History
Founded in 1654, Flatlands’ tradition and history is firmly grounded in the history of Dutch immigration and settlement and Dutch Reformed liturgy and theology. The Flatlands Reformed Church shares the distinction of being the oldest church in Brooklyn with Old First Reformed Church in Park Slope and the Flatbush Reformed Church on Flatbush and Church Avenues. The three congregations were founded on February 9, 1654. There are only two other Reformed Church congregations that are older than those in Brooklyn – the Collegiate Church in Manhattan and the North Dutch Church in Albany (later renamed First Church).
The congregation has worshipped in three separate church buildings all on the same site. The “Octagon Church” was built in 1663 and was enlarged in 1762. This building was replaced all together in 1794. The third building, which remains today, was built in 1848. This final building has a history of being hit by lightening as well as surviving fires. The last lighting strike in 1952 caused minimal damage, but the fire in 1974 destroyed most of the church’s interior. In each case, the congregation worshipped in the auditorium while repairs were made.
The church bell represents an important historical artifact for the congregation. It weighs in excess of 450 lbs. and in 1794 replaced an earlier smaller bell that had been brought from the Netherlands. This bell has run marked the death of every American President since George Washington. It rang to mark the singing of various peace treaties and the close of every war the nation fought following the Revolutionary War. The bell rings every Sunday at 10:30 AM.
For most of its almost 350 years, the congregation has consisted of primarily Eurpean and middle class members. Dutch services were suspended in 1812, which allowed the congregation to include non-Dutch members and to let go of much of its emphasis on Dutch culture and tradition.[1] Despite this de-emphasis on Dutch language, the church’s Dutch heritage is still evident in the fact that its formal name remains the Protestant Dutch Reformed Church of Flatlands. And while one might expect that this name would be dropped for the less formal “Flatlands Reformed” it stays in regular use by the church. This is despite the fact that the denomination dropped the use of “Dutch” in its name over 100 years ago - and there are only a few members who trace their history back to the Netherlands.
Now the church boasts people of widely diverse backgrounds - young and old, married and single, American and foreign-born. You are invited to become a part of the churches modern history - building for the future on a solid foundation from the past.