The history, future of church may be intertwined

Recently, the threatened Church of the Mediator Kingsbridge has been in the local news, as a recent recipient of the designation “Seven to Save” by the prestigious Preservation League of New York State. See “The Church of the Mediator prays for preservation,” Riverdale Press, Apr. 4, 2025.

Since this designation, local activists have sought to assist the congregation in mapping out a sustainable future for the church.

On June 8, one of the descendants of a founding family of the Mediator, George Berrian, dropped by to visit the church, as he was in town to attend an exhibit at the Kingsbridge Historical Society celebrating the northwest Bronx’s role in the American Revolution, in which his family played a part. See “Kings exhibit uncovers hidden Revolutionary War History in the Bronx,” Riverdale Press, June 13, 2025.

George was overwhelmed by the Mediator. The Berrian family was one of the most important families in the “King’s Bridge” area since the time of their settlement in the mid 1700s. But George grew up outside of community and did not know about the current dire circumstances facing the Mediator.

The Berrian family came to the New World in 1669, settling in Queens and France. Some Berrians then came to the northwest Bronx, becoming prosperous farmers and businessmen. George’s ancestors were members of the local Patriot militia, protecting the egress of the “King’s Bridge” to the island of Manhattan. They owned and ran a planning mill a block from the Mediator, in the shadow of that bridge. Many of these ancestors are buried in the northwest Bronx, including in Van Cortlandt Park.  

The Berrian family was also one of the founding families of the church of the Mediator. The first rectory of the original church, established 1855, was a building still standing as the American Legion Hall on Corlear Avenue. It was also a Berrian property.

Berrians were amongst the Mediator’s early vestry members. Their name is all over the church, even on the fountain standing outside in its yard, in Angelas Garden.

George was overwhelmed by this new-found knowledge. He knew his family was important to the history of the church, but he did not know how much. He was dismayed but moved by the unfortunate circumstances of the current congregation and wrote a letter to them, vowing to try to renew the relationship of his family to the Mediator. He asked me to read it the congregation, which I did during June 15 services.

It is a most beautiful letter, expressing the heart and soul of the Mediator, and its importance to the Bronx local community.

I share it with you here:

Greetings friends!

Today, we gather not just in a building, but in a sanctuary of memory, meaning and mission — the Church of the Mediator, right here in the heart of Kingsbridge.

In 1855, the Berrian family donated the land upon which the original chapel — a precursor to the current church — was built. This act of devotion laid the groundwork for what would become a lasting place of worship and community life in this vibrant neighborhood.

For almost 115 years, this church has stood as a sacred beacon — its stone walls whispering the prayers of generations past, its bell tower rising like a sentinel of hope over the Bronx. Since its founding, the Church of the Mediator has been more than just a house of worship — it has been a spiritual cornerstone, a historical landmark and the heartbeat of a community.

This is hallowed ground — where children have been baptized, couples have been married and souls have been laid to rest with love and dignity. The Tiffany-stained glass windows don’t just cast beautiful light that lifts the soul — they tell stories of countless lives past. Stories of faith, of struggle, of redemption. Stories that remind us that even in the darkest times, God’s light still shines upon us.

But what makes this church truly extraordinary is not only its past, but its living spirit. The Church of the Mediator has always opened its doors wide — to the poor, the hungry, the immigrant, the outcast, the weary. In times of joy and sorrow alike, this place has stood as a refuge — not only for the faithful, but for everyone. That is the gospel in action!

In a city that never sleeps, and a borough that is forever changing, this fortress of peace remains constant. A place where neighbors become family, where music lifts the soul, and where service to others is not a task, but a calling.

So today, let us honor its legacy — not as a relic of the past, but as a living, breathing testament to what happens when love, faith__ and community come together. Let this sacred place continue to be what it has always been: a mediator between heaven and earth, between history and hope, between people and purpose. God bless the Church of the Mediator — and may its light continue to shine over Kingsbridge for generations to come.

Thank you!

Geroge Berrian, June 15, 2025