HISTORY TOPICS: HOUSES OF WORSHIP
ST RAPHAEL'S CHURCH, BLISSVILLE
St. Raphael's Church, Blissville
The church was organized in 1867 and in the beginning served primarily as a mortuary chapel for Calvary Cemetery. It has always stood on its present site on the east side of Greenpoint Avenue between Hunter's Point Avenue and Borden Avenue. As the Blissville neighborhood became increasingly settled, the church acquired a local congregation which grew slowly. By 1881 the wooden frame building had become inadequate and the cornerstone for a new and larger edifice was laid on Aug. 14, 1881. The new church was 130 X 60, boasted a 100 ft. tower and was able to seat 800. The cost was $12,000. Because funds were limited, the church had to be finished gradually, the congregation worshipping in the basement. The upstairs church was finally opened in 1885. The rectors have been:
