Church of St. Barnabas (Irvington, New York) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St. Barnabas
North facade, 2016
Religion
Affiliation	Episcopal Church
Leadership	The Rev. Gareth Evans, Rector
Year consecrated	1853
Location
Location	Irvington, NY, USA
Architecture
Architect(s)	Renwick & Sands
Architectural style	Gothic Revival, Collegiate Gothic
Groundbreaking	1852
Completed	1853
Specifications
Direction of façade	West
Height (max)	55 feet (17 m)
Materials	Stone, slate, asphalt
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Added to NRHP	March 24, 2000
NRHP Reference no.	00000241
Website
Church of Saint Barnabas

The Church of St. Barnabas is an Episcopal church in Irvington, New York. It's a stone building built in the Gothic Revival style. The oldest parts of the church date back to the mid-1800s. It has been expanded several times since then.

Many people believe the church complex is haunted. Because of its history and unique look, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

The church started as a small chapel for a school. It was designed to look like St Martin's Church in England. After six years, the school closed, and the chapel became a regular parish church. About ten years later, the church was expanded. This new design was created by the famous architect James Renwick Jr.. Famous people like Washington Irving and Jay Gould were once members of this church.

The Church of St. Barnabas has grown a lot over the years. Most of the new parts match the original style. The church is also very important to the Irvington community. It helps with many local programs, including the village's only day care center.

Exploring the Church Buildings and Grounds

The Church of St. Barnabas sits on a 2.74-acre (1.11 ha) piece of land. It is on the west side of North Broadway (U.S. Route 9). To the north, there's another old church from the 1800s. South of the church are shops and homes. This includes the McVickar House, which is also a historic site.

Across the street, you'll find modern homes. To the west, the church property borders the Old Croton Aqueduct trail. This trail is a National Historic Landmark.

A driveway leads from North Broadway to a large parking area. This area is just northeast of the main church building. A walkway from a special gate called a lych gate also leads to the parking area. The parish house is connected to the north side of the church. A modern garage is attached to its west side. South of the church is the rectory, where the pastor lives. All these buildings, except the garage, are important parts of the church's history.

West of the garage, there's a small playground and a grassy area. Tall, old trees provide shade around the buildings. The land gently slopes down towards the Hudson River.

The Main Church Building

The main church building includes the original small chapel. It's a one-story building with stone walls and a pointed slate roof. The windows are tall and arched, with limestone details. The tower and supports are trimmed with blue stone.

In the middle of the church is a 55-foot-tall square tower. It has a special top called a crenelated parapet, like a castle. This tower has vents on all four sides. A smaller, round tower with a cone-shaped roof is on its southeast corner. The church has two entrances on its north side. A small chapel is located at the west end.

Inside the main worship area, called the sanctuary, the floor is made of mosaic tiles. The walls and ceilings are plaster. Dark wood panels and exposed wooden beams add to the look. The church is lit by 15 beautiful stained glass windows.

Lych gate

The parish hall wing is also made of granite and has a Gothic style. It has a gabled roof, but it's covered with asphalt shingles instead of slate. Inside, it has a large meeting room with original wooden details.

A modern office wing connects the parish hall to the church. It has vertical wood siding and large windows. Another modern classroom area is west of the parish hall. Both of these newer parts are designed to blend in and not stand out from the street.

Rectory and Lych Gate Details

The rectory, south of the church, is also a granite building with a slate roof. Later additions include a front porch and a back wing. The back wing is covered in wood siding and has an asphalt roof. Inside, the rectory still has some of its original wood and layout, even though it has been updated. A modern garage is next to it, but it's the only part not considered historic.

The smallest historic part of the property is the lych gate. This gate frames the view of the church from Broadway. It's made of granite and limestone with a slate roof. It also has wooden Gothic details. On top, there's a gabled clock and copper decorations.

A Look Back: History of St. Barnabas

The Church of St. Barnabas started as a school. The Rev. John McVickar, a friend of the famous author Washington Irving, bought the land. He wanted to be closer to Irving's home, Sunnyside. McVickar and Irving often talked about building a school and a chapel. Irving helped pay for it, and others from important New York families also contributed.

McVickar designed the first chapel himself. He believed that a beautiful church depended on its proportions, not just its materials. He supposedly based the design on St Martin's Church in England. This church is from the 6th century and is the oldest church still in use in England. It's now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. McVickar likely designed the rectory too. The church was officially opened on June 2, 1853, which is St. Barnabas Day.

In 1858, they decided to close the school. The chapel then became a regular parish church within the Episcopal Church. It was the first Episcopal church in Irvington. Before this, people in the village went to church in Tarrytown. McVickar's son, William, became the first pastor. His father built him a house nearby. The original chapel was big enough for the church at first.

But by 1863, the church was too small. The firm of James Renwick Jr. was hired to design an expansion. Renwick had already designed famous buildings like Grace Church and St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City. He also designed the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

The expansion added the tower, transept, and chancel to the original building. The original chapel now serves as the nave (the main part of the church). In the basement, you can still see some of the original wooden beams. The church property continued to grow. In 1876, the McVickar family gave the rectory and its land to the church. The porch on the rectory was added in 1889. Jay Gould, another famous person who lived nearby, donated the rest of the land in 1890.

Parish hall

Over time, more stained glass windows were added. The first of two Tiffany windows was installed in 1896. Three years later, the lych gate was built. The parish hall was added in 1902. A local architect named Albert J. Manning designed the parish hall. He also designed Irvington's nearby village hall. All these new parts were made to match the church's style.

In 1906, the church got electric lighting. That year, a very important funeral took place there. It was for Gen. Phillip Schuyler, an Irvington resident. He was a brigadier general in the Civil War. Schuyler died in a train accident in late 1906.

Schuyler lived nearby and attended St. Barnabas. Because his family was so well-known, many important people came to his funeral. A special train brought 200 friends from New York City. J. P. Morgan even came on his own private train. The church was so full that many people couldn't fit inside.

Changes to the church continued. In 1924, the parish hall's basement was updated. It got a bowling alley and a rifle range. This made it popular with local Boy Scouts and the Irvington police. The Luke Memorial Chapel was added in 1945. It was designed by Delano & Aldrich. The office and Sunday school wings were added in the 1960s. These completed the church complex as it looks today.

Are There Ghosts at St. Barnabas?

Some people claim that the Church of St. Barnabas is haunted. They say they have seen ghosts of people who used to be there. One person said she often saw a woman knitting in a rocking chair. She later matched the woman to a photo of a pastor's family member from the 1800s.

In 2000, workers were installing a new organ. They quickly left the church after seeing a ghost in the main worship area. Some church members believe this ghost is William McVickar, the first pastor.

What St. Barnabas Believes and Does

St. Barnabas is part of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. The church describes itself as "a Christian community that seeks to serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves." To become a full member, the only requirement is Baptism. The current pastor, The Rev. Gareth C. Evans, is the 14th person to hold this position.

The church holds two services every Sunday. The 8 AM service is a traditional Holy Eucharist. The 10 AM service is also Holy Eucharist, but it includes a choir and pipe organ. During the summer, there is one service at 9 AM.

The church has programs for children and teens. The youth group meets once a month. They go on fun trips and help with the church's Christmas pageant.

St. Barnabas also does a lot to help the community. They have an annual clothing and thrift sale. The money raised goes to local non-profit groups. The Irvington Children's Center, the village's only day care center, is located in the Sunday school wing. It runs independently. Local groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-anon, and Families Anonymous also meet at the church. Members collect food and diapers for two local food pantries.

See also

• List of reportedly haunted locations in the United States
• National Register of Historic Places listings in southern Westchester County, New York