A Brief History of
St. James-St. Matthew's
Lutheran Church
Built on a rock the Church shall stand,
Even when steeples are falling;
Crumbled have spires in ev'ry land,
Bells still are chiming and calling --
Calling the young and old to rest,
Calling the souls of those distressed,
Longing for life everlasting.
Throughout its history, the congregation of St. James-St. Matthew's has gone through many different changes -- properties being purchased and sold; buildings being built and remodeled; pastors and leaders coming and going; demographics changing and populations shifting; congregations being reshaped into "co-operative parishes" and "yoked congregations" and "mergers;" and friends and loved ones passing on or moving away, and new friendships forming and growing.
But through it all, one thing has remained the same . . . God's constant presence and activity in this congregation and in this community. Through it all, this congregation has been building on the rock of Christ, calling to those longing for life everlasting.
The Pre-History
This history actually starts over 200 years ago, as early settlers to the area purchased the property on Hawtree Creek Road, on which the "old St. Matthew's" stood (the white, wooden church behind our current church). An original land deed for this property dates back to the year 1801.
Through the years, several different buildings were built on that property and were used for a variety of purposes -- including a grammar school, a Sunday school, a church, and a gathering place for public meetings. In 1883, the building was constructed which now forms a part of the old church building of St. Matthew's. It was occupied by the Bethel Union Sunday School and represented the combined efforts of different Protestant denominations.
As the city of New York grew and expanded, the area became more developed and there was a large influx of new families to the community. In 1927, a missionary from the Lutheran Church (Rev. Carl Zinssmeister) visited the community and deemed it wise to organize a congregation of the Lutheran Faith (Rev. Zinssmeister was also responsible for the founding of many of our sister congregations in the area, including St. James).
In July of 1927, the congregation held its first worship service in a vacant room of a grocery store at 135th Avenue and 114th Place. The congregation continued to worship in this store for several months, as negotiations were underway to unite the ministries of this new congregation with that of Bethel Union Sunday School. By the end of October of that year, the negotiations were successful, and the property of Bethel Union Sunday School was turned over, and with it, the responsibility for ministry to the community.
On November 22, 1927, the members of the congregation met in the newly acquired church building on Hawtree Creek Road to incorporate the congregation of St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church.
The Building Years
On March 22, 1928, the congregation called its first pastor, Rev. Charles Menge, who served for 15 months before resigning to take a call in Greenport, Long Island.
On September 16, 1929, the congregation extended a call to Rev. Fred McLaughlin. During Rev. McLaughlin's thirty-nine years of service to St. Matthew's, the area saw a large influx of Lutheran families from all sections of the city, and by 1937, the number of Lutherans far outnumbered other Protestant denominations in the community.
The growth of the Sunday school and the congregation created the need to build and expand. In 1933, an addition was added to the church building to meet the growing need for space, but the congregation continued to grow through the 1940's and into the early 1950's.
In 1950, the congregation voted to purchase the land adjoining the existing church property, extending south to 135th Avenue. In 1952, with the congregation celebrating 25 years of ministry, St. Matthew's broke ground for the construction of a new house of worship. In 1953, the new church was dedicated. Very soon thereafter, with indebtedness behind them, the congregation chose to purchase additional land to the east of 120th Street, which, for many years, was used for outdoor recreation by many of the church organizations.
Adapting and Adjusting
During the last years of Rev. McLaughlin's leadership, South Ozone Park began to go through a new wave of changes. In response to the new ministry needs of the community, a dialogue began between St. Matthew's and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Andrew's, pastored by Rev. Rudolph David. Although no affirmative action resulted, the groundwork was laid for cooperation in later years.
In 1969, Rev. Robert Busch accepted the call from St. Matthew's, and under his guidance, the council and congregation began to take stock of its situation. Acquaintances through seminary, Pastors Busch and David began a small but significant co-operative ministry, involving both congregations in joint Eucharist services and other activities.
In 1972, under the leadership of these two men, the councils of St. Andrew's, St. James, and St. Matthew's came together for a series of meetings to outline and test plans for a co-operative parish. These meetings lasted for a year, during which a joint Sunday School was in operation at St. Matthew's for the children of all three congregations.
At the 1973 annual congregational meetings of all three churches, approval was given for the formation of "St. Andrew's-St. James-St. Matthew's Co-Operative Lutheran Parish of Ozone Park and South Ozone Park." This was the first venture of its kind in Queens, though other churches had tried it in Brooklyn and in the Bronx.
However, only three months after the founding of the Parish, it became painfully apparent that St. Andrew's could no longer meet its financial commitments to the co-operative parish due to its dwindling congregation. In a necessary but heart-rending decision, the congregation of St. Andrew's was disbanded, with its members transferring to one of the two remaining churches. In 1977, it became apparent that the new Parish could not sustain two full-time pastors, and it was with sadness that a farewell was bid to Pastor David, as he accepted a call to Mount Vernon.
After several weeks of intensive meetings and prayer, the two councils voted to call Rev. Richard Urdahl to become the new part-time, assisting pastor for the co-operative parish, with Pastor Busch remaining the full-time pastor. At Pastor Busch's departure in the late 1970's, Pastor Urdahl became the full-time pastor.
Merging and Growing
During the 1970's, 80's, and 90's, the South Ozone Park saw many new families move into the neighborhood, many of whom came from Guyana and the West Indies. With many being Lutheran in upbringing, some of these new arrivals found their church homes in the congregations of St. James and St. Matthew's. However, despite making some connections and inroads into this new community, memberships of both congregations continued to decline and finances continued to be strained.
Then in the spring of 1998, with the news of Pastor Urdahl's impending retirement, the council of St. James voted to begin discussions with St. Matthew's about merging. After intense meetings through late spring and early summer of that year, the merger was completed, and St. James officially closed its doors in October.
During the two years of being without a full-time pastor, the newly renamed "St. James-St. Matthew's Evangelical Lutheran Church" made a concerted effort to get its house in order and to prepare for ministry with the calling of a new pastor. During this time, a new boiler for the church was put in place, new church doors and windows were installed, a new dossal was purchased, the roof was re-shingled, and the stage in the undercroft was adapted and re-modeled into office space for the pastor and church secretary, along with a host of other minor improvements.
On June 4th of 2000, St. James-St. Matthew's called Rev. Micah Stumme to serve as the first full-time pastor of the newly merged congregation. Thanks to the leadership and sacrifice of many past and present saints, St. James-St. Matthew's is now structurally sound, financially stable, culturally rich and diverse, and spiritually committed to continue building on the rock of Christ for many years to come.
Through all the passing years, O Lord,
Grant that, when church bells are ringing.
Many may come to hear God's Word
Where he this promise is bringing:
I know my own, my own know me;
You, not the world, my face shall see;
My peace I leave with you. Amen.
- words to hymn by
Nikolai F. S. Grundtvig