Bay Ridge welcomes another renaming, “Christ Church Lane”

The Christ Church of Bay Ridge celebrated its 160th anniversary on Sunday, July 21 with a street christening, with the corner of 73rd Street and Ridge Boulevard renamed “Christ Church Lane.”

“Naming a street is the perfect way to forever commemorate the contributions of the places that have shaped our little corner of the world for the better,” stated Councilmember Vincent Gentile. “Today, I couldn’t think of a better way to say ‘thank you’ to Christ Church than by dedicating this street in their honor.”

The church was first built in 1853 on another Church Lane, the corner of 68th Street and Third Avenue, when Bay Ridge was known as Yellow Hook.

In the 1900s, the congregation was approved by the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island to purchase land for a new, larger church. The current Christ Church was opened in 1917 and it has been in use ever since.

“Many of the people who established Christ Church then went on to establish Bay Ridge itself,” the councilmember explained.

The idea to rename Yellow Hook as Bay Ridge was presented by Christ Church Vestryman James Weir, and the decision is commemorated by a plaque on the Bay Ridge Library, located across from the church.

“Today we gather to honor the mission of Christ Church and their countless contributions to our community while celebrating a living legacy; one rooted in service, expressed in hospitality, and manifested in diversity,” said Gentile.

Tom Nelson, a longtime member of the church and former warden spoke after Gentile, recalling the history of the church and the community, then thanking the councilmember for the recognition, stating, “May we all continually be committed to doing good works, as our faith and conscience dictates, with God’s grace, in all the years to come.”

“May this sign inspire the peaceful living in all our diversity in this small town of Bay Ridge,” Gentile concluded.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.