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 and beautiful Episcopal church. It is located in the village of Tannersville. This village is part of the town of Hunter in Greene County, New York. The church was built in 1885. It has one story and a steep roof. A large square bell tower sits on top. The church was designed by a famous architect named William Halsey Wood. In 2004, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historical building.
Contents
Building the Church: A New Beginning
Before this church was built, people who followed the Episcopal faith met in different places. They held services in local hotels like Blythewood. They also used the Union Meeting House and a small schoolhouse.
The land for the new church was given by Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Hemsley. They were the parents of Florence Hemsley. Florence was engaged to the architect, William Halsey Wood. The Hemsleys also built the road to the church. This road is now called Philadelphia Hill Road.
The church officially opened in early August 1885. It was named St. John the Evangelist. This name honored the Cowley fathers, who were a group of priests. William Wood and Florence Hemsley got married in this church on November 19, 1889. It was the first wedding held there.
Wood chose a simple but elegant design for the church. It had a peaceful, arched inside made of wood. Another church, St. Clements Church in Philadelphia, gave a large oak altar to St. John's. However, the church was not fully finished when it opened. The windows were not yet in place. The walls were not completely plastered. The special lotus blossom paintings on the ceiling were also missing.
Early Days: A Place for Community
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 1885.
Mrs. Hemsley advertised her hotel, Blythewood, in a newspaper. She mentioned the church to attract visitors. She wrote that the hotel was near an "Episcopal church within a quarter of a mile." This showed how important the church was to the community.
William Halsey Wood's brother, Reverend Alonzo Wood, Sr., helped with the first church service. His family continued to serve the church for over 75 years. Many other reverends and bishops also led services there over the years.
Local Impact: Growing the Community
The cool summers in the Catskill Mountains attracted many wealthy visitors. These people came from cities like New York and Philadelphia. When the railroad reached Tannersville in 1882, the area became a popular summer spot.
Historians note that Tannersville became a center for private parks. Wealthy people built large summer homes there. They wanted to spend their summers in private, beautiful places.
The new road up Philadelphia Hill helped a small community of summer homes grow. A few houses were built before the church opened. But four more homes were finished by the end of the 1880s. These homes shared a similar style to other private resorts nearby. These resorts included Onteora Park Historic District and Elka Park Historic District.
Current Use: A Welcoming Place Today
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 popular place for special events. Many weddings, baptisms, and memorial services take place there. Musicians also use the church for concerts and recordings. Everyone is welcome to visit.
You can find the church 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.
