Brooklyn’s Black Church Choirs Persist Amid Attendance Decline, Gentrification

August 13, 2025

of "Brooklyn Church Choirs Persist Despite Declining Membership" Brooklyn's church choirs continue to serve as vital community anchors despite facing significant challenges from declining attendance, neighborhood gentrification, and demographic shifts. Historically Black congregations like Concord Baptist Church of Christ have seen their choir numbers dramatically decrease from about 100 singers in 2006 to just 30 today, mirroring broader trends in Black Protestant church attendance, which fell from 61% to 46% between 2019 and 2023. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated this decline, with Black Protestant congregations being slower to return to in-person worship than other denominations.

Who is affected

Brooklyn's historically Black church congregations and their choirs
Choir members and directors at churches like Concord Baptist and Berean Baptist
Younger generations who are less likely to participate in church activities
Black Protestant churchgoers whose attendance has declined significantly
St. Teresa of Avila, a historically Black Catholic parish that will close by year's end
Brooklyn residents experiencing neighborhood demographic shifts due to gentrification
Haitian immigrants and their families who attend St. Teresa of Avila

What action is being taken

Church choirs continue to perform despite reduced numbers
Choir directors are actively recruiting new members
Churches are offering hybrid services with both in-person and virtual attendance options
Some members like Mike Delouis are fighting to keep parishes like St. Teresa of Avila open
Multiple choirs are being consolidated into single mass choirs to maintain their presence
Young members like Jessica Howard are being encouraged to become future choir directors
Choir communities are serving as support networks within the larger church community

Why it matters

Church choirs represent a direct connection to Black cultural heritage and ancestry
Music has historically been fundamental to Black churches, providing unity and spiritual uplift
The decline in choir membership reflects broader changes in religious participation
Gentrification is changing neighborhood demographics, with Bedford-Stuyvesant's Black population decreasing from 75% in 2000 to 41% in 2020
Crown Heights lost nearly 19,000 Black residents while gaining about 15,000 white residents between 2010 and 2020
Church music preserves traditions that have sustained communities through historical hardships
Choir communities provide social support and connection within churches

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint