The Episcopal Church of Grace and Resurrection
East Elmhurst NY

Welcome to The Episcopal Church of Grace and Resurrection! We are located at 100-17 32nd Avenue in East Elmhurst, NY.

God calls us, The Episcopal Church of Grace and Resurrection, to care for the elderly, the youth, and the immigrants to lead our parishioners and others to have a closer walk with God through worship and outreach.

All are welcome!

 

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At the conclusion of World War 1 there was a considerable shift in the population throughout the United States of America. A great sociological change was taking place and people began to leave New York’s inner city for the suburban areas of Queens. Among them were many Anglicans from various islands of the West Indies, and Episcopalians from different parts of the country, many of whom settled in Corona.

The racial situation being what it was at that time, these Christians wanted a church and a priest they could consider their own. The Reverend Adolphus Nero, living in New York City, conferred with Archdeacon Duffield of Queens and subsequently with Bishop Burgess of the Diocese of Long Island. Bishop Burgess commissioned Father Nero to seek area Episcopalians. The Reverend George W. Hinton of the Corona Conceptional Church was very instrumental in the search. Having established a following, Father Nero obtained permission from the Reverend Arthur Roberts of Grace Episcopal Church in Corona, to celebrate a 6:00 AM Easter Mass on Sunday April 1, 1923. Thus the symbolic name, the Chapel of the Resurrection was born.

There were twenty eight (28) persons in attendance at the first mass and its last surviving member, Florence Pickering, passed onto her eternal home on January 1, 1998. This small group of Christians first rented a basement, then a storefront, and later with financial assistance from the Diocese, graduated to a two story building on 32nd Ave near 104th Street in East Elmhurst. The first floor was used as a Chapel and the second floor was rented for revenue. Father Nero was cited as having done a commendable job in holding this group together and expanding its membership. After six years of fruitful labor, Father Nero left Resurrection to take charge of St. Clement Church in Mount Vernon. In 1930, Reverend Ebenezer Holman, formerly of St. Cyprians in Hampton, Virginia, became Vicar of Resurrection. He took up quarters on the second floor of the building but within a few years the building had to be extended to accommodate the expanding congregation. His daughter, Violet became his organist. Two ladies from the congregation, Mabel Don Pierre and Winifred Dickinson served as Sextons, sacristan and all around missionaries. In the same year Carlton Nurse became the first superintendent of Sunday School. He remained in that position until 1960. In 1938, a young teenager, Frances Bunyan Dixon, walked up to the organ and played her first full service at Resurrection. She later became the organist and choir mistress for forty years, with two short breaks in between when she left to serve two other churches.

Membership at Resurrection increased so rapidly that in the early 1940s a decision was made to acquire a new site. Books of tickets were printed and distributed as a means for members to subscribe to the expansion of the cost of the building. In 1952 Father Hamilton accompanied by Bishop DeWolfe led some 300 members into their new spiritual home at the corner of 101st St and 32nd Ave. From 1930 to 1957 Father Hamilton guided the Church of the Resurrection from one degree of success to another. He also guided two of his sons, the Reverends Edward B. Beckles and Leslie C. Forde toward entering the sacred ministry. Upon Father Hamilton’s retirement in 1957, Bishop DeWolfe appointed as his successor the reverend Harold Louis Wright, a deacon and a recent Seminary graduate. Ordained later that year as a vicar, Father Wright greatly accelerated the progress of the church and within five years it became a self-sufficient parish. Recognizing the needs of an expanding community, and because of limitations of its present facilities, especially the Sunday School quarters, which housed some classes in the boiler room, Father Wright inspired his members, now 500 strong, to pledge over $100,000 for the enlargement and purchase of another building. The new building, located at the corner of Ericsson St and 31st Ave, East Elmhurst was to become the new rectory. Provisions were made in the expansion for the establishment of a Day Care Facility, which opened in 1969. Father Wright’s project, appropriately called “every member canvass” was introduced to generate revenue and stimulate attendance, proved to be successful. It should be noted that since 1957 until his death in 2012 legal matters pertaining to the church had been handled by Attorney Norman Archer, a member of the parish and vestry for many years.

In 1962 E. Carlton Nurse was elected as the first warden, and held the post until 1964 when William Watson took up the mantle. In 1963 the ordination of a priest, Reverend John Graham Murdock, Curate, took place at Resurrection. In the same year, the fiscal report showed Resurrection to have a membership of 783 and a school enrollment of 175 pupils served by a staff of 20 teachers, under the supervision of Mr. Ernest Gillespie. Mr. Gillespie had taken over the post from Mr. Albert Maloney following his retirement. In 1969 following 12 years of devoted and illustrious ministry, Father Wright resigned his post at Resurrection. Shortly thereafter he was consecrated the first African-American Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of New York. Unfortunately, his distinguished career of service to the church came to an abrupt end by his sudden and untimely death at the age of forty-eight. For almost a year the vestry, under the leadership of its senior and junior wardens, William Watson and George Burrill, assumed responsibility of church functions while seeking out a new rector.

In August 1970, the Reverend Canon Kenneth E. McDonald became the second rector of the Church of the Resurrection. Cognizant of the need for improvement, in quick succession, a public address system, a complete set of lights harmonizing with the stained glass windows, an air conditioning unit and a new two manual electric Seville organ were installed in the Sanctuary. In the late seventies, the church purchased a piece of property adjacent to the day care center’s playground, and developed it into a parking lot. During Canon McDonald’s tenure, Resurrection elected its first female vestry person, Mrs. Florence Curtis and the youngest vestry person, Ms. Donna Scott. Canon McDonald was also instrumental in obtaining a charter from the Boy Scouts of America for the Sea Explorers Unit. He was assisted in his work by the Reverend Dr. Richard W. Corney, Professor of “Old Testament History” at the general Seminary in New York City. At various intervals, he received assistance from three monks from the Order of the Holy Cross; Brother Philip and Brother Jude, who eventually became priest. After fourteen years of fruitful and dedicated service, Canon McDonald retired in December of 1984. The Reverend Dr. Corney then became interim priest and once again, the vestry, under the supervision of its wardens William Watson and George Burrill, assumed the leadership of the parish. In 1985 Mrs. Laura O’Reilly became the first African-American to be elected president of the Diocesan Episcopal Church Women of Long Island, and remained in that position for six years. This appointment was followed by four years as President of Queens Episcopal Church Women. In March 1998, Mrs. O’Reilly received an award from the Episcopal Health Services of Long Island, another first for the Church of the Resurrection.

The Church of the Resurrection is well known for raising up leaders in the church and the community at large. On January 1, 1986 the Reverend Dr. Alvin E. Robinson was elected Rector. Early in his tenure, Dr. Robinson became vice president of the East Elmhurst-Corona Clergy Association. He revived Boy Scout Troop #299 and established a Girl Scout Chapter. Under his direction, construction of new sidewalks was completed and the playground was resurfaced. He was instrumental in raising monies to fund a commercial-type kitchen in the parish hall which was nearing completion at his retirement. During his ministry the church embarked on a new outreach program called “SHARE”, a food sharing program by which as many as 200 people received surplus food at minimum cost. This program is no longer in existence. In January 1995 after a nine year tenure Dr. Robinson retired, leaving the parish in the capable hands of its senior warden Wilbur Armstrong, and junior warden James Jackson. Together, they expedited completion of construction of the kitchen and parish hall. The search for a new rector continued under the competent leadership of Wardens Mrs. Marjorie Boyden-Edmonds and Mr. Calvin Robinson. These wardens were assisted by three interim priests; the Reverend Theodore Bean; Father Ephraim Goorahoo and Father Wilfred Callender. In May 1999 Father Pierre-Andre Duvert became the new rector and served until November 2012.

Resurrection has been cited as being one of the leading parishes in the Diocese of Long Island. Rich in history and strong in hope, its membership looks forward to the next millennium while awaiting the election of their next rector. As we commemorate service to the community, we give thanks to God for his blessings in the past and seek His guidance in keeping this parish a viable institution for the future.