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 a very old and important Episcopal church building. It is located at 43 South Broadway in Tarrytown, New York. This church has a tower and is covered in ivy. It was built way back in 1837.
The church is still active today with many people attending services. It also has a special part called the San Marcos Mission. This mission helps people who speak Spanish. The church was recognized as an important landmark in 1935. In 1987, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is because of its unique early Gothic Revival style. It is also famous for its connection to the author Washington Irving. He was a leader in the church.
Contents
Exploring the Church Buildings
The Christ Episcopal Church property has three main buildings. These are the original church, a house for the church leader (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 looks like a traditional English church. It is made of red brick and has a tower. The front of the church is covered in thick ivy. The tower has cool castle-like tops called castellations. Special stones like limestone and sandstone are used for decorations. An iron fence surrounds the churchyard. A small chapel was added to the south side.
Inside the main entrance, the tower forms a vaulted area called a narthex. 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.
On the right side of the altar, there is a special plaque. It remembers Maria Phillips, who was an early member of the church. Another plaque for Washington Irving is near a baptismal font in the north part of the church. It shows the symbolic holly from Irving's family crest. You can also see Irving's original pine church pew there. On the opposite wall, there is a plaque for Dr. William Creighton. He was the church's founder and first leader. The south part of the church has St. Mark's Chapel. This chapel came from another church that joined Christ Church in 1951.
The Rectory Building
The rectory is the house where the church leader lives. It was built in 1875. This building has two and a half stories and is connected to the church. It has a large section with decorative brickwork. The entrance is through a small entry room next to this section. The rectory also has a small wooden porch.
The Parish Hall Building
The parish hall is a one-story building with a basement. It was built in 1898. It has some features of Tudor-style buildings. For example, it has arched windows. The side entrance has Tudor archways. There is also a half-timbered gable (the triangular part of a wall under a sloping roof) with three windows.
A Look at the Church's Past
The idea for Christ Church came from Nathaniel Holmes. He was a bookseller from New York City who 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, called a warden.
Church records from two weeks later show they decided to build a brick church. It would be 40 feet by 55 feet and in the "Gothic style." Later, they decided the tower should be 40 feet (12 meters) tall. Choosing a "Gothic" style was quite new for churches in America at that time. The church bought the land and laid the cornerstone in November 1836. A local company, Hall & Boyce, built the church for $5,377. The church opened and held its first services in 1837.
Dr. Creighton was a great leader for Christ Church. He also led another church nearby. He is thought to have convinced the famous author Washington Irving to join the church in 1848. Irving's presence often brought many visitors to the church. He served as a church leader until he passed away in 1859. Irving also brought the ivy that grows on the church. He got cuttings from the home of Sir Walter Scott. For many years after Irving's death, his pew in the church was a main attraction for visitors.
In its early years, the church added a church bell and central heating. They also put up the iron fence and sidewalks. In 1857, the church had its first big change. It was made longer, and a special altar area was added. This change made the space between the church leaders and the people more clear.
In 1868, after Dr. Creighton's death, local architects James and Seth Bird made more big improvements. The church had become a bit unstable. They put in a new ceiling and walls. They added the south wing and moved the organ. They also added gas lighting and changed the windows for stained glass. It is believed that decorative wall paintings were added around this time.
The last major changes happened in 1896. These focused on the inside decorations. The original pine benches were replaced with oak. The pews were arranged to have one center aisle instead of two side aisles. The new furniture had carved wooden details that made the church feel even more Gothic. The walls were stenciled, and the floor had colorful tiles. Hanging brass lanterns completed the look.
Later work on the church focused on keeping it in good condition. In 1931, all the buildings were cleaned. The main worship area was returned to its original white color. Finally, in 1985, all the buildings were repainted. This was done carefully to preserve their historic look.
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. Church members also found that the roof needed to be replaced. Services were held in a nearby hall until $500,000 could be raised for repairs.
Christ Church Today
Christ Episcopal Church is still a very active part of the Tarrytown community. In 1993, it started the San Marcos Mission. This program helps the growing Latin immigrant population. The mission 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, which is a Montessori-based Sunday school. They also have an annual chili cookoff.
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