Manorville—A
landmark in Brookhaven Town that goes back 150 years is the
Brookfield Presbyterian Church in Manorville, which was organized in
April, 1796 by the Long Island Presbytery through the efforts of
Jonathan Robinson, who had conducted services for several years
before that time in his home.
His work was
recognized with approval by the Presbytery, and in October 1788,
according to Prime’s history, “they expressed their approbation to
Mr. Robinson as a leader of the devotions of that retired and
isolated community.”
On the 26th
of November 1807, the Presbytery met at the “Brookfield Meeting
House,” which was the home of Mr. Robinson and ordained him to work
as pastor of the Brookfield Church, which he continued until his
death in 1824.
The present church
building was erected in 1838 during the ministry of the Rev. Thomas
Owen, and the first Sunday school was organized in 1840 with Capt.
Seth Raynor as its first superintendent. A belfry and bell were
added to the church about 1875.
Various ministers
have served this church through the years, and for many years,
services have been conducted by ministers from neighboring churches.
The church had
reached a low point in its history about 10 years ago, and Rev.
Robert Sargent, who was pastor of the Middle Island and Yaphank
Presbyterian churches, went to work in the parish and reactivated
the church. About five years ago, John Freese of Manorville took
over the work of the church and was appointed a lay preacher by the
Long Island Presbytery, and has conducted the preaching services
since that time. Mrs. Freese is the organist and director of music,
which includes a fine choir of about 14 boys and girls from 12 to 15
years of age, who are faithful in their attendance all year round.
With Mrs. Freese at the Hammond organ, which has been recently
purchased, these children under her training have developed some
fine voices and provide an important part of the church services.
Walter Freese, a
son of John Freese, is superintendent of a growing Sunday school of
over 60 members, and his brother Norman Freese is also active in
this work, as are the wives of these men, and several others.
Many improvements
have been added to the church in recent years, including an addition
on which includes a room for Sunday school and social purposes, also
a basement that provides additional room and a kitchen. A modern
oil burning furnace has also been installed. During the past year
the interior of the church has been all painted and decorated and
fitted up in extremely good taste.
The Freese family
is doing a wonderful work in the historic old Manorville church, and
it shows what a group of devoted laymen can do, who are willing to
take time from their busy lives to do God’s work in a small country
church.
Preaching services
are held Sundays at 9 a.m. and Sunday school at 10:15 a.m. with a
Bible study service on Thursdays at 8 p.m.