The Manhattan Times

Where we worship

Ft. Washington Collegiate Church looks to the next 100 years

by Daniel P. Bader

Fort Washington Collegiate Church is a busy place. The building, which turns 100 this month, is the place where between 300 and 700 people worship on Sundays, where Boy Scouts meet, choirs practice, volunteers put together the massive monthly thrift sale and faith and youth-centric groups meet.

The bustling parish had its humble beginning in 1906 when a need for a Protestant church was identified in Northern Manhattan. In 1907 services were held in a store front on Broadway and W. 181st Street.

“They began to grow, and in a relatively short time developed into an organized church,” said Rev. Charles Morris, who has shepherded the congregation for the past 13 years.

Indeed, just two years after its founding the church that now occupies the lush Ft. Washington Avenue and W. 181st Street corner lot was built on a piece of land bought from the estate of James Bennett Jr., the son of James Gordon Bennett, founder of the New York Herald.

Even though it is a century old, the church is a relative babe in Manhattan when compared to the Reformed Church of America.

Not long after Henry Hudson, employed by the Dutch, ventured by in his exploration of the river that was eventually given his name, the Reformed Church was brought to the continent at New Amsterdam.

Peter Minuit, the first elder of the church in America, might have even walked by the future site of the Fort Washington Collegiate Church – as legend has it, Minuit is the person who bought Manhattan from the native people and the deal supposedly happened in Inwood.

The modern church is divided into four ministries, or churches, of which Fort Washington Collegiate Church is one. Its mission, simply stated is: “Creating Community, Connecting to God, Celebrating the City.”

The Sunday worship is reflective of the artistic people that make up its congregation.

“They kind of infuse into the worship every week some kind of artistic expression,” Morris said.

One week may be a string quartet, another a step dance performance or a visual experience projected onto the building’s screen.

“That’s in addition to our regular music,” which is great by itself, he added.

Rev. Lorena Parrish, who began at the Hudson Heights institution just a year ago, emphasized the community life outside of the regular worship that is available to members.

“We’ve got a number of youth in the neighborhood that don’t have a place to go,” Parrish said. The youth program at Fort Washington Collegiate Church works to develop leadership and service in the kids who attend. Just recently a group that wanted to start a food pantry collected $100 in donations. “They’ll be responsible for running that food pantry,” Parrish said.

They have to decide which groceries to buy, how to staff the pantry, and who the food should go to.

“This is a big deal,” Morris added. “So many of the young people do not have the opportunity to become a contributor or see themselves as being able to give.”

There is also worship for children, adult education, and a seniors program about to launch called “Primetimers.”

Starting on Sun., Nov. 8, the congregation launched a weeklong celebration of its centennial. At that day’s service, Rev. James Seawood, President of the Reform Church, joined the congregation for worship. Throughout the week historical tours of the church are being offered, and on Sat., Nov. 14 members will throw themselves a gala, ending the celebration on Nov. 15 with the gospel message being delivered by CBS’ Henry Smith, a visiting member of the Reformed Church.

Big changes are coming for the future, too. Plans are in the works for a big renovation of the corner church, including the addition of an elevator to make the church fully accessible, and fire sprinklers.

“When we get done we’re going to be green, modern, and, I hate to use the phrase … state of the art,” Morris said.