[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 7]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 9529]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  IN RECOGNITION OF THE 160TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE HANSON PLACE CENTRAL 
                            METHODIST CHURCH

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. YVETTE D. CLARKE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 19, 2007

  Ms. CLARKE. Madam Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I rise 
today to pay tribute to a Brooklyn landmark, the Hanson Place Central 
United Methodist Church, on the occasion of their 160th Anniversary.
  The first Hanson Place Methodist Church building was erected in 1847 
at the corner of Hanson Place and St. Felix Street in Brooklyn. There, 
the history of ecumenical cooperation and community service began with 
a vibrant, Christ-centered congregation. Seventeen years later, to 
accommodate phenomenal congregational growth, a second and larger 
building was constructed, and dedicated on January 4, 1874. Then, on 
February 23, 1927, the Central Methodist Episcopal Church came into 
being by merging the Summerfield Methodist Church with the Hanson Place 
Methodist Church.
  The church rose above challenges when its building purchased in 1874 
was considered unsafe and had to be vacated leaving 1650 members 
belonging to a Church Without a Home as it was reported in the press.
  By the end of 1930, sufficient investment had been committed in the 
Hanson Place Central Methodist Church that the church owned property 
that covered the entire corner on which to build its new cathedral. A 
lot on Hanson Place and on St. Felix Street was marked off for the 
structure, and today stands the Hanson Place Central United Methodist 
Church at 144 St. Felix Street.
  The church's commitment to the community has been shown through their 
various ministries. Their Campaign Against Hunger has been a valuable 
resource for more than 15 years. This food pantry provides meals to 
over 110,000 individuals annually. It utilizes a customer choice 
approach and adopts a supermarket style of shopping with a nutritional 
education component.
  For the past nine years, their Partnership for the Homeless ministry 
has provided a safe haven for men. This ministry serves as a resource 
for the Drop-In Center for the Bond Street Salvation Army. The shelter 
is open year round including public holidays.
  The people who once belonged to a Church Without a Home, serves as a 
home for so many within a changing and rapidly developing neighborhood 
within and throughout Brooklyn.
  I am honored that the Hanson Place Central Methodist Church has 
provided countless services to constituents within my district. I ask 
my colleagues to join me in commending this fine institution for their 
many years of service and commitment to the people of Brooklyn.