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Congregation Ahavas Israel & Temple Beth-El

Brooklyn is called the borough of churches, and in the 19th century, it seems that Brooklyn was also a big game of musical churches. Congregations would start up, grow quickly, and then split up or just plain disappear. Often the splits were the result of doctrinal disagreements among congregants or between congregants and their pastor. It was not uncommon for half a congregation to walk away from their church and establish a new church a few blocks away. Other times, demographics would lead to changes in congregations. As one result of all this factional tumult, church buildings would frequently change hands, being passed from denomination to denomination or among congregants of the same denomination.

Lorimer Street

Lorimer Street runs north/south through East Williamsburg (the former 16th Ward) from Broadway to Driggs Avenue. North of Driggs, the street continues to the northwest, terminating at Noble Street. South of Broadway, the street continues to the southwest; this section of Lorimer Street was renamed from _____ Street. The original section of Lorimer Street through East Williamsburg was mapped as part of the expansion of the Village of Williamsburgh east of Union Avenue in 1835.

St. Peter Episcopal Church

Congregation started in 1847, first worshiping on Powers Street (Third Avenue). Constructed in 1851 for St. Peter's Episcopal Church. The cornerstone for the church was laid in 1850 and the building opened for services in May, 1851. By 1856, St. Peter's had outgrown the building and began construction of a new church on State Street, near Bond. Between 1857 and 1863 the building was occupied by the First Reform Presbyterian Church. The building was sold to the Church of the Convenanters in 1860. In 1864, the Second United Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn acquired the building.

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