Brooklyn Parents Criticize Christ Church Cobble Hill Activity Post Storm

Almost a year after a landmarked Episcopal church was severely damaged by lightning, the aftermath of the storm continues to create fissures in the surrounding Brooklyn community.

Parents of children attending the Linden Tree Preschool previously operated out of Christ Church Cobble Hill claim that they've been mistreated and ignored by church officials since the building was closed for reconstruction and the school relocated to a temporary space. After receiving notice in January that the LTP must vacate the new location in June, but unable to return to its former facility, a Concerned Parent Committee has filed a petition requesting 25% of gross tuition payments returned to them by the church.

"The children have wonderful teachers [at the school]," said parent Scott Graves, who has sent multiple registered letters to Christ Church officials on behalf of the parent group. "But they’ve been moved to a subpar space without a playground, without cooking facilities, without outdoor space. We paid in advance for those services that we were used to having and we think we deserve 25% back."    

Graves estimates that he has paid Christ Church roughly $12,000 for the education of one of his children and $6,000 for another. "But they won't return my letters or phone calls?!" he exclaimed over the phone, clearly exasperated.  

During a flash thunderstorm on Thursday, July 26, last summer, lightning struck the 117-foot tower of Christ Church Cobble Hill, causing scaffolding to fall through the roof and onto the sidewalk, and claiming the life of a resident walking by. Since then, the Brooklyn landmark has been closed for reconstruction, its steeple dismantled by 70 feet, and the various community groups who congregated there displaced to other locales.

The Linden Tree Preschool, formerly operated out of the parish house, was relocated to a basement space offered temporarily by Sacred Hearts-St. Stephen's, a Catholic church in the area. There, Principal Susan Kuhlmann said she has tried to make the best of a difficult situation as she searches for a new location for her students under the new LLC: Building Bridges.

>>> Linden Tree Preschool Staff Search For New South Brooklyn Space

"We have not officially seen nor heard from the 'Head of School' Father RT Lau since December 22, 2012," wrote Kuhlmann in an e-mail to Patch. "Parents have not seen nor heard from anyone at Christ Church since they received the letter at the end of January announcing the closure of the school... with the exception of a meeting in February with members of the Vestry to discuss the closing... and two meetings with Jay Butler, Warden of Christ Church, to discuss how we can get unemployment, continue with health benefits and [remove] written warnings."

She and her eight-member staff were issued warnings by the church in January, she said, "with no previous mention nor issues with our performance" but because they "went over the heads of the Christ Church establishment in contacting the Bishop's office for assistance in December."

Rev. Canon Shawn P. Duncan, Canon for Media and Mission at the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, did not respond to inquiries from Patch regarding Christ Church Cobble Hill reconstruction or the Linden Tree Preschool closure as of press time.

But Father Ron Lau did offer comment. First, on allegations by parents that he has been absent for three months on vacation.

"I was away at the end of February and early March, and again after Easter for two weeks," he said, explaining that he had traveled to California to visit his mother and plan her centenary, adding, "The diocese has required that most, if not all, information about Christ Church come through its communications officer. So we have not been free to respond to most inquiries."

Regarding the closure of the Linden Tree Preschool, Lau blamed a lagging reconstruction process, adding that relocating the school to the temporary SHSS location had cost the church thousands of dollars in moving costs, fees to adapt the space and additional unplanned labor.

"We did not know then, nor do we know now, when the DOB will permit us to use the [Christ Church] parish house," he said. "Linden Tree Preschool was started and run by Christ Church as a part of its outreach to its community. We retain the name Linden Tree Preschool, and hope that we will offer some form of outreach to the early childhood age-group in our immediate community in the future."

In the meantime, some members of the more than 40 groups who also used Christ Church as a meeting place are trying to help booster ongoing reconstruction costs, which have previously been covered by Christ Church insurance.

>>>Friends of Christ Church Cobble Hill Host Fundraiser

"Both Christ Church and the FCCCH have been reluctant to accept donations, although some have be given and set aside, until we had an organization set up to help plan for the future and manage any funds received," said Lau in his e-mail.

The Friends of Christ Church Cobble Hill is comprised of members of the community, though not necessarily parish members, who seek to restore the Cobble Hill landmark to its former glory and update the neighborhood on construction progress.

To date there are still no approved designs or an official timeline, multiple sources told Patch.

"These are old buildings, built with masonry construction, unsupported in the case of the tower—although steel support was added to the church when it was rebuilt after a fire in 1939," said Lau. "Any rebuilding must comply with current regulations. So this is a very slow process."     

Stay with Patch for updates.