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At the turn of the century, many Protestant Syrians immigrated to the U.S. , and many of them ended up in Brooklyn , where they sought to worship together in their native Arabic tongue with familiar Arabic hymns and liturgy. Originally an informal gathering which met in homes, storefronts, and rented auditoriums, the Syrian Protestant Church was incorporated under the laws of New York City in 1907. 1920 was a milestone year, not only because the church at last found a home on Clinton and Pacific Streets, but because the Rev. Dr. Khalil Beshara became stated supply for nearly 25 years.

During World War II the congregation, elders, and trustees believed the time was at hand to bring the worship services fully into English. The new spirit was championed by Rev. Dr. Edward Jurji, a pastor and renowned professor of comparative religion at Princeton Theological Seminary. Through his over 30 years of leadership, the church was brought into the Presbyterian denomination, was moved to the neighborhood of Bay Ridge (where it is currently located), and the erection of the building was completed in 1957. The church was built with the labor of its own members, and it has been a central place for families of Brooklyn ever since.

While the church’s membership has changed over the years, many of the names and the church’s centrality in the lives of its people has remained the same. As the church enters its second 100 years of existence, the church searches for a way to remain true to its roots and reach out in Christian service to a world different than the one at the church’s founding.