St. Luke's Episcopal Church - Bohemia Historical Society

Bohemia Historical Society

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

From the “Gospel Wagon” to the Church on the Plains — 130 years of faith on Church Street

1866–1886

The “Gospel Wagon” and St. John’s-on-the-Plains

The roots of the Episcopal faith in Bohemia date back to 1866, beginning with the founding of St. Barnabas Chapel in Sayville (later St. Ann’s). In 1873, Bishop Littlejohn assigned the Rev. John Prescott to missionary work in Suffolk County. A devoted clergyman, Rev. Prescott was already visiting Bohemia by the late 1870s to perform baptisms and weddings, often in the home of Jan Nohowec (1822–1892).

In 1884, Rev. Prescott announced his intention to establish a permanent mission. By 1886, his vision became a reality with the construction of a small chapel named St. John’s-on-the-Plains.

The early mission grew from a Sunday school of two children to a vibrant community. Every other Sunday, Rev. Prescott would transport choir members, teachers, and an organist from Sayville to Bohemia in his carriage, which locals affectionately dubbed “The Gospel Wagon.”

St. John’s-on-the-Plains chapel — St. John’s-on-the-Plains, the original 1886 chapel

1916–1922

The Silent Years

Following Rev. Prescott’s illness around 1916, regular services ceased, though the chapel occasionally opened for weddings. For six years, the building stood largely silent until 1922, when Rev. Joseph H. Bond of St. Ann’s in Sayville resumed services, breathing new life into the mission.

Rev. John Prescott portrait — Rev. John Prescott

1949–1953

A New Name and a New Building

By the late 1940s, the congregation had outgrown the tiny 1886 chapel. In 1949, under the leadership of Rev. Harold T. Bienz, a fundraising campaign began for a larger church. It was during this era that the mission was renamed St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, likely to give the growing parish its own distinct identity separate from the neighboring St. John’s churches.

Local businesses like the Benedict Lumber Company and Sayville Fur Shop supported the appeal. Ground was broken on May 11, 1952, with parishioners providing volunteer labor for carpentry, painting, and landscaping. The new St. Luke’s was dedicated on October 18, 1953 — the feast day of St. Luke.

🏗️ Architectural Note: The original 1886 chapel was not demolished; it was preserved and incorporated into the parish house. It remains visible today as the section of the building running perpendicular to the front sanctuary.

Rev. William T. Shoemaker, Joseph Balsanek and Winnie Benedict leveling a wall stud — Rev. William T. Shoemaker, Joseph Balsanek, and Winnie Benedict

Dedication ceremony in front of the church with members and clergy — St. Luke’s dedication, October 18, 1953

Decades of Parish Life

A Growing Congregation

In the decades following its 1953 dedication, St. Luke’s sanctuary was the setting for countless baptisms, confirmations, and weddings as the parish flourished under a succession of clergy.

A confirmation class poses with the bishop and clergy at St. Luke's — A confirmation class at St. Luke’s

1995–Today

Closure and Legacy

Despite celebrating its centennial in 1992 (marking 100 years since its incorporation), St. Luke’s struggled with the financial challenges of a small congregation. On November 26, 1995, the final Holy Eucharist was celebrated, and the church was officially closed.

Today, the historic complex at the corner of Church Street and Walnut Avenue remains a house of worship. It is currently home to the Bohemia Orthodox Presbyterian Church, ensuring that Rev. Prescott’s “Church on the Plains” continues to serve the spiritual needs of the community.