Brooklyn Tabernacle is an

evangelical Evangelicalism (), also called evangelical Christianity or evangelical Protestantism, is a worldwide, interdenominational movement within Protestantism, Protestant Christianity that emphasizes evangelism, or the preaching and spreading of th ...

non-denominational

megachurch A megachurch is a church with a very large membership that also offers a variety of educational and social activities. Most megachurches are Evangelical, although the term denotes a type of organization, not a denomination. A megachurch draws 2 ...

located at 17 Smith Street at the

Fulton Mall Fulton Street is a long east–west street in northern Brooklyn, New York City. This street begins at the intersection of Adams Street and Joralemon Street in Brooklyn Heights, and runs eastward to East New York and Cypress Hills. At the bo ...

downtown ''Downtown'' is a term primarily used in American and Canadian English to refer to a city's sometimes commercial, cultural and often the historical, political, and geographic heart. It is often synonymous with its central business district ( ...

Brooklyn Brooklyn is a Boroughs of New York City, borough of New York City located at the westernmost end of Long Island in the New York (state), State of New York. Formerly an independent city, the borough is coextensive with Kings County, one of twelv ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, United States. The senior pastor is

Jim Cymbala James R. Cymbala (born May 4th, 1943) is an American author and pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. He is also a former college basketball player for the United States Naval Academy and the University of Rhode Island The University of Rhod ...

History

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. In 1966, the church was renamed "Brooklyn Gospel Tabernacle" by the pastor Clair D. Hutchins. 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. 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". The church remained in this location until 2002 when they moved into the former Loew's Metropolitan Theatre at 17 Smith Street. The sanctuary seats 3,300 people. The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir has received six

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

s. It is directed by Carol Cymbala, the wife of the main Pastor, Jim Cymbala. The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir sang "

The Battle Hymn of the Republic The "Battle Hymn of the Republic" is an American patriotic song written by the abolitionist writer Julia Ward Howe during the American Civil War. Howe adapted her song from the soldiers' song " John Brown's Body" in November 1861, and sold ...

" at the 2013

second inauguration of Barack Obama The second inauguration of Barack Obama as president of the United States was the 57th inauguration, marking the commencement of his second and final term, with Joe Biden as vice president. This is the most recent presidential inauguration wher ...

. The church has held three two-hour services weekly. According to a church census published in 2024, it would have a weekly attendance of 10,000 people.

Building

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.http://www.silman.com/projects/religious/brooklyn-tabernacle-church/ "Brooklyn Tabernacle Church" on the Robert Silman Associates website

References

External links

*{{Official, http://www.brooklyntabernacle.org Churches in Brooklyn Downtown Brooklyn Evangelical megachurches in the United States Loew's Theatres buildings and structures Megachurches in New York (state) Nondenominational Christianity

History

Building

See also

References

External links