Former Long Island church to be sold for $11.8 million as two congregations merge

The useful part

Stephen's Episcopal Church, a historically Black congregation that was founded in 1902 in New York's Queens borough, had spent decades discussing what to do about its aging church in the Jamaica neighborhood. "In recent years, the challenges of maintaining the property and sustaining the parish financially have become increasingly difficult," the Rev. Frederick Walker, the congregation's priest-in-charge, said last month in a diocesan article.

How it works

• Gabriel's Episcopal Church in the nearby Hollis neighborhood, allowing both congregations to invest their resources in parish life and ministry together.
• "What excites me is what becomes possible when we no longer have to devote so much energy and so many resources to maintaining aging buildings," Walker said.
• The corner.38-acre lot is located next to a public library branch and is zoned for commercial developments and multifamily housing.
• The merged congregation intends to preserve spiritually and historically distinctive elements of the former St.
• Stephen's, such as stained-glass windows and other furnishings, though the structure could be demolished in a redevelopment.

Example or evidence

• Gabriel's each have gifted, committed people, and together I believe they can build a vibrant ministry, strengthen their relationships in the community and flourish as one parish for years to come." The...

Details worth keeping

6, and the congregations' first joint worship was held at St. Stephen's property up for sale for $11,750,000.