Our well-suited nickname is Old First, as we were one of the first congregations in New York City. In 1654, Governor Pieter Stuyvesant established three “collegiate” churches in the towns of Breukelen (Old First), Flatbush and Flatlands. Through various changes in locations and configurations, the three churches have survived and celebrated their 350th anniversary in 2004. The congregations were serviced by Domine Johannes Theodorus Polhemus who traveled to all three on Sundays.

The earliest worship services in Breuckelen were conducted under a tree, then in a barn. By 1666, the first church structure to be built in Breukelen was erected on a highway, now known as Fulton Street.

A century later, this original church was replaced by a second and a burial ground was added. Just thirty years passed before the congregation outgrew its building and a third was constructed, the cornerstone being laid in 1807 on Joralemon Street. This served the congregation only until 1833 when the consistory voted to erect a new building completed in 1835 and situated behind its predecessor, facing Livingston Street. This plot of land is now occupied by Macy’s on Fulton between Lawrence and Bridge Streets. The burial ground was transferred to the Green-Wood cemetery sometime before the congregation removed to Park Slope.

Aside from these moves, the original congregation subdivided as well. The current location of this branch of the original church of Breuckelen, Old First, is located at Seventh Avenue and Carroll Street. Its first church structure was completed in 1886, a chapel on Carroll which still stands and is used for programming and community events. Around this time the church on Livingston Street was sold to developers and demolished. The iconic church we now know was dedicated in 1891.

In 1894, a New York Times review of the church stated that “[it] was full of a Sunday morning,” which still rings true today.