New-York tribune., 1909-07-25
CHURCH FOR THE ISLAND
Ground Broken for Ne5o Building
to Cro1oH Work Of T1centy Years.

For the last twenty years quiet religious strug-
gle has been In progress at Coney Island-a struggle
of churches TO foothold among the pleas
ure seekers and those who cater to their desires
The struggle has always been uphill work. but now
success has crowned the efforts of the workers.
success that would be considered little better than
absolute failure in any other part Of the city.
Twenty years OF hard work have brought together
a congregation OF more than two hundred persons
people OF various Protestant denominations but
prevailingly Lutheran.
The little chapel used by this congregation Is a
small frame structure in Neptune avenue, opposite
Henry street This Is the scene of the efforts of
the last two decades. 1t was opened twenty years
ago by the Congregationalists. For fourteen years
they maintained the fight keep up church
organization. Then the Rev Lewis Happ. who is
a Lutheran and lives at Bath Beach, reopened the
little church and undertook to undenomina-
tional organization there. His efforts were fairly
successful.
Two years ago a movement started Fred
erck W. Roster, a hotel Of Surf avenue
started out to interest the German-American ele-
ment in the idea Of establishing a Lutheran
church The Rev. E. Z. Neuiewitz. pastor or
Trinity Lutheran Church. Jersey City, occasionally
visited the Coney Islanders and aided them with
their organization. The people OF the district found
by the beginning of 1908 that they financially
able to support a pastor OF their own. and called
the Rev. J. T. ". Kitzmeyer. He took charge on
February /, the same year, making his home at
No. 2143 Henry street. The Rev. Mr.. Ftapp saw p}
fail that the best results could be obtained by a
united organization and retired In September. His
organization voted 70 join the Lutherans and from
that time the new church worshipped in the little
building in Neptune avenue. The official name or
the building is ST. Paurs Coney Island Brighton
Chapel
The new organization soon found that the build
ing was too small. and began to raise funds for
larger church. the present chapel having only ESQ
seats This number is not enough for the Sunday
school. The site for the building is at West
5th street and Neptune avenue. Ground was hrok-
en- several months ago. and on Thursday the cor
nerstone will be laid with fitting ceremonies. At
first only the basement will be built and rooted in.
This will probably be completed by fall. Then
when the present $4,000 is raised TO $4,000
or $4,000 the rest OF the structure Will be put up
The workers are enthusiastic and that they
will have the necessary funds in a short tme--if
the island only continues prosperous.
The pastor Of the church-semi-u -undenoTnlnatl tlonal
and made UP Of German Americans and American
born members as II is-has peculiar conditions to
meet bat he and his flock have solved them all
Services are held in German at the church twice
month for the benefit of those who not ia
1nillar with English. and the other services
conducted in United States" Besides the Protest
ant church, there are two Catholic churches and
Jewish synagogue at the isl.nd. Occasionally evan
gelsts and members OF TIT Salvation Army and
American Volunteers hold services at the resort but
they have succeeded in establishing permanent
meeting places there.