Our Mission: Grow in Christ, to Know His Love and to Follow His Footsteps
We are an established congregation for all ages and “youthful” in our energy and enthusiasm. Services include the singing of hymns, the reading of Scripture, choir anthems and a sermon. We also try to include praise and worship style of music. Our Sunday School students worship with us for the first portion of the service. and they are dismissed to their classes following the Children’s Message. Our dress code is casual, we have plenty of parking, have child care with trained staff, and are handicap accessible.
Our Sunday Schedule
- 9:55 AM – Announcements
- 10:00 AM – Morning Worship (a blend of Contemporary & Traditional)
- 11:00 AM – Fellowship/Coffee Hour
Join us in worship this Sunday! If you do not have a church home, we invite you to consider joining our church family, even as we come here together as part of the family of God. Parents are also invited to visit with our Sunday School: Ask about registration information or call the Church Office for details.
The Moravian Church practices an “Open Communion,” which means that anyone who professes a faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord is welcome to join us at our Lord’s Table. You can also stop by during the week at our Church Office between 9:00 AM and 1:00 PM for a tour, or if you have any questions.
New Dorp Moravian History
In the 1730s, Moravian settlers in New York and Pennsylvania commissioned a new sailing ship to be built by John Van Deventer at his shipyard at Van Deventer Point, located near today’s Verrazano Bridge. The “Irene” made 14 round trips to Europe, bringing mostly Moravian missionaries and church members to New York. Nicholas Garrison, a Staten Islander, was the first captain of the Irene; Cornelius Jacobsen, also a Staten Islander, served as captain on its last voyage in 1758. One of the oldest Protestant denominations, the Moravian Church has served Christ since 1457. Known then as the “Unity of the Brethren” early Moravians came from the area of what is now the Czech Republic known as Moravia – hence came the name Moravian.
New Dorp Moravian Church was established in 1763. We are the second oldest church on Staten Island, second only to St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Richmondtown. We continue to seek to provide not only a place for individuals to gather for worship, but also a place where people are challenged to grow in their faith.
Everyone is welcome to attend our services and to participate in any of our worship, fellowship, study or service opportunities. Contact us for a tour, or if you have any questions.
Our Staff
The Rev. Walter Bishop
Pastor
The Rev. Walter Bishop began serving with the New Dorp Congregation in November of 2022. Rev. Bishop was ordained in 2005 after graduating from Moravian Theological Seminary with a Master of Divinity degree. Prior to arriving on Staten Island, Pastor Bishop’s service to the church has been in the Winston-Salem area of North Carolina (his home state).
In addition to his work within congregations, he has served the larger church in a variety of ways, including as a neutral facilitator for Fellowship Meals and Conversation on Homosexuality; as Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Board of Cooperative Ministries of the Moravian Church, Southern Province; as a member of the New and Emerging Ministries Team; as an occasional short-form writer for denominational publications; and as an occasional Summer Camp Counselor.
Prior to entering into ordained ministry, Rev. Bishop worked in a variety of secular positions from laborer to management. Pastor Bishop’s ongoing education has covered a variety of topics including training and certification as a Transitional Pastor, and he is now ministering under appointment to New Dorp Moravian Church. He is working with the congregation in self-study, study of the community surrounding the church, and the review/implementation of healthy practices in order to secure a vibrant future for the congregation, while working toward the effectiveness of its ongoing ministry.
James Siranovich
Music Director & Organist
James Siranovich, a Maryland native, has had a diverse and extensive career in both sacred and secular music, and has worked as pianist, organist, clarinetist, conductor, vocal coach, actor, writer, and teacher over the last 30 years.
Between 2016 and 2018, James founded, organized, and conducted orchestral charity concerts to provide free instruments, lessons, meals, and academic tutoring to disadvantaged children in Baltimore and New Orleans.
In 2018, James began fulfilling a lifelong dream of studying at St. John’s College, Annapolis, a four-year, all-required, all-primary source program based on Great Books, Philosophy, Mathematics and Science. In 2022, he became the second-oldest graduate in that institution’s history.
His previous studies were at the University of Maryland, Catholic University, Mannes College of Music, and Georgetown University; he has also taken many extended masterclasses and workshops with eminent pianists, organists, and conductors in Germany, Russia, France, and the United States.
Most recently, James served as music director of Holy Cross Church in Bethesda, MD, and the Church of St. Thomas More on the Upper East Side. He is happy to return to New Dorp as music director for the second time, after a 14-year absence. A Greek Orthodox Christian, he has the deepest respect for Moravian music and spirituality.
When not making music, James enjoys reading, golf, languages, comedy, film, and theater. He lives in Crown Heights, Brooklyn.
Our Organ
Learn about the history of our organ, from 1845 through today. Click here.