Another Harlem Church Building To Be Sold After Merger

HARLEM, NY — A Harlem brownstone that served as a house of worship for more than a century may now be sold to a developer, following a merger with another church.

The four-story building on West 131st Street between Fifth and Lenox avenues was the longtime home of the Harlem Pentecostal Assembly, an African-American church. Its founder, Lillian Kraeger, purchased the building in 1917, according to a 2013 history of the religious movement, and the church was incorporated in 1924.

By 2019, however, Harlem Pentecostal decided to merge with Bethel Gospel Assembly: a major house of worship also based in Harlem.

Now, Bethel has agreed to sell the old 131st Street building for $1.5 million to Mosfigul Aktar — an architect and real estate developer, according to his website. Bethel's leader, Bishop Carlton Brown, filed papers in state court this week asking a judge to approve the sale — a required step under state law when a church seeks to sell property.

The proposed sale was unanimously approved by the church's board in October, according to documents submitted to the court.

Facing declining membership and decaying buildings, a slew of Harlem churches have been sold to developers in recent years. A few blocks north, the historic St. Luke's Episcopal Church building was listed for sale in December, and appears to still be on the market.

Other recent sales include the All Saints Catholic Church on East 129th Street, Child's Memorial Temple on Amsterdam Avenue, Metropolitan Community United Methodist Church on West 126th Street, and Grace Congregational Church on West 139th Street.

In some cases, the church buildings were later demolished to make way for housing, while others are being converted to new uses — like All Saints, which will soon begin a new life as a charter school.

Aktar, the buyer, did not immediately respond to an email requesting details about his plans for the building.

Related coverage:

• Another Harlem Church Goes Up For Sale: See Inside
• Historic Harlem Church To Be Converted Into School After Sale
• Harlem Pastor Sold Church To Developer While Pocketing Cash: AG
• Permits Filed To Demolish Harlem Church Set For Redevelopment