Broad Avenue North Presbyterian Chapel
1891-2025
Broad Avenue Church
The history of the Broad Avenue Church begins with formation of the Presbyterian Union in 1890. The Union had as its purpose to establish Sunday Schools in promising fields that would eventually become churches.
Broad Avenue Presbyterian Chapel was built by the Union in Binghamton’s new 12th Ward and dedicated on November 1, 1891. In 1894, 31 persons became charter members of the new church.
North Church
The history of North Church begins in 1869, when a meeting held at First Presbyterian Church purposed to form a Second Presbyterian Society. The Society was organized at a meeting later that year. Land was purchased and a chapel constructed at the corner of Chenango and Munsell Streets. The chapel was dedicated in February 1870, and the North Pres-byterian Church Society organized on April 17 that year. A larger church facility would be built and dedicated on January 19, 1886.
Merger
The early 1900s were kind to both the North and Broad Avenue churches. Membership at Broad Ave grew to 250 in 1924. But later years would bring a decline in numbers. Early in 1980, it became apparent that the small congregation of North Presbyterian Church could no longer afford to maintain and operate their large facility. At the same time, the Broad Avenue congregation struggled to maintain their programs. To add to their problems, both churches had debts to Synod and Presbytery.
In spring 1980, meetings were held with representatives of the churches and Presbytery. The two congregations voted separately to pursue a merger. Accordingly, an organizational meeting was held on March 1, 1981, with both churches, Presbytery officials, and former Moderators in attendance. The merger went smoothly such that membership now stood at 145, 93 from Broad Avenueand 52 from North. The North property was sold in December 1981. Its Skinner pipe organ sold in November 1982.
Upon the departure of its pastor In February 1995, the combined church was faced with an uncertain future. Securing a full-time minister was no longer an option. Ultimately it was decided that Broad Avenue-North, John Hus, and Ross Memorial would share a team of ministers, each church contributing a percentage toward ministerial services. This Urban Parish served the churches for just over two years, from October 1996 to April 1999. Once again, Broad Avenue-North faced an uncertain future.
Soon afterwards, conversation began with Conklin Presbyterian Church for pastoral services. Following approval by both sessions, the two churches signed a contract in February 2000. This arrangement was renewed annually until the churches agreed to a permanent merger in 2007. The pastor of the Conklin Church would serve as Pastor and Moderator of a combined church led by one session, meeting on two campuses. The small congregation on Binghamton’s East Side would worship and minister as the Broad Avenue-North Presbyterian Chapel, a ministry of Conklin Presbyterian Church.
This arrangement served well the Broad Avenue-North congregation for almost 25 years. Services were combined beginning in November 2024, owing to the Pastor’s medical needs. Diminished Chapel attendance and the Pastor’s ongoing needs prompted the session to make the difficult decision of closing the Chapel on December 18, 2024, ending 133 years of Presbyterian witness at Broad Avenue and Robinson Streets in Binghamton.