On a single block of Nostrand Avenue in Flatbush, Brooklyn, a brick sanctuary has stood since 1988. The people inside it have been there far longer. Lenox Road Baptist Church traces its roots to a prayer meeting held in February 1871 at Schoonmakers Hall on Flatbush Avenue, and it has been gathering on this stretch of Nostrand Avenue for more than a century and a half. Today the congregation worships in a tradition shaped by African American and Caribbean heritage, with a six-million-dollar worship and educational complex that doubles as a community anchor for the neighborhood around Winthrop Street.
Sunday Mornings on the Block
Sunday worship begins at 10:00 AM and runs through 12:30 PM, in person and online. The service is rooted in scripture and in song, and the music carries the weight of the congregation's story. Choir, praise team, and congregation trade leadership back and forth, and the liturgy is the kind that asks for a full voice. Ushers guide latecomers so the flow of prayer and preaching is not interrupted, and assigned seating is reserved during certain services for baptisms, dedications, guest speakers, and the ministerial team.
Children are welcome in the sanctuary. A staffed Nursery and Toddlers area gives parents a place to feed, change, or settle a young child while still watching and hearing the service on a live video and audio feed. For children in grades 1 through 5, KIDS Church (Kids In Divine Service) offers an alternative worship experience during the regular service. Sunday School, with classes from Pre-K through 12th grade, runs during the worship hour, and any usher can point families to the right room when they arrive.
Wednesday night is its own rhythm. A mid-week service of prayer and study begins at 7:00 PM, in person and online. The Welcome page recommends giving yourself a few extra minutes if you are driving, because spots on Nostrand Avenue and the surrounding blocks fill quickly. The 2 and 5 trains stop at Winthrop Street, a short walk from the building, and the B44 bus runs along Nostrand.
The Story of Faith
The story begins in February 1871 with a prayer group of eighteen adults and twenty-nine children meeting at Schoonmakers Hall, 893 Flatbush Avenue. The following spring the fellowship organized formally as a Baptist church and bought a lot on Nostrand Avenue, raising its first wooden building that same year. As the congregation grew, a permanent stone-and-brick sanctuary was built in 1888 and a Sunday School building followed in 1922 to serve a swelling community of families.
Beginning in the early 1960s the surrounding neighborhood changed profoundly. Families arriving from the American South and from across the Caribbean - Panama, Guyana, Costa Rica, the British Virgin Islands and beyond - joined the church and reshaped it. As more African American and Caribbean members took their place in the life of the congregation, the church leaned into a more socially engaged ministry and was recognized as a beacon in the community.
On December 23, 1975, fire destroyed the 103-year-old sanctuary. The loss was devastating, but it was not the end. In 1977 the church called its first Black pastor, a turning point that affirmed the community the church had become. A century after the first sanctuary rose, the congregation dedicated the brick building that stands on Nostrand Avenue today. On October 2, 2022, the church marked 150 years with an anniversary gala celebrating every generation that had kept the doors open.
The Pastoral Team
Rev. Dr. Kirkpatrick G. Cohall has served as Senior Pastor of Lenox Road Baptist Church for more than thirty years. Before answering the call to ministry he spent thirteen years as a Medical Technologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital. He holds a Master of Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from New York Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Philosophy from Fordham University Graduate School of Education, where he also served as an adjunct professor. He has taught in the Master of Degree program at New York Theological Seminary's Sing Sing Correctional Facility site, chaired the SUNY Downstate Health Science University Council, and served on the boards of Anchor House and American Baptist Churches USA. He is a past president of the Board of International Ministries of the American Baptist Churches, overseeing missionaries serving on six continents. His most recent research is a phenomenological study of gentrification and its effects on culture, church attendance, and the historic mission of the urban Black church.
Min. Dr. Sophia Cohall, the church's First Lady, was licensed to Christian ministry at Lenox Road Baptist Church in June 2012. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Accounting from Hunter College, a Master of Business Administration from Fordham University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in Church Leadership, Administration, and Policy from Fordham University's Graduate School of Education, completed in May 2020. She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Alpha Sigma Nu. She directs the Women's Ministry, teaches at the Lenox Road Bible Institute, and founded the Lenox Study Hall, the after-school homework and tutoring program that serves children in grades 1 through 10.
Rev. Dr. Sharon B. Downer serves as Associate Pastor and oversees Music, Singles, Small Group, and Mentoring ministries. She is an itinerant preacher, a pulpit supply minister for the American Baptist Churches of Metro New York, and a Chaplain Resident for the New York Harbor Veterans Affairs. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Long Island University, a Master of Divinity from New York Theological Seminary, and a Doctor of Ministry in the Renewal of the Church for Missions from Palmer Theological Seminary.
Rev. Norma Williams was licensed to Christian ministry at Lenox Road Baptist Church in 2004 and has served the church for more than twenty years as Sunday School Superintendent, director of Vacation Bible School, facilitator of the New Members Discipleship Class, chairperson of the Black History Committee, and a teacher at the Lenox Bible Institute. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts in English and Secondary English Education from Brooklyn College, a Master of Professional Studies, and a Master of Divinity in Parish Ministry and Christian Education from New York Theological Seminary.
Rev. Dr. Tamara Henry serves as Youth Minister. She is an assistant professor of religious education at New York Theological Seminary, where she directs the Master of Arts in Religious Education and the Master of Arts in Youth Ministry programs. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in American government from Georgetown University, a Master of Social Work from Fordham University, a Master of Arts in Religious Education from Fordham University, and a PhD in religious education from Fordham University. She was ordained on November 18, 2018.
Min. Carlyle Johnson serves as Minister of Music. He has organized and formed several music groups, choirs, and choral groups within the church. A born-again believer whose humble spirit and anointing have given him favor in ushering hundreds into the presence of the Lord through worship, he is married to Theresa and they have four children.
The Worship and Educational Complex
The brick building on Nostrand Avenue is more than a sanctuary. Under Rev. Dr. Cohall's leadership the congregation rebuilt a six-million-dollar worship facility that includes an educational and recreational complex serving the youth of the Flatbush community. The complex offers computer training, summer day camp, a Bible Institute, basketball, and other recreational activities geared to keep at-risk youth off the streets, and an after-school program.
The Lenox Study Hall, founded by First Lady Sophia Cohall, provides a safe and supportive environment for students in elementary, middle, and high school to complete homework, receive tutoring, and find academic support. The weekly Basketball Clinic for kids and teens uses athletics to bring the congregation and community together, creating spaces where young people develop skills, build character, and form lasting connections rooted in faith. A weekly Fitness Class carries the same spirit into the wider calendar.
The Health Ministry is the practical side of that same mission. The team provides first aid during worship, makes prompt decisions in a crisis, and protects any person in a health emergency on the church's premises. The ministry educates the congregation and the community about the health care delivery system through health fairs and seminars, and regularly sponsors blood drives and blood pressure screenings. Health fairs, marriage and family counseling, and a community meal program extend the work beyond the building, reaching neighbors who need food, conversation, and care. Pastor Cohall continues to work closely with community leaders, the police department, and health facilities on issues including teenage pregnancies, disparities in health care, youth gang activity, and a host of health and social issues facing the community.
The Mentors and the Mentees
The Mentor Ministry creates healthy, supportive, and empowering relationships between adults and young people in the church and the community. Adults apply, mentees apply, and a matching questionnaire pairs them through a thoughtful process. The mentor and mentee meet, share activities, set spiritual goals, and report monthly and quarterly on their progress. The aim is the long walk - spiritual growth, mutual accountability, and a steady older presence in a young life.
Small Groups, Bible Study, and the Institute
The Small Group Ministry meets twice a month so members do not get lost as the church grows. Each gathering is a time of fellowship and study built around prepared questions drawn from the sermons. Anyone can apply to lead or join a group through the Small Group Ministry form. The Lenox Road Bible Institute is the church's deeper teaching arm, with First Lady Sophia Cohall and Rev. Norma Williams among the instructors. The current year's theme, God at the Center, is anchored in Joshua 24:15: But as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
Women's, Men's, Marriage, and Seniors
The Women's Ministry builds the spiritual, social, economic, and personal life of the women of the church. It addresses relationships, unemployment, spiritual development, and provides guidance for Christian women, especially those who are struggling or hurting.
The Men's Ministry strengthens the spiritual life of its members, teaches the rudiments of Christian manhood, and develops leadership. The group is also a support for younger men, especially those without fathers to model their lives after.
The Marriage Ministry provides a wholesome environment where issues concerning marriage can be addressed, from ethics and morality to interpersonal communication, geared to provide individuals and couples with wholesome interaction inside and outside the church.
The Seniors Ministry focuses on the needs of adults 62 and over, addressing retirement, finances, health and health care coverage, loneliness, mobility, sickness, and widowhood.
The Choir, the Praise Team, and the Arts
The Praise Team leads God's people in worship, welcoming and ushering in the Holy Spirit. When worshippers are drawn into God's presence, they speak to Him, and listen to Him, and the team rejoices when its mission has been accomplished. The Minister of Music, Min. Carlyle Johnson, has organized several music groups, choirs, and choral groups within the church. The Black History Committee carries the story of the African Diaspora into the worship life of the congregation through drama, dance, song, music, spoken word, and visual imagery, offering a people the chance to reflect, hope, and persevere.
Prayer, Baptism, and Communion
The Prayer Ministry is open to men and women who feel led by the Spirit. The team reads God's word, has open discussion about the scripture, and is in constant prayer for the pastor and his family, the ministerial team, all ministry leaders, the congregation, visitors, worship services, and the finances for the building. They pray for the president and his family, the economy, members of the Armed Forces, world peace, the youth, and the community. Prayer requests can be submitted through a form on the church's site.
The Baptism and Communion committee prepares the elements for Holy Communion and assists in the preparation of candidates for baptism. The church advocates baptism for believers only. Infant baptism is not practiced, but parents are encouraged to bring their children for blessing and dedication.
Scholarships, Security, and the Safety Net
The Scholarship Ministry plays an active role in the lives of college students and assists with financial management through special events and pledges. Graduating seniors can apply for the LRBC academic scholarship through the church's site.
The Security Ministry ensures a safe space to worship, fellowship, and connect. The Health Ministry's first-aid and crisis response protects anyone in a health emergency on the premises and protects the church from liability.
The Faith Once, in Their Words
The church's statement of faith runs straight through Baptist convictions. Members accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. Baptism is for believers; it is not claimed to be necessary for salvation but is essential for those who would be obedient to the Lord. The priesthood of all believers is held strongly, and the freedom to respond to the Lordship of Christ in all circumstances is fundamental to the Christian gospel. The congregation shares the conviction that the New Testament teaches the independence of the local congregation. There is a strong emphasis on evangelism and mission, and salvation comes by grace through faith. God is sovereign over all, and that sovereignty is realized through Jesus Christ. Children are not baptized as infants, but parents are encouraged to bring them for blessing and dedication. The Bible is the final authority and is trustworthy for faith and practice.
Online Worship and the Sermon Archive
Every service is livestreamed on YouTube, Facebook, and Zoom. The online broadcast begins at or about 9:45 AM Eastern on Sundays and includes most elements of the LRBC worship service, with a few moments that are not broadcast. The Wednesday service is broadcast as well. Sermon notes and audio are archived on the site, and recent messages include The Hidden Purpose of God, The Power of a God-centered Request, God at the Center, and Come to God's Center. Online participants are invited to use the live chat to connect, pray, and learn with the rest of the congregation. Copies of services are available for purchase through the LRBC Gift Shop, located in the Worship and Educational facility.
Becoming Part of the Story
Visitors are encouraged to arrive about 15 minutes before the service so they can find a seat, settle in, and meet a few people. A welcome team will reach out before a first visit if a quick online card is filled out, answer any questions, and meet the visitor on Sunday. The church is wheelchair accessible through the main entrance on Nostrand Avenue, with usher support throughout the building.
Anyone can become a member by speaking with an usher or a member of the ministerial team after service, or by reaching out to the church office to walk through the next steps. A Virtual Membership application is available for those joining online. The Funeral Service Policy outlines the church's policy for funeral and memorial services for members and their families.
Lenox Road Baptist Church remains a living congregation on the same Brooklyn ground where its founders first prayed in 1871 - a century and a half of Sundays, rebuilt once after fire, rooted in African American and Caribbean heritage, and looking outward to the neighborhood it has served since the day it was organized.