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From: <>
Subject: [NYSUFFOL] Oakdale Episcopal Church
Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2000 12:12:52 EDT

Dear Suffolk-Rootsers, etc.,


Sunday's NEWSDAY (page G15) has an article (the first 5 paragraphs appear
after my signature) concerning St. John's Episcopal Church in the Hamlet of
Oakdale, Town of Islip.

St. John's Episcopal, one of the oldest churches on Long Island, and on the
verge of closing is being helped from the "other" St. John's -- St. John's
Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Hamlet of Sayville, Town of Islip.

For those who have their copy of the 1998 or 1999 LI Population Survey or
have already downloaded the report from the Suffolk County Cooperative
Library web site (eMail me directly if you need instructions on how to access
and download the report), you'll find the Hamlets of Oakdale and Sayville,
Town of Islip, Suffolk County on pages 14 & 20 (map) and 21 (population
estimate).

For all those Suffolk-Rootsers who wish to see the entire story but can not
access the web, please eMail me directly and I will then eMail the entire
story to you.


Regards,

Walter Greenspan

IN SUFFOLK: It's a Bargain Made in Heaven
Oakdale Episcopal church gets a helping hand from a nearby Lutheran church
-- by Erik Holm/Staff Writer

ONE OF THE OLDEST churches on Long Island, long the home to a tiny population
of parishioners but without a permanent vicar for more than a year, has found
a way to keep the doors to its quaint Episcopal chapel open.

Their savior: the Lutheran church.

For years, the 15 or so dedicated parishioners at St. John's Episcopal Church
in Oakdale have known that their little church on Montauk Highway needed
help. The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island didn't want to close the historic
building, but they couldn't keep supporting the tiny congregation either,
said Archdeacon Jerome Nedelka.

Earlier this year, the county appeared ready to step in and save the church
by buying the property. The diocese, church members and County Legis. Ginny
Fields (D-Oakdale), who proposed the legislation purchase the property,
thought they found a solution, until they realized it meant the parishioners
would no longer be able to hold services there. County law, as well as
federal statutes, preclude religious services on county property.

After Fields withdrew the legislation, Islip Town Board member Christopher
Bodkin got involved, and started calling other denominations in Islip to see
if they could help.

That was how he found the Rev. Harry Schenkel.

06/11/2000 - Sunday - Page G 15

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