History of the Church of the Ascension

The Church of Ascension is an Episcopal Church rich in the Anglican and Catholic tradition. We belong to the Diocese of Long Island, which is part of the Episcopal Church in the United States. We are members of the Anglican Communion, which traces its heritage through the Church of England.

For 160 years we have been Greenpoint’s oldest church, offering a rich history in being a part of this community. For this special year we have tried to highlight important and strong memories of the past. We apologize if we have left some memories unsaid, as this is only a summary. Words cannot describe the memories that the Church of the Ascension have instilled in us. We hope you enjoy our painting of the memories.

Interesting Facts

-Thomas Fitch Rowland who assisted in the construction and financing of our present edifice was the prominent local shipbuilder who built the Monitor warship that battled with the Merrimac off the coast of the Carolinas during the Civil War.

The Beginning

1846-1850

In the fall 1846, the Reverend L.W. Brown of St. George’s Astoria and the Reverend John C. Brown and Reverend Charles Reynolds of Christ Church Bedford Ave, visited Greenpoint to make arrangements to hold services in the community. The first service was held in October of that year and a certificate of incorporation was drawn on December 20, 1846, and signed by John C. Brown rector-elect and new vestry. In summer 1847 our Sunday school was established. Regular services were then held in the Sunday school room of the Dutch Reformed Church and home of Mr. Charles Cartlidge, a member of the vestry.

1850-1860

In October 1852, the Reverend Edward Babcock accepted a call to the parish and recommended a church be built. Three lots were purchased from Captain Bliss on then unopened street known as K Street, now Kent Street. On July 5, 1853 the cornerstone of the church was laid and the first service was held on Sunday October 23, 1853. Fr. Babcock died on December 30, 1855, and after several months without a rector the Reverend Merrit H. Wellman accepted the call on November 28, 1856. He lifted the debt and on May 19, 1857, Provincial Bishop Horatio Potter consecrated the building.

1860-1900

Fr. Wellman resigned on July 25, 1863 and the Reverend Francis Mansfield was called and accepted the rectorship. He urged for a new church and began soliciting for funds. Mr. J.W. Valentine and Thomas Fitch Rowland donated additional land and work started on the building on May 17, 1864. This second church is our present edifice. The cornerstone was laid on March 23, 1865 by Bishop Potter. The building designed by Henry Dudley is of an Early English Gothic style. The completed church was used for the first time in September 1866. The original church was then known as the Chapel and was used for Sunday school until the present rectory was moved onto this site. On Ascension Day 1885, the church was consecrated by the Rt. Reverend Abram Newkirk Littlejohn, the first Bishop of Long Island, and ground was broken for the parish hall. In May 1889, the parish hall finally opened. In 1887, the first stained glass window was installed beginning a series of windows spanning to he 1960’s in installation. In November 1880, the Reverend Arthur Whittaker became rector and retired October 1891, leaving the parish in good condition.

1900-1919

On October 9, 1904, the Reverend Walter Bentley came to Ascension as a supply priest and made such an impression he was called as Rector and accepted on January 1, 1905. Before rector, he was National Secretary and Organizer of the Actors Church Alliance, which enabled him to bring Shakespearean, plays to the Parish Hall. His first accomplishment was purchasing a three-story frame house and moving it onto a brick foundation, where it now stands and be used as the new rectory. His rectorship ended December 1, 1919 to be come rector of St. Stephen’s in Port Washington. His other accomplishments was forming associations with Roman Catholic, Anglican and Protestant clergymen committed to ministry to the theatre.

1919-1946

During these years, the Church of the Ascension was served by a series of priests whom stayed a short period of time.

Reverend Wilfred L. Greenwood 1919-1927

Reverend Charles G. Clark

Reverend Walter G. Kings 1932-1937

Reverend T. David Herrari 1943-1946

1946-1951

On December 15, 1946 the church had received a full time rector, the Reverend Walter W. Gale. He was instituted on January 27, 1947. Under his leadership, many repairs and improvements to the buildings were made and a new Wicks organ was purchased, In addition, because Fr. Gale was an excellent preacher, the church experienced an increase in membership and a deepened sacramental life. On September 9, 1951, Fr. Gale resigned his duties as rector.

1951-1960

Fr. Gale was followed by the Reverend Thomas A.F. Collett and the Reverend Hugh R. Farrell. In June 1955, the Reverend Peter D. Maclean came to the parish. Under his direction, Ascension developed a close association with the General Seminary, which continues today. In May 1957, Christopher L. Webber, a co-worker of Fr. Maclean was appointed Priest-In-Charge and then instituted rector November 7 1958, the first since Fr. Gale. He was an unusually gifted teacher and conveyed a fresh understanding of the Christian faith to the parish. In May 1960, he resigned as rector.

1960-1976

In June 1960, the Reverend Paul F. Wancura, a recent graduate of General Seminary, came to the parish. On October 28, 1960 he was ordained to the priesthood and on April 25, 1961 he was instituted as Rector. Under his leadership, Ascension ministered to all in the neighborhood, began a successful summer day camp, and improvements were made to the buildings, including the redecoration of the chancel and sanctuary, and the installation of several stained glass windows. In May 1966, Fr. Wancura resigned his duties in the parish.

On October 1, 1966 the Reverend William A. Davidson came to the parish and was instituted as rector on December 14, 1966. This occasion was of considerable joy for the parish because in the procession were the clergy of other communions including Roman Catholic sisters from six orders. This began future ecumenical occurrences, of which on January 19, 1967 the first Roman Catholic priest preached at Ascension in part of the Annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Under Fr. Davidson, associations with the religious orders of the church grew stronger, when two brothers of the Society of St. Francis arrived, Brother Allan and Brother Joel. The 125^th Anniversary of the parish was observed from June 1971 to June 1972. In preparation, the church was painted, rewired, and redecorated. On Ascension Day, May 1972, Bishop of Long Island, Jonathan Sherman visited and a gala dinner dance was held the following month. After ten years of a highly successful ministry in Greenpoint, Fr. Davidson resigned his duties of the parish. His ten year tenure in the parish was the second largest in the century.

1976-1980

On November 1, 1976 the Reverend Theodore W. Bean Jr. assumed duties as the fourteenth rector. He brought skills as an administrator and an organizer. His special concern for parish finance, better stewardship, and careful planning allowed the parish to maintain its basic programs. Fr. Bean was a frequent guest preacher, speaker and board member for Roman Catholic community institutions. Under his leadership, a major clean-up and re-organization of the parish buildings was initiated. He also expanded the amount of printing and writing done by a rector. In 1980, Fr. Bean resigned his duties to become Vicar at St. Mary’s in Plainview, Long Island.

1980-1982

On January 1, 1981, the Reverend Shelley Burch Watson came to Ascension, and was instituted on February 12, 1981, as the fifteenth rector. On December 31, 1982, Fr Watson resigned his duties to the parish.

1982-1993

On Ascension Day, May 31, 1984, the Reverend Walter E. Hartlove led his first service, ending an almost two year vacancy of rectorship. He was instituted as the sixteenth rector on September 16 of that same year.

The most memorable event of Fr. Hartlove’s tenure was the two alarm fire that destroyed the Parish Hall on October 1, 1985. The following evening, under his leadership, Fr. Hartlove led a Mass, by flashlight, around Ascension’s altar to grieve and pray for strength, and in that solemn darkness, he instilled hope and determination that Ascension would rebuild. Reconstruction began in the spring and on October 18, 1986 the Rt. Rev. Henry Hucles rededicated the hall with a procession led by a bagpiper. The rebuilt hall is what stands today.

During his rectorship, Fr Hartlove was active in the community serving on the Board of the North Brooklyn Development Corp. He also served the diocese on numerous committees and societies. Under his leadership came Fr. Frederick Howard, who coordinated the layreaders, assisted in Christian education, and liturgies. Also seminarian Shawn Williams came to Ascension, as well as the Reverend Edyth Baker who enabled Fr. Hartlove to take a sabbatical and was our first woman priest to minister in Brooklyn full time. During these years, the Sunday school, Released Time Class, After School Programs, Summer Day Camp, the ECW, Young People Fellowship, the Men’s Guild, and community programs all flourished and strengthened. Fr. Hartlove stressed the importance of the evangelism concept. However on February 28, 1993 Fr. Hartlove resigned as rector.

1993-Present

After Fr. Hartlove’s tenure, Ascension was vacant for two years and survived through its determination and hard work. A number of supply clergy came and conducted services during these two years. On April 1, 1995, The Reverend Mabel Burke Lewis came to Ascension, and became our 17^th rector. She was the first woman rector at Ascension. She was formally instituted on the Eve of Pentecost, June 3, 1995. During this time the parish celebrated its 150^th Anniversary with its first Kent Street Festival and a Dinner dance. In addition, the church was repainted by a grant given by a fellow parishioner. However during this time, Ascension had some ups and downs, and experienced some financial hardships, but with determination by the parish, they were able to survive. On October 31, 2000, Mother Lewis resigned her duties of the parish. At present the Church of the Ascension is vacant, but is continuously reviewing its ministries, in order to better serve the community of Greenpoint in the future.