Christ Episcopal Church (Tarrytown, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Christ Episcopal Church |
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South Broadway (east) facade, 2008
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | ECUSA |
| Location | |
| Location | Tarrytown, NY, USA |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | James and Seth Bird |
| Architectural style | Colonial, English Gothic, Tudor |
| Groundbreaking | November 23, 1836 |
| Completed | 1837 |
| Construction cost | $5,377 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | east |
| Height (max) | 40 feet (12 m) |
| Materials | brick |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added to NRHP | April 23, 1987 |
| NRHP Reference no. | 87000658 |
| Website | |
| Christ Episcopal Church and San Marcos Mission | |
Christ Episcopal Church is an old church in Tarrytown, New York. It's located on South Broadway. This red brick church is covered in ivy and has a modest tower. It was built in 1837, and people still go to church there today!
The church also has a special program called the San Marcos Mission. This program helps people who speak Spanish.
The New York Department of Education recognized the church as a landmark in 1935. Later, in 1987, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is because of its connection to the famous author Washington Irving. He was a leader in the church. The church's unique early Gothic Revival architecture also made it special. Over the years, the church has been updated many times. But it still looks much like it did long ago.
Contents
What Does the Church Look Like?
The church property has three main buildings. These are the original church, a house for the minister (called a rectory), and a community hall. All these buildings were built in the 1800s. They are all important parts of why the church is a historic place.
The Church Building Itself
The church building looks like a traditional English country church. It's made of red brick and has a tower. Green ivy covers the front of the church. The tower and small turrets (mini-towers) have a special top edge that looks like a castle wall.
Inside, the main entrance leads to a vaulted (arched) hallway. The walls inside are white, except around the altar. The altar area has fancy marble-like columns and gold paint. The altar itself is made of carved stone. It has decorations that match the beautiful stained glass window behind it.
You can find special plaques inside the church. One remembers Maria Phillips, an early church member. Another plaque honors Washington Irving. It's near a baptismal font (a basin for baptisms). This plaque is made of special stones. It shows the holly symbol from Irving's family crest. You can also see Irving's original wooden pew (church bench) there. On the opposite wall, there's a plaque for Dr. William Creighton. He was the church's first minister.
The Rectory (Minister's House)
The rectory was built in 1875. It's a two-and-a-half-story brick building. It's connected to the church. The building has a large section with decorative brickwork. It also has a small wooden porch.
The Parish Hall (Community Hall)
The parish hall was built in 1898. It's a one-story building with a basement. It has some features of the Tudor architecture style. For example, it has arched windows. The side entrance has Tudor archways. There's also a decorative gable (the triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof).
A Look Back: Church History
The idea for Christ Episcopal Church came from Nathaniel Holmes. He was a bookseller from New York City. He moved to Tarrytown in 1835. He started a Sunday school in an old schoolhouse. Soon, he convinced Dr. William Creighton to help him start a church. The church was officially formed on August 8, 1836. Holmes became a senior leader.
Church records from two weeks later show they decided to build a "church of brick, 40' X 55', in the Gothic style." They later decided the tower should be 40 feet (12 meters) tall. This choice of "Gothic" style was very early for American churches. It came before many famous Gothic Revival churches were built.
The church bought the land and laid the first stone in November 1836. A local company built the church for $5,377. The church opened and held its first services in 1837. Dr. Creighton was a great minister. He is thought to have convinced Washington Irving to join the church in 1848. Irving's presence often brought many visitors to services. He served as a church leader until he passed away in 1859. He also brought the ivy that grows on the church. He took cuttings from the home of Sir Walter Scott.
In the early years, the church added a bell and central heating. They also put up the iron fence outside. In 1857, the church was made longer. This change made the space between the clergy (ministers) and the people more noticeable. This was part of a movement to make churches look more like old medieval buildings.
In 1868, the church needed major repairs. Local architects James and Seth Bird were hired. They put in a new ceiling and walls. They also added a south wing. The organ was moved, and gas lighting was installed. Windows were refitted for stained glass. It's believed that decorative wall paintings were added then too.
The last big change happened in 1896. This focused on the inside decorations. The old pine benches were replaced with oak. The pews were arranged to have one center aisle. All the new furniture had carved wooden details. These details made the church feel even more Gothic. The walls were stenciled, and the floor had colorful tiles. Brass lanterns hung from the ceiling.
Later work on the church aimed to restore and preserve it. In 1931, the buildings were cleaned. The sanctuary was returned to its original white color. In 1985, all the buildings were repainted.
In 1995, the church had to close because the bell tower was in bad shape. Engineers said it was not safe to use the main entrance. The roof also needed to be replaced. Services were held in another hall nearby. It cost $500,000 to fix the church.
The Church Today
Christ Episcopal Church is still an active part of the Tarrytown community. In 1993, it started the San Marcos Mission. This program helps the growing Latin immigrant population. It holds services in Spanish and offers other programs for that community.
The church also provides space for the Tarrytown Nursery School. This school is for children aged 2–4. Other church programs include Godly Play, a Sunday school program. They also hold an annual chili cookoff!
See also
