Christ Church (Oyster Bay, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Church |
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Front elevation, 2008
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | ECUSA |
| Leadership | The Rev. Dr. Michael Piret, Rector |
| Location | |
| Location | 61 East Main Street Oyster Bay, New York 11771, United States |
| State | New York |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Carpenter Gothic |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | West |
| Materials | Stone, slate |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added to NRHP | 2018 |
| NRHP Reference no. | SG100003115 |
Christ Church in Oyster Bay, New York, is a really old and important Episcopal church. It was started way back in 1705! The church building you see today is at 61 East Main Street. Over the years, several different church buildings have stood on this same spot. One of them was even used as a place for soldiers to stay during the Revolutionary War.
In the 1870s, a church was built in a cool style called Carpenter Gothic. Later, in 1925, it was made much bigger and covered in stone. Amazing stained glass windows were also added then. A famous person, President Theodore Roosevelt, used to come to this church. His wife and children were very involved members. When President Roosevelt passed away in 1919, his funeral service was held right here. Today, Christ Church is a special stop on the Oyster Bay History Walk, which is an audio tour. In 2018, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Contents
The Church Buildings Over Time
The Christ Church site has seen many changes over the centuries. Here's a quick look at the different church buildings that have stood here:
- Around 1707: The first building was used as both a town hall and a church.
- 1750: A new church was built. During the Revolutionary War, British and Hessian soldiers used it as barracks. It was torn down in 1801 because it was too damaged.
- 1844: A third church building was constructed.
- 1878: The current main church building was put up. It was originally made of wood, and you can still see some of the original wooden parts inside. In 1925, it was made larger and covered with stone. That's when the beautiful stained glass windows were added too.
A Look at Christ Church's History
More than 300 years ago, the Church of England started holding services in Oyster Bay. Missionaries, who were like traveling religious teachers, helped set up Christ Church in 1705. This makes it one of the oldest churches on Long Island!
At first, church services were held in the "Town-House" starting in 1702. The land where the church is now was once the town's common area. The town hall used to be right where Christ Church stands today. In 1707, a second town hall was built with special seating for church services. By 1750, a real church building was put up. Over time, the town gave the land and the building to the church group.
Then came the American Revolution. This was a tough time for the Church of England in America. They lost government support, which meant they didn't get tax money anymore. The church building in Oyster Bay was badly damaged by Hessian soldiers, who were German soldiers fighting for the British. They used the church as their barracks. The building was in such bad shape that it had to be torn down in 1801. The church leader, called a rector, Leonard Cutting, was a Loyalist (meaning he supported the British King). He was eventually forced to leave the area by the American patriots.
After the Revolution, Christ Church in Oyster Bay didn't have a regular leader for about 50 years. Visiting clergy would sometimes come to lead services. It took a long time for the church to recover.
In 1802, the Oyster Bay Academy, a school, was started in a two-story building nearby. Students went to class there until a public school was built in the 1840s. After that, the old Academy building became the Christ Church rectory, which is where the church's leader lives.
The church group became active again in 1843 after being quiet for over 40 years. By 1844, they had built their third church building on this site. This building was later moved to make room for the new church in 1878. Parts of that 1878 building are still visible today, like the wooden beams in the main part of the church. You can also see a small section of pews that were used by the Theodore Roosevelt family, who regularly attended services here. After Theodore Roosevelt passed away, a simple funeral service was held at Christ Church before he was buried in the nearby Youngs Memorial Cemetery.
In 1925, the wooden 1878 building was updated and covered in stone. During this renovation, amazing stained-glass windows were added. These windows were inspired by the famous Chartres Cathedral in France. In 1986, one of the best pipe organs on Long Island was installed. It's a beautiful Hellmuth Wolff organ, and it helps make Christ Church's music program very special.
You'll find plaques on the wall near the old pews that remember many members of the Roosevelt family. All around the church, there are other memorials dedicated to Christ Church members. Many of these names, like Underhill, Fleet, Townsend, Beekman, Weeks, and Youngs, are familiar because they are also names of places in the community.
The church has continued to be an active part of the community. In the 1980s, the old rectory building from 1802 was renovated, and the new pipe organ was added. In the 1990s, the inside of the church was updated. More recently, in 2008, the Parish Hall (a separate building used for church events) was renovated, along with the area around it.
Church Leaders (Rectors)
A "rector" is the main leader of an Episcopal church. Here are some of the important rectors who have served Christ Church:
- John Thomas: The first rector, who started in 1704 and served until 1724. He began his duties in Oyster Bay in 1705.
- Robert Jenney: Served from 1726 to 1742. He was a chaplain in the Royal Navy before becoming a rector.
- Samuel Seabury (1706–1764): Served from 1742 to 1764. His son, also named Samuel Seabury, became the very first Episcopal bishop in America!
- The Rev. Dr. Michael Piret: The current rector, who has been serving Christ Church since 2015.
See also
