Welcome! Our church was established in 1928. We would like to share its rich history with you. The Oakwood Heights community is steeped in history and vintage photos from our area as well as other communities on Staten Island can be viewed by visiting the New York Public Library web page
345 Guyon Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10306
Tel: 718-351-3667
Pearse Pinch
1927 - 1929
Henry Lewis
1927 - 1932
Cornelious Fersch 1932 - 1943
Edwin Rumball – Petre 1944 - 1949
William Owen
1949 - 1953
Elmo Pascale
1954 - 1957
Wilford Paul
1957 - 1958
Edward Buringham 1959
Pastoral History
Our church history would not be complete without the founding Pastor and those of illustrious distinction that followed him. Click here to view the list of the former pastors of Oakwood Heights Community Church.
Walter Page
1960 - 1969
James Todhunter 1970 - 1975
John Terry
1976 - 1979
Richard Don
1980 - 1983
Michael Terafay
1984 - 1987
Donald C. Mullen 1988 - 1995
Gard L. Rowe
1995 - 2008
What is a Congregational Church? A Congregational Church is governed by its members, expressing the belief that no person or body stands between the local church and Jesus Christ. This makes the role of individuals within the church very important, as they must, through prayer and study, seek God's will for the church as well as themselves.
Congregationalism began in 16th century England, when people called "Separatists" began to demand the rights of local churches to call their own ministers and of individual Christians to read and interpret the Bible for themselves. Because of persecution, many left England and founded the Plymouth Colony in Massachusettes. Congregationalists' beliefs about self-government influenced the United States Constitution. They were instrumental in the anti-slavery and women's rights movement. The importance they placed on education (for only an educated people could read the Bible for themselves) led them to establish many of hte colleges and universities of our nation.
Congregational churches today continue to emphasize the strengthening of the individual believer for his or her service in the world, the right of the local church to govern itself, and to reach out in fellowhship to other Christians and churches.
