Church of St. John the Evangelist (Hunter, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Church of St. John the Evangelist
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Church of St. John the Evangelist, August 2010
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Philadelphia Hill Rd., Hunter, New York |
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| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1885 |
| Architect | Wood, William Halsey |
| Architectural style | Stick/Eastlake |
| NRHP reference No. | 04000352 |
| Added to NRHP | April 21, 2004 |
The Church of St. John the Evangelist is an old church in Tannersville, New York. It is an Episcopal church, which is a type of Christian church. This church was built in 1885. It has one main floor and is made of wood, sitting on stone walls. The roof is steep, and there is a large square bell tower on top. A famous architect named William Halsey Wood designed it.
The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2004. This means it is an important historical building.
Contents
Building the Church
Before the Church of St. John the Evangelist was built, church services were held in different places. People met in local hotels like Blythewood and the Catskill Mountain House. They also used a meeting house and a small school. These services were led by members of the Society of St. John the Evangelist. These members were also known as the Cowley fathers.
Who Designed It?
The church's architect was William Halsey Wood. He was a talented designer. The land for the church was given by Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Hemsley. They were the parents of Florence Hemsley, who was William Wood's fiancée. The Hemsleys also owned a hotel called Blythewood. They even built the road to the church, which is now Philadelphia Hill Road.
Opening Day
The church opened in early August 1885. It was named St. John the Evangelist to honor the Cowley fathers. William Wood and Florence Hemsley got married in the church on November 19, 1889.
Wood chose a simple Gothic design for the church. The inside has a calm and beautiful vaulted ceiling. It also has a special upper section with windows called a clerestory, made of wood. Another church, St. Clements Church in Philadelphia, gave a large oak altar to St. John's. However, the new church was not fully finished when it opened. An article from 1885 said that the windows were not yet in. Also, the walls were not completely plastered. The church's special lotus blossom ceiling paintings were not yet done either.
Early Days of the Church
The new church helped meet the spiritual needs of the area. It also became a selling point for local hotels. The first baptisms happened just days after the church opened in August 1885.
Advertising the Area
In 1886, Mrs. Hemsley advertised her hotel, Blythewood. She mentioned the church in her advertisement. She wrote that the hotel was rebuilt and had many improvements. She also highlighted that an "Episcopal church" was very close by. This showed that having a church nearby was important for attracting visitors.
Family Connections
William Wood's brother, Reverend Alonzo Wood, Sr., helped lead the first Holy Eucharist service in 1885. His family served the church for over 75 years. Reverend Alonzo Wood, Sr. also married his brother William to Florence Hemsley in the church. This was the first wedding held there. His three sons, Alonzo Jr., Daniel, and Edmund, also served at the church. Other important religious leaders also ministered to the church's congregation over the years.
The Church's Impact on the Area
The cool summers in the Catskill Mountains attracted wealthy vacationers. These visitors came from cities like New York and Philadelphia. When the railroad reached Tannersville in 1882, the area became a popular summer resort.
A Growing Community
Historian Field Horne noted that Tannersville became a center for private parks. Wealthy people built large summer homes there. The new road up Philadelphia Hill helped a small community of summer homes grow in the 1880s. A few houses were built before the church opened. However, four more homes were finished before 1890. These homes, like the church, showed the late Victorian style of architecture. This style was common in other private resorts nearby, such as Onteora Park and Elka Park.
Current Use
The Church of St. John the Evangelist is still used today. Services are held on Sundays in July and August. The church is also a place for special events. These include weddings, baptisms, and memorial services. Musicians sometimes use the church for concerts and recordings because of its good acoustics. Everyone is welcome to visit.
The church is located on Philadelphia Hill Road. It is about 1.1 miles from the center of Tannersville. In 2010, the church celebrated its 125th anniversary. Bishop William Love of Albany led the celebration.
