Brooklyn Tabernacle

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Fulton Street side of Smith Street building

Brooklyn Tabernacle is a large church located in downtown Brooklyn. It has 16,000 members and has existed in Brooklyn for over 40 years, during which it has become a megachurch, and one of the biggest churches in the Greater New York Area.

Brooklyn Tabernacle has been pastored by Jim Cymbala for over 40 years.

The church is famous for its Grammy Award-winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, which is directed by Carol Cymbala, the wife of Jim Cymbala.1

History

The Brooklyn Tabernacle was established in 1847 as the Central Presbyterian Church, using the facilities of the First Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Willoughby Street and Pearl. Their first building was a frame tabernacle on the corner of State and Nevins Streets, beginning April 3, 1853. The first tabernacle was destroyed by fire in 1869. The second Brooklyn Tabernacle was built in 1873 at the corner of Marcy and Jefferson. This tabernacle was destroyed during a terrific thunderstorm in 1889. The third tabernacle, built at the corner of Clinton Avenue and Greene Street, seated 6,000 persons, was destroyed by fire in 1894, but then rebuilt at the same location.

By the time Pastor Jim and Carol Cymbala took over the leadership in the autumn of 1971, the congregation had dwindled to just 30 people who met in a rundown building on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. 23

In the 1980s, the Brooklyn Tabernacle purchased the former Carlton Theatre at 292 Flatbush Avenue at 7th Avenue, converting the 1383-seat theatre into a church. After many years of decline, the church was revitalized as a non-denominational congregation, and became nationally famous as the home of the award-winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. The church remained in this location until 2002 when they purchased and renovated the former Loew's Metropolitan Theatre at 17 Smith Street. 4

The current building was completely redone by Robert Silman Associate by gutting and renovating the old vaudeville theater for modern worship and with state-of-the-art designed acoustics and high-tech recording equipment. The worship area seats 3,200 people. Two adjacent buildings were converted into offices, classrooms, community service areas, and dining facilities. 5

The church holds three 2-hour services weekly.6

The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" at the 2013 second inauguration of Barack Obama.7

References

  1. ^ Archibold, Randal C. (2000-02-28). "Brooklyn Choir Wins Praise by Singing the Lord's Praises". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2011. 
  2. ^ http://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/ministries/
  3. ^ http://www.brooklyntabernacle.org/Church/Pastor-Jim-Cymbala/
  4. ^ http://www.nycago.org/Organs/Bkln/html/BrooklynTabernacle.html
  5. ^ http://www.rsapc.com/projects/detail.php?id=160
  6. ^ Official FAQ
  7. ^ Brooklyn Tabernacle at Oboma Inauguration Fox News Insider, Jan 21, 2013

External links

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Coordinates: 40°41′27″N 73°59′14.8″W / 40.69083°N 73.987444°W / 40.69083; -73.987444