Magyar News, 2004. szeptember-2005. augusztus (15. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2004-12-01 / 4. szám
X The State Street Church The present Church A hundred years is a long time. But this story started some time before. The people coming from Hungary had the need to practice their religious belief in their native tongue. Being a freshly established ethnic group, they had to rely on help. Fortunately the German churches helped out so people could have their services in Hungarian. This time Reverend Dókus came to Bridgeport on the Sundays and also took care of other church matters. The Hungarian emigrants in 1893 formed an organization called “Bridgeporti Templomi Egylet”. A year later they established a congregation, The First Hungarian Reformed Church. Rev. Alexander Kalassay was the first minister. The first building was on Pine Street, after that on Cherry Street. The congregation was given a choice; should they belong to the American church or the one in Hungary. One group wanted to break away. At that time Rev. Ernő Komjáthy was about to leave to Pittsburg, and the group convinced him to be their minister. This led to the establishment of the new The Parsonage as it is today congregation, the State Street Church in November 1904. Later it was named “Hungarian Reformed Church of Bridgeport and Vicinity. Today it is The United Church of Christ, Bridgeport, CT. The first Parsonage In 1946 the present church was built on the comer of North and Laurel Avenues. The English language was added to the Hungarian in 1950, starting with the Sunday School. After, two services were held, one in Hungarian, the other in English. This went on for almost a half century. Then the Hungarian service was eliminated. Still expressing the Hungarian background, during the English service a prayer was said in Hungarian twice a month. Due to the dwindling number of Hungarian speaking members the Hungarian language is only used on special occasions, mostly at funerals. The lower level of the church, The Puritan Hall, is frequented for coffee hour on Sundays, or smaller events. In 1970 the Congregation, next to the church, built a sizeable hall that lends itself for Sunday School, Youth Group and many other activities. The big hall room serves as a place for bigger gatherings, weddings, dances, fundraising, also helps financially with renting to the public, naturally on a selective level. God bless these hundred years. Joseph F. Balogh The new hall next to the church 100th Anniversary United Church of Christ Bridgeport, CT 1904 2004
