Press Release Archives - 534-96 Fordham Manor Reformed Church

Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: October 20, 1996

Release #534-96

Contact: Colleen Roche (212) 788-2958 or Jack Deacy (212) 788 2969

MAYOR GIULIANI OBSERVES 300TH ANNIVERSARY OF FORDHAM MANOR REFORMED CHURCH IN THE BRONX

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today joined the congregation of the Fordham Manor Reformed Church as they observed the 300th Anniversary of the historic Bronx church.. During the Sunday morning service at the Church, the Mayor presented Pastor Irving Rivera with a Proclamation that designated today as "Fordham Manor Reformed Church 300th Anniversary Day" in New York City.

"The Fordham Manor Reformed Church is an integral part of our City's dynamic history," Mayor Giuliani said. "The church is actually one of the oldest institutions in New York City and our nation. Through the American Revolution, through the Civil War, through the World Wars of the Twentieth Century, this church and its congregations have weathered the tumult of history without ever experiencing an interruption in its ministry. On behalf of the people of our City, I congratulate and thank the Fordham Manor Reformed Church for three centuries of unshakable faith and devotion."

The Church was originally established in 1696 and the first church building was erected in 1706 on what is now Devoe Park, opposite Andrews Avenue. After the original church was destroyed during the Revolutionary War, a new structure was built in 1802 near Kingsbridge Road. Since that time, three additional buildings have stood on the present site, the second in 1849 and the last in 1940. In fact, the bell cast for the church in 1823 is still being used by the congregation every Sunday morning. Edgar Allan Poe and his wife, Anabell Lee, were members of the congregation and a local junior high school is named after the church's third minister, John Peter Tetard.

The Mayor noted that under current Pastor Iriving Rivera the Church congregation has grown from 13 members to 300 members and now consists of three separate congregations with ministries in English, Spanish and Korean. The Church is located at 2705 Reservoir Avenue in the Bedford Park section of the The Bronx.