Sunday, September 25, 2005

Brooklyn's Historic Old Dutch Church Holding a Benefit Thrift Sale Oct. 1

BROOKLYN - The New Utrecht Reformed Church, 84th St. and 18th Ave. in Bensonhurst, is having its annual thrift sale to benefit restoration of its historic House of Worship on Saturday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"We are 328 years old and we have bargains galore," says Rose Lood, a church leader.

The sale features dishes. glassware, kitchenware, electrical appliances, pictures and frames, books, wearing apparel, linens, handbags, shoes, costume jewelry, toys and games. For a small fee, hot and cold lunches will be available with coffee, tea and soft drinks.

Plenty of free parking is available in the church lot. Bus and subway stops are nearby.

The sale is being held in the Parish House next to the historic sanctuary which remains closed while funds are raised for a $2 million restoration.

The church building, dating from 1828, has not been used since December 2003. Until then it had served as a "living history center" for thousands of New York City school children through programs arranged by the Friends of Historic New Utrecht. Since then, some of the cultural and educational programs have been held in the Parish House, on the church lawn or at other facilities in the area.

Brooklyn's New Utrecht Reformed Church. within the mainline Reformed Church in America (RCA), formerly Protestant Dutch Reformed, was founded in 1677. The first church building was at 84th St. and 16th Ave., where the church and the New Utrecht historic organization still maintain the original old Dutch cemetery, which pre-dates the church. The cemetery, a national historic burial ground, was established in 1654.

Many of the programs in the House of Worship, with its historic architecture, stained-glass windows, little "Dutch doors" at the entrance to the pews, and famous pipe organ, had centered on the early history of the nation. A "liberty pole" 106 feet high stands on the church's front lawn, near 18th Ave. The first such pole was erected on that site in celebration of the departure of the British.

People interested in learning more about Brooklyn's early history and participating in the restoration are invited to not only come to the benefit thrift sale Oct. 1 but also to call (718) 256-7173 or log onto either www.newutrechtchurch.org or www.historicnewutrecht.org. Information also can be obtained by sending an e-mail to either mail@newutrechtchurch.org or mail@historicnewutrecht.org.

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