This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: BobNY Surnames: Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.newyork.counties.kings/16662.2.1.1.1.1.1/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Finding the right parish in Brooklyn is not simply a matter of finding the nearest church to a target address. In addition to the vague parish boundaries, which might put a given address in a parish whose church is not the closest, there were ethnic churches. The nearest church may have been an ethnic one and not the one in which the person was baptized. On the other hand, an immigrant parent might have their child baptized in their ethnic church ( mostly for language and customs of the rites) and, therefore, far from the home address. I had an uncle who was born in the West 50s in Manhattan who was baptized at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in what is now Spanish Harlem (but was then a second little Italy). That being said, the closest parish to your target address would have been St. Alphonsus. However, it was founded as a German church and I have no indication as to when it may have become less ethnic. Also, it was merged with St. Anthony's. St. Anthony of Padua - St. Alphonsus 862 Manhattan Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11222 (718) 383-3339 Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.