Significant Men and Women of Broadway Church

Edward Warren Andrews, The First Pastor, 1841-1844

Just prior to assuming the pastorate of the Broadway Tabernacle in 1841, Edward Andrews was cautioned by the noted Presbyterian minister Dr. Gardiner Spring, “…your efforts must fail; … Congregationalism [is] an exotic in New York and [will] never flourish.”

Early in his ministry, The New World, a New York City literary weekly, reported that Pastor Andrews had preached to an audience of 4,000 people, which meant that at least 1,500 eager listeners had to stand throughout the service.

One of the innovative programs initiated during Andrews’ brief ministry was a series of Sunday afternoon concerts featuring the voices of young children. When these songfests began, as many as 400 to 500 children regularly appeared. By the late 1840s, that number had reached as many as 1,000!