For 90-year-old Eleanor Rapelje, the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove has been a part of her life since she was 4-years-old. She vividly remembers walking to Sunday school with her cousin, sitting on small wooden chairs, and singing hymns as Mrs. Vance, her teacher, played the piano.
“When I was a little girl, we would have 250 people in the sanctuary,” she recalled. “This is more than just a church, it’s family.”
Over the decades, the church became her second home, where she found community, faith and her husband. Now, as the congregation prepares for its final service on Jan. 11, Rapelje is saying goodbye to a place that has shaped her life for nearly nine decades.
Founded in 1869, the First Presbyterian Church of Glen Cove was once a thriving hub of community activity. At its peak, the church welcomed hundreds of congregates each Sunday, offering a bustling Sunday school program and a rich calendar of social events. But in recent years, attendance has dwindled to just six to ten people on a typical Sunday. The church, like so many others across the country, has faced mounting challenges: changing cultural attitudes toward religion, financial struggles, and the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When I arrived during the pandemic, there was already a sense that the church was dying,” said Reverend Lana Hurst, who joined as pastor in 2020. “Attendance had been declining for years, and it became clear that maintaining the building and the congregation was no longer sustainable.”
The historic church, with its intricate architecture, requires extensive repairs, including a new roof estimated at $200,000. Full restoration costs run into the millions—an expense the small congregation cannot afford.
The church has gone through many chapters, from its socially conservative roots to its transformation into a progressive and inclusive community. Under leaders like Reverend Betsy Simpson, the church adopted an open policy on LGBTQ+ rights in 2007, eventually welcoming gay and lesbian members who made up one-third of the congregation. Simpson officiated same-sex marriages even before they were legally recognized in New York, solidifying the church’s reputation as a trailblazer in social justice.
The North Shore Sheltering program was founded over 20-years-ago at the church when a homeless local man froze to death on Route 107. The shelter provided meals, sleeping arrangements, and even medical checkups. Civil rights leader Ralph Abernathy, a close associate of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., even visited the church in 1972.
Despite these achievements, broader cultural shifts have made it difficult for the church to attract and retain members. Hurst noted that many younger people are turning away from institutional religion, citing scandals, political polarization, and generational divides. “People are still seeking spirituality,” she said, “but many feel that traditional institutions no longer serve their needs.”
The final service will mark the end of an era, but the congregation plans to continue Seekers’ Hour, a beloved book discussion group that explores diverse Christian perspectives.
The future of the building is uncertain. The property is listed for sale, though legal processes surrounding religious properties are complex and time-consuming. For now, it continues to host Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and two Spanish-speaking congregations.
The last service will be held on Jan. 11 at 3 p.m. on 7 North Ln, Glen Cove.
