Brooklyn's Black church choirs are experiencing a decline in attendance, with many choirs singing to smaller crowds. The impact of gentrification and lingering pandemic streaming is evident in the thinning of pews in the borough known for its churches. Despite these challenges, choirs persist, maintaining their musical heritage. Jesus' words inspire emotional connections among congregants. Concord Baptist Church, founded in 1847, stands as Brooklyn's oldest historically Black congregation, tracing its roots to the Freedmen's communities of the antebellum period, standing resilient amid changing community dynamics.
Many church choirs in the heart of Brooklyn have kept singing - despite boasting fewer singers than in years past as neighborhoods face gentrification and organized religious affiliation decreases.
As a Black Christian person, as a descendant of slaves, I think when I sing, I feel really connected to my ancestors.
Concord Baptist Church is Brooklyn's oldest historically Black congregation, founded in 1847, at the time when Weeksville was the second-largest free Black community in the United States before the Civil War.
Choir members wiped away tears as the song stoked emotions from around the room, demonstrating the profound connection they have with their heritage.
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