Brooklyn Tabernacle

Church in New York City, United States

Brooklyn Tabernacle

40°41′27″N 73°59′14.8″W﻿ / ﻿40.69083°N 73.987444°W﻿ / 40.69083; -73.987444
Location| New York City
Country| United States
Denomination| Non-denominational Christian
Website| brooklyntabernacle.org
History
Founded| 1847
Clergy
Senior pastor(s)| Jim Cymbala

Brooklyn Tabernacle is an evangelical non-denominational megachurch located at 17 Smith Street at the Fulton Mall in downtown Brooklyn, New York City, United States. The senior pastor is Jim Cymbala.

## History

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The Brooklyn Tabernacle was originally established in 1847 as the Central Presbyterian Church, using the facilities of the First Presbyterian Church, at the corner of Willoughby Street and Pearl.[1]

In 1966, the church was renamed "Brooklyn Gospel Tabernacle" by the pastor Clair D. Hutchins.[2]

By the time Pastor Jim and Carol Cymbala took over the church leadership in the autumn of 1971, the congregation had dwindled to only 40 people who met in a rundown building on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.[3][4][5][6]

In the 1980s, the Brooklyn Tabernacle purchased the former Carlton Theatre at 292 Flatbush Avenue at 7th Avenue, converting the 1383-seat theatre into a church. After many years of decline, the church was revitalized as a non-denominational congregation, and became well-known as the home of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.

In 1984, the church took its current name "The Brooklyn Tabernacle".[7]

The church remained in this location until 2002 when they moved into the former Loew's Metropolitan Theatre at 17 Smith Street.[8][9] The sanctuary seats 3,300 people.

The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir has received six Grammy Awards.[10][11] It is directed by Carol Cymbala, the wife of the main Pastor, Jim Cymbala.[12]

The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sang "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" at the 2013 second inauguration of Barack Obama.[13]

The church has held three two-hour services weekly.[14]

According to a church census published in 2024, it would have a weekly attendance of 10,000 people. [15]

## Building

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The current building was completely redone by Kostow Greenwood Architects and Robert Silman Associates by gutting and renovating the old vaudeville theater for modern worship, and with state-of-the-art acoustics and recording equipment. Two adjacent buildings were converted into offices, classrooms, community service areas, and dining facilities.[16][17]

## See also

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* List of the largest evangelical churches
* List of the largest evangelical church auditoriums
* Worship service (evangelicalism)

## References

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1. ^ Industry Magazine A Perfect Union, industrym.com, April 20, 2016
2. ^ W. K. McNeil, Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, Routledge, US, 2013, p. 52
3. ^ Francesca Norsen Tate, Brooklyn Milestones In Faith for May 29, brooklyneagle.com, USA, May 29, 2013
4. ^ Curtiss Paul DeYoung, Michael O. Emerson, George Yancey, United by Faith: The Multiracial Congregation as an Answer to the Problem of Race, Oxford University Press USA, USA, 2004, p. 71
5. ^ "Ministry Directory". Archived from the original on 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
6. ^ "Pastor Jim Cymbala". Archived from the original on June 7, 2009. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
7. ^ W. K. McNeil, Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music, Routledge, Abingdon-on-Thames, 2013, p. 52
8. ^ DAVID W. DUNLAP, For Churches, Births and Rebirths, nytimes.com, USA, DECEMBER 22, 2002
9. ^ "Brooklyn - Brooklyn, NY". Archived from the original on 2012-06-05. Retrieved 2011-07-02.
10. ^ Search results for "Carol Cymbala" Grammy Awards website
11. ^ "The Choir - Discography - The Brooklyn Tabernacle". Archived from the original on 2020-10-01. Retrieved 2015-08-04.
12. ^ Archibold, Randal C. (2000-02-28). "Brooklyn Choir Wins Praise by Singing the Lord's Praises". The New York Times. Retrieved 31 May 2011.
13. ^ Brooklyn Tabernacle at Obama Inauguration Fox News Insider, Jan 21, 2013
14. ^ Official FAQ Archived April 29, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
15. ^ Outreach Magazine, Brooklyn Tabernacle, outreach100.com, USA, accessed February 5, 2025
16. ^ "Brooklyn Tabernacle" on the Kostow Greenwood website
17. ^ http://www.silman.com/projects/religious/brooklyn-tabernacle-church/ "Brooklyn Tabernacle Church" on the Robert Silman Associates website

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Brooklyn Tabernacle.

* Official website