New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-17

and the stones which were In the foundation have
been retained I'm H. The original cost or the pniid-
Ing was about $1,000. Members contributed ma
terial and labor however that would nave MADE
the cost much higher had remuneration been re-
Qured. ,
No changes were made in the building until ls6Z
when II was renovated throughout. IN organ was
buit i'm the gallery. and clock was placed In the
seepe. The bell I'm the clock was Imported from
Holland and presented to the church In 1870.
The church remodeled IN 1897. when an ex-
tension was bnilt in the rear 10 accommodate the
choir Stained glass windows were placed IN the
building In 1891. and most OF them are memorials OF
the older faml.es in the church.
The original church. occupied by the Reformed
Dutch Church society OF Flatbush. was erected In
1861 when the was known as Medwout. and
what Is now Flatbush-ave.. with its asphalt pave
ment and changing trolley cars was path through
"A dense forest The modest structure cost only
81 $40. raised by subso ription the whole colony IN
Guiding Governor Stuyvesant himself contributing.
The location selected because 1t was central.
being midway between Brueckelyn and Amers-
foort. now Fatands. And. besides. Medwout
was then the principal village of the three The
wealth and culture Of the island were there and the
village only lost its prestige when shipping began
20 attract the villagers to the river front and to
Bru-c kelyn
The first church g. feet long. - feet wide and
IS feet high 1t was in the form Of cross. and was
al
chapel was small the minister's family lived in
In, rear half Of the building. The first pastor was
the Rev. Johannes Theodorus Polhemus. who also
had charge OF churches erected in Brooklyn and
Flatiands some years later. His pastorate
tlnued until his death in 1916. Dominic Polhemus
came 10 Flatbush from Brazil where he had been
. missionary.
The building was found too small 10 accom-
MEDIATE all of the worshipp-rs who assembled there.
and I'm 1893 another building was erected on the
original site. and more pretentous structure.
being constructed OF stone and having seepe
The building had IA four-sided roof. and the
trance was high arched double door. II was built
TO withstand attack and was constructed on the
lines OF Il fort rather than in accordance with the
accepted ID "a Of church architecture. The bclrope
,Sn, II might be rea1 used in ringing an alarm
and ii was used In giving thu first warning note of
the approach OF the British. After the battle of
Long Island the church used for time
military hospital and aferward. II is said. the
the British had left the island the interior of the
church was reftted and about that time the village
school made part Of In. society the doctrines
Of the Church being taught in the school. This
,lnued until about 1870 when through the Influx OF
English spo akng colonsts the Dutch language was
abandoned I'm the church service and was no long.
taught in the school The old church was torn
This is llsi of the pastors Of the church with
tie dates Of their pastorates: Johannes 7 Pohe
phus Varick 1855: Wilhelminus Lupardus. 1896
i,os; Bsrnardus Freeman; l7Oa-i Vincentius Anto
tlpianus Nansindrin, l7iG-'oi Antonius curtenius.
l'N'- 90 Martlnus Sch0o9ninaKcr l'si-hA; peter
sistanu. lslP-2i; Thomas NJ Strong. ls22-'6l Cor
nrlius l.. Wells
Grace chapel. connected with the church, was
dedicated on Christmas Day two years ago II had
i,.n . mission for thirty years. The Rev. W. II.
Boocock Is the pastor. The Grant Street Chape!
H. used by the Sunday school The sunday school
WAS organized in 1923. by the Rev. DR.. Strong and
Or Adrian Vandervcer. NJ. d Or Vandervecr was
the first superintendent. and held the Office for
thirty years. Through the efforts OF the Ladies'
Sewing Society chapel was built for the OF
the school II was constructed In 1880. at cost OF
81 1875 s..
The school grew rapidly In membership. and the
building enlarged several times. movement
WIS started In lNl to build new chapel. Lots
secured at Flatbush-ave. and Grant-st the
site OF several buildings over hundred old.
including the historic Antonides house. and beau
tifui Gothic structure Was erected at a cost OF
Sau