Music Ministers Melissa Brassard Wilson Family Sacred Music Intern Beginning her studies at the age of 5, Melissa is an accomplished soloist, accompanist, and chamber musician from the Los Angeles area. She graduated from Oberlin College and Conservatory with a Bachelor of Music degree, studying piano and organ performance. Melissa was the recipient of the Music Teachers' Association of California’s Memorial Music Scholarship, a finalist in the 2021 Rudolf Serkin Piano Competition, and a recipient of the Colburn Merit Scholarship. She has served as organist and accompanist at the Church of Saint Clarence, North Olmsted and First United Methodist Church, Pasadena. Melissa’s previous teachers include Jonathan Moyer and Alvin Chow. Dr. Raymond Nagem Minister of Music Raymond Nagem is Minister of Music at The Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City, and a member of the organ faculty at Manhattan School of Music, where he teaches organ literature, service playing, and improvisation. He completed his D.M.A. at The Juilliard School in 2016, where he was a student of Paul Jacobs. A native of Medford, Massachusetts, Ray attended the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School and began organ lessons there with John Dunn. He earned his B.A. from Yale University in 2009, studying the organ with Thomas Murray, and his M.A. in 2011 from Juilliard. Prior to his appointment at Brick, he served for eleven years at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, where he was Associate Director of Music and Organist. His album Divine Splendor, recorded on the Great Organ of St. John the Divine, is available on the Pro Organo label. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring of 2020, Ray started a weekly online recital series, “Tuesdays at 6,” featuring a diverse range of music spanning the entire organ repertoire. In his spare time, he enjoys running, cycling, and crossword puzzles. Liz Richter Director of Children’s Music Ministries Liz Richter is a musician and music educator who graduated with a Bachelor or Music from Westminster Choir College. She is the music teacher at the Brick Church School. She previously worked as the music teacher at multiple preschools on the Upper East Side. She is also the owner and director of Eastside Westside Music Together which is an early childhood music program on the Upper West Side. Liz grew up singing in church choir from an early age where her mother was the Music Director in Garrison, NY. She has sung professionally in choirs at Alice Tully Hall, Carnegie Hall, The Kimmel Center with Orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra and The Berlin Philharmonic. Once moving to NYC in 2016, she joined the professional choir at Christ Church NYC where she sang under Steve Pilkington for several years. She also was the assistant director of the children's choir at Christ Church under Amanda Smith. Wilson Family Sacred Music Internship Thanks to the generosity of Don and Lynn Wilson and their steadfast devotion to music at Brick, Brick Church and the Yale University Institute of Sacred Music established the Wilson Family Sacred Music Internship in 2013. This internship provides an opportunity for a graduate student at the ISM to participate in our music ministry during the academic year. As part of an intensive, on-site learning experience, the intern shares in organ playing and choral conducting duties. The program also supports an undergraduate intern from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music in Ohio during their winter break in January.

Small Groups Register Here Brick Church Small Groups connect up to ten current and prospective Brick Church members who are leaders in their home, industry, and community for the purpose of providing support, developing relationships, and nurturing spiritual vitality to fully express their gifts and talents as Christian leaders throughout the world.

About Us Our Mission Statement The fundamental mission of The Brick Church is to respond to the word of God as found in the Old and New Testaments. The B rick Church must continue its historic mission to lead, inspire and enable the public worship of God in the Presbyterian tradition in the city of New York. Our response can be witnessed in the transformed lives of our members as we celebrate the Good News proclaimed by Jesus Christ. We are committed to supporting spiritual development, Christian education and witness to our community, which will be evidenced on a daily basis not only among church members but also in our outreach to the broader world. Adopted by Session November 15, 2003 Pillars of Our Community In 2019, Brick Church engaged in a Mission Review which identified the following as the Pillars of Our Community: Worship , Serve , Learn , Connect . In light of the Mission Review, the Strategic Implementation Committee identified the following goals for long term planning in 2021: Spir itu a l Vitali ty Strengthen spiritual vitality to be better ser vants of Christ Steward sh ip Protect the longev ity of the church through improved s tewardship Outreach Extend our r each into our community to expand the church's footprint and gr ow its membership Nurture Show forth the love of Christ through compassionate nurture for the community at every stage of life Education Reinforce our commitment to education from the Day School through Adult Education 1/8

Planned Giving Learn More Throughout our history, members and friends of the Henry van Dyke Association have demonstrated their love of our church’s mission by making gifts through their wills, retirement accounts, trusts, and other planned gifts. The Henry van Dyke Association is our way of encouraging such gifts, thanking people who have disclosed their gift intentions, and providing recognition as appropriate in order to inspire others to follow their lead. Bequests, retirement account beneficiary designations, charitable remainder trusts, and other planned gifts are intended to provide an important income stream for the church. Planned giving complements other forms of giving. Ways to Give Bequests Life Insurance Account Beneficiary Designation Resources Letter of Intent Putting Your Affairs in Order Personal Record Book Planned Giving Play Video My live stream Planned Giving Watch Now Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Share Channel Info Close Brick Church has been my home away from home. - Helen Pennoyer

History & Archives The Brick Church in the City of New York has been in continuous operation since 1767, except for the years of the Revolutionary War, when the building was commandeered by the British forces for use as a hospital and later as a brig. The church was an expansion of the flourishing Wall Street Church, which had become so crowded that it was plain a second church was necessary. Its pastors, headed by the Reverend Dr. John Rodgers, and its officers administered both churches. The Brick Church did not become a separate and incorporated entity until 1809. The Brick Church has had three locations in New York City. Its first site was on Beekman Street. This spot is now occupied by Pace University’s downtown campus. The elders deemed a move necessary when it became apparent that most of the members were moving uptown. Two wars, three epidemics and three great fires changed the area from residential to a neighborhood of boarding houses and commercial operations. The church moved to Fifth Avenue and 37th Street in 1858, and remained there until 1940, when, again, in response to the migration of its congregation, it relocated to its third and present site at Park Avenue and 91st Street. Brick Church on Beekman Street Brick Church on Fifth Avenue Brick Church on Park Avenue Senior Ministers of The Brick Church John Rodgers (1767 – 1811) Gardiner Spring (1810 – 1873) James O. Murray (1865 – 1875) Llewelyn D. Bevan (1877 – 1882) Henry van Dyke (1883 – 1900) James H. McIlvaine (1894 – 1896) Maltbie D. Babcock (1900 – 1901) William R. Richards (1902 – 1910) William P. Merrill (1911 – 1938) Paul A. Wolfe (1938 – 1964) J. Reginald Thomas (1965 – 1970) James S. Stewart (1972 – 1977) Herbert B. Anderson (1978 – 2000) Michael L. Lindvall (2002 – 2017) Thomas E. Evans (2020 - Present) Thomas Evans On July 26, 2020, Reverend Dr. Thomas Evans was approved as the 14th Senior Minister of The Brick Presbyterian Church. Before coming to The Brick Church, he served as Senior Pastor and Head of Staff for First Presbyterian Church in Spartanburg, S.C., and prior to that, he served as Executive Presbyter for the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta. Rev. Evans also served in pastoral roles in churches in Idaho (1994), Arkansas (1996), and upstate New York (2000), and as Executive Presbyter in Birmingham, AL (2005). He graduated with a Master of Divinity (1994) and Doctor of Ministry (2003) from Princeton Theological Seminary. Tom is also a graduate of The College of William and Mary (1989) where he earned an B.A. in Mathematics. Michael Lindvall The Reverend Michael L. Lindvall was installed as the 13th Pastor of The Brick Presbyterian Church in the fall of 2002. Reverend Lindvall was raised in small-town Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. H e previously served as pastor to congregations in Ann Arbor, Michigan and Northport, Long Island. Rev. Lindvall is also a writer whose essays, book reviews, sermons and fiction appear in a variety of church-related and secular periodicals. He has written two novels, The Good News from North Haven, and Leaving North Haven, both published by Crossroad/Carlisle Books, an imprint of Herder and Herder. A volume of accessible theology entitled The Christian Life: A Geography of God, was recently released by Geneva Press. Henry van Dyke Henry van Dyke deserves our thanks not only for writing the text for "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" but for worship innovations that we take for granted today: celebrating Christmas Day as a church holiday, holding a special Good Friday service and adding the congregational Lord’s Prayer to regular worship. He was called in 1883; a time when the church was not in the best of health. The building was not in good repair and membership was low. Young, lively and personable, he reinvigorated the Church. Besides preaching, leading the congregation, editing the Psalter and writing much of the Book of Common Worship, he wrote poetry and stories, the best known of which is The Story of the Other Wise Man. Dr. van Dyke was also a popular speaker and teacher. After leaving the Brick Church to teach and preach at Princeton, he served as a diplomat, posted by fellow Presbyterian President Woodrow Wilson as minister to the Netherlands and Luxembourg just before World War I. Look him up and prepare to be humbled by his extraordinary resume. Gardiner Spring Gardiner Spring, just out of seminary, accepted the call to Brick Church in 1810 after three others had declined. His was an era of uptown expansion of the city, social unrest, religious revivals, the War of 1812 against the British, passionate theological disputes about the nature of human sinfulness, and most profoundly, the issue of slavery. Dr. Spring tackled them all. He moved Brick Church to Fifth Avenue in 1858, instituted the first full choir and acquired our current church bell. He added prayer meetings, adult classes and mission-oriented Sunday Schools largely for the children of non-members, often poor, among many other accomplishments, while trying to remain moderate theologically and politically. But as the slavery issue became increasingly prominent, the time for moderation passed. Today he is best known for the Spring Resolutions of 1861 in support of the Union after the South had seceded. Dr. John Rogers The church has been blessed with gifted and distinguished pastors. Our first pastor, Dr. Rodgers, regularly corresponded with George Washington, was moderator of the first General Assembly in 1789, and was chaplain to the New York State Legislature. He would deliver a short (60 minute) action sermon on Communion Sundays, and close the street in front of the church during services to eliminate noise. He has been followed by many notable clergy, three of whom were elected moderator of the General Assembly. General George Washington wrote to Dr. Rodgers acknowledging receipt of a printed copy of Divine Goodness Displayed, in the American Revolution “… The Thanksgiving Sermon which you did me the favor to send me I read with much pleasure, & pray you to accept my thanks for, & the favorable mention you have been pleased to make of me therein…” Washington had also attended the service that marked the evacua tion of the British from the City at the end of the war. Click here to read The Divine Goodness sermon . Congregation & Corporation The Brick Presbyterian Church was founded as an offshoot of First Presbyterian Church in 1767. The Corporation was chartered in 1809 and is governed by a twelve-person Board of Trustees elected by the Congregation. A nnual Reports The Brick Church Annual Reports Audited Financial Statements The Brick Church Audited Financial Statements Celebrating 250+ Years The Missing Records of 1937 and What They Revealed The Brick Presbyterian Church keeps bound records of Orders of Worship, financial statements, and important documents dating back to 1885... History & Archives Lucy Thorpe The Real Presence: Rev. Merrill’s Final Sermon on 37th Street In his last sermon preached at the pulpit of the Brick Church on 37th street, Reverend William Pierson Merrill spoke to a crowd in limbo.... History & Archives Lucy Thorpe The Making of Peace: From Brick Church Pulpit to Global Stage Rev. William Pierson Merrill was a prominent Presbyterian minister and public advocate for peace in the early 20th century. He served as... History & Archives Maria Cardova 1 2 3 4 5

Our Instruments Sanctuary Org an From May through August 2005, a new pipe organ was installed and voiced in the sanctuary by Casavant Frères of St.-Hyacinthe, Québec. This instrument of four manuals and 118 ranks, with 6,288 pipes, is designed to reproduce faithfully the rich, vibrant, and thrilling sounds of 19th-century French organs, especially those of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. The sanctuary organ is the gift of an anonymous donor in honor of former Senior Minister Dr. Herbert B. Anderson and his wife, Mary Lou S. Anderson. To view the complete specification, click here . Chapel Organ In November 1994, Guilbault-Thérien of St-Hyacinthe, Québec, was commissioned to build a new organ for our chapel of two manuals, 19 stops, and 26 ranks. By May 1996, the organ had been completely assembled, voiced and tuned in the chapel. The organ’s design was influenced by small French organs of the 19th century, especially the “orgues de choeur” whose purpose was to accompany choral singing. To view the complete specification, click here . 1/4

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Seminarian Chris Smalley 2025-2026 Seminarian Intern Chris Smalley is a seminarian intern at Brick Presbyterian Church for the 2025-2026 year. Prior to discerning a call to ministry, Chirs spent 15 years in consulting and finance. He has a MBA from the University of Michigan and BA in Economics from Adelphi University. Chris is excited to channel God's grace and love in the New York City community, learning from Brick Church's ordained ministers, lay staff and congregation during his placement year. Raised on Long Island, Chris was introduced to Brick Church at the annual tree lighting in 2013 and became a member earlier this year. In his free time, Chris pursues his passion for the outdoors, deriving inspiration in the splendor of God's creation, hiking national parks across the United States with his dog Captain.

Sacraments In the Presbyterian tradition, the sacraments of baptism and communion are typically celebrated as part of Sunday morning worship. Weddings, funerals, and memorial services are usually scheduled at times other than Sunday morning. All of these events are services of worship in which praise is directed toward God, God's word is proclaimed, and God is approached in prayer. For historical inquiries about archival records, such as old marriage or funeral records, please visit the Presbyterian Historical Society. 1/4 Baptism Baptism is one of two sacraments, or “sacred acts” that Jesus commanded his followers to observe, the other being the Sacrament of Holy Communion. Baptism is the act of initiation into the Christian faith and into the Christian Church. In the Presbyterian tradition, both children and adults may be baptized, though most Presbyterian parents choose to have their children baptized as infants. Register Marriage Marriage in the Christian tradition is a lifelong covenant made in the presence of God and into which God is invited. A wedding is a service of worship in the context of which two persons enter into the covenant of marriage. At The Brick Presbyterian Church, all weddings are Christian in their theological orientation, implying that at least one member of the couple be a confessing Christian. The basic format of the wedding service is drawn from one of the several liturgical resources of the Presbyterian Church (USA), usually the Book of Common Worship. Weddings at The Brick Church are available to members. Learn more about membership here . Request Here Funerals & Memorials Funerals and memorial services are services of worship conducted in witness to the resurrection and in celebration and remembrance of a life that has ended. Such services usually include praise and thanksgiving to God for the gift of a life, affirmation of our trust in God’s gift of life eternal in Jesus Christ, words of comfort to those who mourn, and the remembering of the life that has ended. Learn more about The Brick Church Columbarium here. Request Here Sunday Sanctuary Flowers If you would like to sponsor the flowers in our sanctuary one week in loving memory of (or in celebration of) a loved one, please make a donation below. Use the form to provide us with the wording for your dedication as it will appear in the worship bulletin (example: “In loving memory of… by…” or “In celebration of… by…”). Thank you for considering helping to adorn our sanctuary to the glory of God. Submit Here

Chancel Choir Chancel Choir Chancel Choir Play Video Share Whole Channel This Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Search videos Search video... Now Playing Ama namin by Fidel Calalang 04:41 Play Video Now Playing "A Tender Shoot" by Kerensa Briggs 02:24 Play Video Now Playing Cecilia McDowall - O Oriens 03:10 Play Video Now Playing Roderick Williams - O Adonai 05:20 Play Video More Videos 1/3 Music Events

Volunteer Volunteering at Brick Church offers you a chance to connect with our vibrant community and give back in meaningful ways. We invite you to extend a warm welcome to all who enter our doors by engaging in community and congregational care opportunities. These include welcoming new members, serving at coffee hour, lending a helping hand in the nursery and Sunday Church School, ushering and greeting during Sunday worship, as well as joining a Session committee to help shape the future of Brick Church. Additionally, though our many outreach partner organizations, we offer opportunities to give back to our community at large. Click here to get more information about the many ways to volunteer at Brick Church. Tuesday Night Dinner Party (Weekly) Tue, Oct 07 The Brick Presbyterian Church More info Learn more COLH Gift Drive & Wrapping Party Sun, Dec 14 Carnegie Room More info Learn more Day of Discipleship Sat, Mar 07 Watson Hall More info Learn more Load More 1/9 Day of Discipleship The Day of Discipleship is a church-wide annual event that provides a rewarding service and fellowship opportunity to church members and their families. Spend a Saturday helping others at any of our partner sites including Church of the Living Hope, Urban Outreach, Little Sisters of the Assumption, New York Common Pantry, Search and Care, and others. Learn More Tuesday Night Dinner Party Serve God by serving others at Tuesday Night Dinner Party every Tuesday from 5:00 - 7:00 PM in Watson Hall. Families, individuals, youth, Deacons and anyone else who would like to volunteer will cook, serve, and enjoy a delicious meal with residents of the Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter . Learn More Congregational Care One way we demonstrate our faithfulness as a Christian community is by caring for each other in the example of Jesus Christ. Deacon congregational care (or in-reach) opportunities include: welcome for new members, home communion, flowers, prayer, baptism, and bereavement. We invite you to volunteer with us! Learn More Congregational Fellowship “For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” (Matthew 18:20) Our members gather in fellowship and celebration of the good news. Please help us in bringing others together through the following opportunities: Coffee Hour Sub-committee, Women’s Association, Men’s Association, Tree Lighting Social Hour, Strawberry Festival, and Summer Barbecues in the Garden. Learn More Teach Sunday Church School Discover the joy of shaping young minds by volunteering to teach Sunday Church School. As a dedicated volunteer, you'll have the opportunity to share your faith and values with the next generation, fostering a sense of community and spiritual growth. Join us on this rewarding journey of guiding young hearts on their spiritual path, leaving a lasting impact on their lives. Learn More Ushers & Greeters Ushers assist members in finding seating, answer questions they may have, and assist with collections during weekly and special worship services. Greeters are needed to welcome members and visitors alike to the church for worship each Sunday and for special services. Learn More Worship & Music Worship and Music volunteer opportunities include: Chancel Committee Communion Preparation Greeter Usher Scripture Reader Handbell Choir Prayer Matters Easter Sanctuary Decorating Learn More Session Committees Ruling elders, together with ministers of the Word and Sacrament, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment, and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church. Each session committee is chaired by a ruling elder who leads and oversees the activities of the committee. Other committee members serve to assist in meeting the goals of the committee. Learn More