January 21, 1911: New Church for Blooming Grove

100 Years Ago: From The Rensselaer Eagle [NY 41 Rensselaer 93-32173].

New Church in Place of Burned Structure

Blooming Grove is to have a new Reformed church to replace the old building which was destroyed by fire New Year's eve. The trustees will visit other churches before deciding the type of building needed by the congregation. The insurance on the church was $6,000, about $2,500 more than has been pledged.

The church's web site shows that they have some nice stained glass windows.

There was originally more architectural detail at the roofline (shown circa 1950).

St. Joseph's Closure

CBS News Channel 13: Church in city of Rensselaer closes for good [video]

Parishioners at St. Joseph's gathered Friday night to reflect and share memories of their church.

Community Memorial Garden Dedicated

Thanks to David P. Moore for submitting the following story by e-mail:

First Presbyterian Church in Greenbush
Dedication of the Community Memorial Garden and Peace Pole

On Pentecost Sunday, May 31, members of the First Presbyterian Church in Greenbush, Rensselaer, gathered with members of other faith communities, government and civic organizations to dedicate its Community Memorial Garden and Peace Pole.

Though the church membership and finances are limited, the spirit of the people and willingness to trust the future to God is great.

The dedication ceremony included a reminder from the prophet Jeremiah to the exiles that the people of God were to “Seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.”

The ceremony also acknowledged the unique political context in which we live. We listened to the reading of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. “Congress shall make now law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Emphasis was placed on the fourth phrase of the amendment, but the other phrases were not unnoticed.

A funny moment happened when three police officers showed up with smiles and a digital camera drawn to take pictures of the Sergeant representing the Police Department. They usually show up with pensive faces and guns drawn because, due to human error, the security alarm has gone off.

The Peace Pole was passed down the aisle of the Sanctuary as fourteen representatives expressed their commitment to work for peace, then the Peace Pole was planted in the new garden. The participants shared the names of those to be remembered and their concerns for situations in need of peace and healing.

The ceremony seemed to touch a hunger in the hearts of members of the church and the community. At the reception people were making plans to meet together to discuss matters of concern and sharing ideas for ways that the faith community in the City could take ownership for a similar gathering on Pentecost 2010.

Catholic Church Closings

Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany, NY: Albany Diocese Announces Final Decisions of 2 ½-year Called to BE Church Process

Many of the multiple urban and ethnic parishes built in the early 20th century only a few blocks from each other in cities are now under-used because of population shifts.
...
St. Joseph’s/St. John’s (Rensselaer) will determine one worship site for parish by July 1, 2009, with other worship site to close by July 1, 2010.

Times-Union Special Report: A changing Catholic Church

History of St. Joseph Catholic Church

History of the Church of St.John the Evangelist

The web site of the Parish of St. John and St. Joseph in Rensselaer, NY is not currently being updated.

UPDATE: Bishop urges unity despite changes
In letter Howard Hubbard says there are no winners, losers; welcome new start

St. Paul's Center

The Times-Union has a piece which mentions the St. Paul's Center on 3rd Street:

A new face of homelessness
A family's plight is typical of a single mom and children seeking help

UPDATE: St. Paul's Center values support

Stained Glass

Last weekend I stopped by the rummage sale at Broadway United Methodist Church [1550 Broadway]. My best "find" (apart from a bargain on a toaster oven) was their turn-of-the-century stained glass windows.

The church dates back to the 1860s, and the windows are labeled 1903. Two of the windows commemorate the post-Civil War Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) and Woman's Relief Corps.

Thanks to Ellen Whited for a gracious history lesson!

Visit the church to see the many other beautiful stained glass windows, and hear the story of how the bell tower burned down during Hurricane Katrina...

A bit of online research showed that Rensselaer County had many G.A.R. Posts. Post 204 was named for Daniel S. Corbin, a soldier from Bath, NY, who was killed at Fair Oaks, VA. Visit the SUNY Morrisville Library site for more on New York and the Civil War.