Magyar News, 2002. szeptember-2003. augusztus (13. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)

2003-02-01 / 6. szám

TO BE OR NOT TO BET

The cornerstones of three churches in Bridgeport, Connecticut

This question is not new. I am sure that Shakespeare borrowed it from some previous place or time to put it into his play, Hamlet. I am also sure that it will linger on for many centuries, or as long as mankind tries to balance out part, or probably his whole life. “To be or not to be?”

I don’t pretend that I have the calling to sort out what so many leaders are trying to do, and what results most of the time into something very messy. As a matter of

fact, I do not want to sort out anything, not even a small one. I was just thinking as the holidays were approaching. I realized that there is a problem, very much in the foreground, that seems to be in a need to be helped by somebody, in this case by more then one “somebody”.

May I start at the beginning? At the turn of the century there was an influx of Hungarians looking for a better life, coming to the shores of America. They landed here, most of them carrying all there possession on their back. Not having a rich uncle or an aunt, they had to establish a living that promised a good future, by working their fingers to the bone. Also they were helping each other. This “each other” concept materialized into a community. A community that needs structure and leadership. This was the church. There they gathered, had a social life, and the clergy had their hands full. The clergy was helping the spiritual life, education, work placement, counseling, children care, legal matters, cultural activities, and the list could go on and on.

The parishioners gave their volunteer work and shared some of the hard earned pennies to establish and build a church. These

Left: Hungarian embroidery decorates the table in the church.

Right: The stainedglass windows have Hungarian words

were humble beginnings, and it was an upward trend. First they were helped by other, already existing, ethnic communities. Also, in his case the Protestant church in Hungary gave loans and paid the salary of the ministers. New churches were erected. The Hungarian community in the Bridgeport area started in the West End.

The 100th Anniversary Book of the First United Church of Christ recalls the start: "On April 23, 1893, a few faithful Hungarian Reformed men came together to form an organization called the BRIDGEPORTI TEMPLOMI EGYLET. Those present at this organizational gathering were József Zsenhey, Károly Nagy, András Papp, Béla Bazsó, István Riszeci Molnár, János Kerekes, István Béres, Géza Vécsey, Sándor Bagdy, Lajos Kéki and Lajos Kerekes.

In the tradition of the New Testament church, these Hungarians met in each other's homes to worship. Evidently the ardor of their need to worship in their own language reached the ears of Rev . Gaspar Brunner who was the pastor of the German