King of Glory Tabernacle (Bronx, New York, USA)
The Fox Street Mennonite Church in Bronx, New York, USA, had roots in weekend street evangelism carried out by persons from the Chestnut Hill and Mellinger congregations of the Lancaster Mennonite Conference by persons like Earl W. Witmer, Harold Thomas, and Aquilla Riehl. This outreach included singing, distribution of The Way, and prayer meetings. By early 1949 they utilized the apartment of the Emmanuel Cruz family who had worshipped earlier with Mennonites at Ybor City in Florida.
When the Cruz apartment became too small, the mission congregation met in a real estate office and a location on Vyse Avenue. On 31 July 1949, it moved to a rented storefront at 1127 Fox Street. Harold and Dorothy Thomas first commuted to Fox Street, then moved to the city in December 1949.
In the early years, the church placed much emphasis on outreach to children and youth through Summer Bible School and participation in "Fresh Air" programs that sent children to Mennonite homes in Lancaster County for two weeks in the summer.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the community around the church changed. The Jewish community had largely left, and the church was now on the dividing line between Latin and African American communities. Many church families were scattered because of slum clearance programs.
Fox Street was noted for trying to maintain the dress standards of the Lancaster Conference, causing some dissension among the mission workers.
By 1973 the Fox Street location became unviable. Members no longer lived in the area and the community had deteriorated. In October 1973 the mission board purchased a former synagogue at Burnside and Grand Avenues in the West Bronx. The church then became the Burnside Mennonite Church.
In about 1995 the congregation changed its name to King of Glory Tabernacle.
Bibliography
"Hyacinth and Benjamin Stevens: Growing in God." The Mennonite 1 July 2014. Web. 7 March 2022. https://anabaptistworld.org/hyacinth-benjamin-stevens-growing-god-growing-god/.
MacMaster, Richard K. Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches of New York City. Kitchener, Ont.: Pandora Press, 2006: 43-50, 85-91, 96-101, 104-111, 188-203, 240-246.
Additional Information
Address: 2019 Grand Avenue, Bronx, New York 10453
Phone:
Website: https://king-of-glory-tabernacle-71a83d.webflow.io/
Denominational Affiliations: Atlantic Coast Conference
Pastoral Leaders at King of Glory Tabernacle
| Name | Years of Service |
|---|---|
| B. Harold Thomas (1921-1991) | 1949-1951 |
| Aquilla E. Riehl (1924- ) | 1951-1958 |
| John L. Freed (1930-1999) | 1960-1968 |
| Carl E. Good | 1966-1968 |
| Carl K. Metzler | 1968-1969 |
| Glenn Zeager | 1969-1975 |
| Lay leaders | 1975-1977 |
| Samuel Walters | 1977-1984 |
| Michael E. Banks (1953-2020) | 1984-2010? |
| Kenton L. Bontrager | 1991-2000? |
| Benjamin Stevens | 2010-2021? |
| Hyacinth Banks Stevens | 2010-present |
Membership at King of Glory Tabernacle
| Year | Membership |
|---|---|
| 1955 | 19 |
| 1960 | 12 |
| 1970 | 26 |
| 1980 | 26 |
| 1990 | 63 |
| 2000 | 98 |
| 2007 | 80 |
| Author(s) | Samuel J Steiner |
|---|---|
| Date Published | March 2022 |
Cite This Article
MLA style
Steiner, Samuel J. "King of Glory Tabernacle (Bronx, New York, USA)." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. March 2022. Web. 26 Apr 2024. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=King_of_Glory_Tabernacle_(Bronx,_New_York,_USA)&oldid=173548.
APA style
Steiner, Samuel J. (March 2022). King of Glory Tabernacle (Bronx, New York, USA). Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 26 April 2024, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=King_of_Glory_Tabernacle_(Bronx,_New_York,_USA)&oldid=173548.
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