LAWRENCE METHODIST CHURCH, 150 ROCKAWAY TURNPIKE

This very fine Queen Anne-style church stands on the site of the oldest church in the Rockaway area, McKendre’s Chapel, which was built in 1831 when this Methodist congregation was organized. The 1831 church was a Greek Revival structure, and it burned to the ground in 1866. By 1868 a new building had been erected at a cost of $8,000. Spurred on by the arrival of the railroad to Lawrence in 1869, the village and consequently the congregation grew steadily until 1907 when it was determined that a larger church building was needed. Completed in 1908 the architect, A.T. Ketchum, incorporated the older structure into its design. The building’s exterior was stucco, half timbering, and silver maple shingles. On the interior there are some of the finest stained glass windows to be found on Long Island. Four of the windows, each measuring 10 by 25 feet executed by the Thomas Jones Window Decorating Glass Company of Brooklyn, represent scenes from Johannes Freidrich Hoffman’s famous paintings of the Life of Christ. The 1907-08 church and the 1866 wing - which became the Sunday school - were both given brass ceilings. This building survives as a testament to the quality of craftsmanship and architectural and decorative taste of the early 20th century. By the mid 1970s the Lawrence Methodist Church had merged with the Woodmere United Methodist Church and the upkeep of the structure was neglected for a number of years. The Village of Lawrence considered buying it in 1978 and using it as a cultural center, but that deal fell through. In September 1979 the Community Bible Church of Inwood purchased the church and its two cemeteries for $35,000 but had to sell because “the upkeep of the property was more than we could afford.” Now the property has been bought by the Hispanic Christian Missionary Alliance. They appreciate the architectural and cultural significance of the building and would welcome assistance in its preservation. The views seen here are: 1. Pews and window on north wall. 2. Pulpit with organ behind. 3. East wall south of pulpit. 4. Steps up to pulpit. 5. Window on west wall. 6. Floor plan showing locations of photographs. 7. Overall view of church from southwest.