary's Episcopal Church; St. Michael's Episcopal Church; St. Paul's Episcopal Church; and St. Peter's Episcopal Church.
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Organizations
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Conditions Governing Access
Open to researchers without restriction.
Preferred Citation
Identification of item, date (if known); Episcopal Churches of Brooklyn collection, 1986.023, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Historical Society.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
This collection was formally accessioned in 1986, donor unknown.
About this Guide
Processing Information note
Minimally processed to the collection level.
