Houses of Worship

Evangelical St. Johannes Church of Breslau, pictured under construction on West John Street, was designed & built by Charles Wuensch.  The church was formally dedicated on August 26, 1872, by the congregation's 1st minister, Rev. A. Stoll.  Suffering from financial difficulties, the church disbanded in 1875.  Early the following year, a new congregation formed, Evangelische Lutherische St. Johannis Gemeinde, or St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church, which later acquired the church property.  The 1st Breslau school on School Street is in the foreground.

The 1st minister of St. John's Lutheran Church was Rev. George W. Drees, who worked diligently to acquire the church property on West John Street, which had been seized by the Suffolk County sheriff for unpaid debts.  After purchasing the property, members thoroughly repaired & renovated the buildings & formally dedicated the church on October 11, 1885.  The church & parsonage are pictured around 1895.

St. John's Lutheran Church's 1894 Christmas services were conducted by Rev. August W. Bertram.  Like his predecessor, Reverend Drees, Bertram was a German native.  Reverend Bertram died of typhoid fever in 1896 & was succeeded by Rev. Edward Stauderman, who introduced monthly services in English, although most services continued in German.  Reverend Stauderman oversaw church renovations, including the 1st stained-glass windows & a new 700-pound bell for the steeple.

A new constitution, in English, was adopted in 1917, formalizing the church's anglicized name, increasing council membership to 12, & guaranteeing voting rights for women in church meetings.  The women of St. John's were very active.  The Ladies Aid Society, established in 1876, still exists, the oldest organization in the church.  In 1925, St. John's purchased the old firehouse on the west side of the church for $3,000 for use as a parish hall.

The year 1926 brought tragedy & triumph for St. John's.  Fire destroyed the old firehouse, the cornerstone for a new hall was dedicated on August 1, & the completed Church House was dedicated by Rev. August Westlin on December 19.  The growing congregation eventually needed a new church, but it did not move far.  In 1960, a new church was dedicated on East John Street, where the congregation remains active.  The original church still stands, minus its steeple, as the Evangel Church of God.

The Hebrew Congregation of Lindenhurst formed in October 1913, meeting at the West Hoffman Avenue embroidery building owned by brothers George & Louis Barasch.  The congregation purchased lots on the northwest corner of West John & North 4th Streets.  While fundraising for synagogue construction, services were temporarily held at the home of Rabbi Benjamin Diamond on South 8th Street.  Over 300 people attended the June 20, 1915, cornerstone ceremony.  Built by George Weierter, the brick-and-stone synagogue was formally dedicated on August 29, 1915.  Members marched from Rabbi Diamond's home to the synagogue, led by Posniak's Orchestra of Brooklyn.  Congregation president Abraham Weinstein led afternoon "a chicken supper was served in the dining rooms below the main floor in the evening with music enlivening the affair," according to the September 3, 1915, South Side Signal.  Other early Jewish organizations included the Breslau Hebrew Cemetery Association, incorporated in 1887, & the First Lindenhurst Hebrew Society, formed in 1908. 

Lindenhurst's 1st Catholic church was dedicated on August 15, 1871, on Bismarck Avenue, now South 8th Street.  The South Side Signal noted that the railroad "ran an extra train from Brooklyn to this place for the accommodation of those wishing to attend."  A small cemetery remains on South 8th Street near the site of the original church.  The congregation started construction on its 2nd church on South Wellwood Avenue, shown here, in 1905.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help was dedicated on Thanksgiving 1905.  The South Side Signal described the  event: "the sacred edifice erected at a cost of $15,000 by the contractor, Jabez E. Van Orden, is an imposing building & ornament to the village, & reflects much credit upon the thrift of the community."  Rev. Fr. Gustav Baer of Woodhaven delivered the sermon in German, while Bishop Charles E. McDonnell made his address in English.

The South Side Signal continued, "The interior of the edifice is rich in churchly effects.  3 altars occupy the customary position in the chancel.  The pews & confessional are of quarter oak, while the windows are of opalescent glass.  The  general style of the interior is Romanesque & the effect is very pleasing."  The wooden church was demolished in 1959 for construction of a new 1,000-seat church & rectory on the site.

First Holy Communion is pictured at Our Lady of Perpetual Help in 1915.  In 1907 the South Side Signal described the first communion services for 17 children: "Each candidate was accompanied by a candle bearer, making 34 in all & the sight was a very pretty one.  The church presented a very attractive appearance, being decorated by Michael Fortunato with palms, sweet peas, carnations & other flowers."

The Catholic church built its 1st parochial school behind the church along High Street.  The school opened in September 1913 with 2 classrooms for 64 students.  In 1920, the parish expanded its facilities by acquiring David Bendheim's former cigar factory, located on the south side of the church property.  Nicknamed the "Cigar Box," there were 3 classrooms on the 1st floor.  The 2nd floor was occupied by a maintenance person & family.

On September 19, 1926, the Methodist Episcopal congregation of Lindenhurst held its 1st service at St. John's Church, & 99 people joined the new parish.  It adopted the name Grace Methodist Episcopal Church in 1930.  Rev. Barton Bovee laid the cornerstone for the church at Liberty & Wellwood Avenues on July 13, 1931.  The $30,000 church, with school rooms, a social hall, & 2 bowling alleys, was formally dedicated on December 6, 1931.