128 HISTORY OF BROOKLYN.

land, and “first established the form of a church,” at Manhattan. He was succeeded, in 1633, by the Rev. Everardus Bogardus, and the congregation, who had hitherto worshipped in the upper loft of a horse-mill, now erected a small, plain church, together with a dwelling and stable for the Dominie’s use.1 This first church in Manhattan gave place, in 1642, to a new stone edifice within the fort (now the Battery), and which was much better suited to the size and dignity of the colony than the “mean barn” in which they had hitherto worshipped.

Dominie Bogardus was followed, in 1647, by the Rev. Johannes Megapolensis, a man eminent for his piety and talents, who served this church and congregation with fidelity until his death, in 1669.

For many years succeeding the first settlement of the country, the settlers on the western end of Long Island were dependent upon the city for all their civil and religious privileges. This state of things, with all its inconveniences, lasted until 1654, when the first church on Long Island was established at Midwout, now Flatbush; and the Governor designated Dominie Megapolensis, of New Amsterdam, with John Snedicor and John Stryker, commissioners to superintend the erection of a church edifice. In February, 1655, in compliance with a request from the people of Midwout, an order was issued requiring the inhabitants of Breuckelen and Amersfoort (Flatlands) to assist “in cutting and hauling wood” for the said church.2 The Breuckelen people, however, while they expressed their perfect willingness to aid in the erection of the church itself, objected to work on the “minister’s house,” which it was proposed to add thereto, averring that the Midwout folks were able to do it themselves.2 They were finally obliged to conform to the Governor's order, and the church, which was built in the form of a cross, 28 by 60 or 65 feet, and 12 to 14 feet between the beams, the rear to be used as a minister’s dwelling, was the first house of worship erected in King's County. Its construction, as we shall see, occupied several years, although, it was probably sufficiently advanced within the year to allow of its being used for worship.

1 Rev. Thomas De Witt’s Hist. Dis. in North Ref. Dutch Ch. of city of New York, 1857.

2 N. Y. Col. MSS., vi. 15, Feb. 9, 1655. 8 Ibid., p. 23.