Cuyler Presbyterian Church
Encyclopedia
Cuyler Presbyterian Church, also known as Cuyler Chapel and Cuyler Presbyterian Church and Parsonage, is a historic Presbyterian
church at 358-360 Pacific Street in Brooklyn
, New York, New York
. It was designed by noted architect Edward Sargent
(1842 – 1914). It was built in 1892 and is a two story rectangular plan building with a steeply pitched, slate
covered gable roof and molded terra cotta
copings. It was converted to a private residence in the early 1980s. The former parsonage was built c. 1851 and is a Greek Revival
style dwelling.
The church served as the cornerstone for the Mohawk
community of Boerum Hill
, formerly known as North Gowanus. The Mohawk called their neighborhood "Little Caughnawaga," after their homeland. For nearly 50 years, most Mohawk in New York lived within 10 square blocks; they were from Kahnawake, a reserve in Quebec, Canada. The men were ironworkers on the bridge and skyscraper projects of New York. The women, some of whom had gone to New York separately for economic opportunity, and others who were wives and mothers, worked in a variety of jobs, as well as creating the community for their families.
The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 2001.
Presbyterianism
Presbyterianism refers to a number of Christian churches adhering to the Calvinist theological tradition within Protestantism, which are organized according to a characteristic Presbyterian polity. Presbyterian theology typically emphasizes the sovereignty of God, the authority of the Scriptures,...
church at 358-360 Pacific Street in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. It was designed by noted architect Edward Sargent
Edward Sargent
Edward A. Sargent was an American architect.-Biography:Sargent was born on November 1, 1842 in Hastings, England. He later changed the Ebenezer to Edward. In the 1860s he emigrated to New York. He attended Cooper Union College. He worked as a delineator for Frederick Law Olmsted in the designs...
(1842 – 1914). It was built in 1892 and is a two story rectangular plan building with a steeply pitched, slate
Slate
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. The result is a foliated rock in which the foliation may not correspond to the original sedimentary layering...
covered gable roof and molded terra cotta
Terra cotta
Terracotta, Terra cotta or Terra-cotta is a clay-based unglazed ceramic, although the term can also be applied to glazed ceramics where the fired body is porous and red in color...
copings. It was converted to a private residence in the early 1980s. The former parsonage was built c. 1851 and is a Greek Revival
Greek Revival architecture
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in Northern Europe and the United States. A product of Hellenism, it may be looked upon as the last phase in the development of Neoclassical architecture...
style dwelling.
The church served as the cornerstone for the Mohawk
Mohawk nation
Mohawk are the most easterly tribe of the Iroquois confederation. They call themselves Kanien'gehaga, people of the place of the flint...
community of Boerum Hill
Boerum Hill
Boerum Hill is a small neighborhood in the northwestern portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn that occupies 36 blocks bounded by State Street to the north, 4th Avenue to the east, Smith Street to the west, and Warren Street to the south. Commercial strips line Smith Street and Atlantic...
, formerly known as North Gowanus. The Mohawk called their neighborhood "Little Caughnawaga," after their homeland. For nearly 50 years, most Mohawk in New York lived within 10 square blocks; they were from Kahnawake, a reserve in Quebec, Canada. The men were ironworkers on the bridge and skyscraper projects of New York. The women, some of whom had gone to New York separately for economic opportunity, and others who were wives and mothers, worked in a variety of jobs, as well as creating the community for their families.
The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 2001.
External links
- National Park Service, Cuyler Presbyterian Church feature article for National American Indian Heritage Month
- Reaghan Tarbell, To Brooklyn and Back: A Mohawk Journey, PBS, 2 November 2009, documentary about the Mohawk women who created community in North Gowanus, Brooklyn during the first half of the 20th century