A three-alarm fire destroyed much of the historic Reformed Church of South Bushwick on Friday.
Photo by Anna Bradley-Smith
A fire destroyed much of the historic Reformed Church of South Bushwick Friday afternoon. The steeple is gone, as is most or all of the roof, and the top half of the structure at 855 Bushwick Avenue.
“It’s so sad right now seeing it knocked down,” said a local resident named Lewis, who has lived in Bushwick his whole life.
One firefighter was injured while battling the blaze. Photo by Anna Bradley-Smith 
Most of the church was destroyed. Photo by Anna Bradley-Smith
One firefighter sustained minor injuries but refused medical treatment, said an FDNY deputy. Firefighters got the call at 1:22 p.m., and by 4 p.m. there were no flames visible but plenty of smoke as firefighters hosed down the building to get the fire under control.
The adjacent row of brownstones appeared unaffected, and neighbors were waiting to get permission to reenter their homes, one told Brownstoner. The fire was contained to the church, the deputy said, and the cause is under investigation.
The church steeple in 2022. File photo by Susan De Vries
The iconic Greek Revival white clapboard church and steeple dominated this stretch of Bushwick Avenue since it was completed and consecrated in 1853. It was landmarked in 1069. The congregation, which dates back to 1654, has been working on repairing the building, and completed repairs to the steeple about six years ago.
This story first appeared on Brooklyn Paper’s sister site Brownstoner.