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Church of St. Mary the Virgin (Manhattan) facts for kids

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Church of St. Mary the Virgin Complex
Church of St. Mary the Virgin 139 West 46th Street.jpg
The church in 2008
Location 133-145 W. 46th St. & 136-144 W. 47th St.
Manhattan, New York City
Built 1894-95
Architect Napoleon LeBrun & Sons, Pierre Le Brun, architect-in-charge
Architectural style French Gothic
NRHP reference No. 90000606
Quick facts for kids
Significant dates
Added to NRHP April 16, 1990

The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin is a special type of Episcopal church called Anglo-Catholic. It is located right in the middle of Times Square in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Because the church uses a lot of incense (a substance that makes sweet-smelling smoke) during its services, people often call it "Smoky Mary's."

The church was finished in 1895 and is famous for its beautiful design. It is built in a style called French Gothic, which was popular in the late 1800s. Because of its beauty and importance, it was named a New York City landmark in 1989. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990. The church is an active community with hundreds of members.

History

The First Church

1880s Old St Marys
The first Saint Mary's was located where the Booth Theatre is today.

The story of Saint Mary's began in 1868. A priest named Thomas McKee Brown wanted to build a church in New York City. He wanted it to follow Anglo-Catholic traditions, which are part of the Episcopal Church but have ceremonies similar to the Catholic Church.

The Bishop of New York suggested building a church near what was then called Longacre Square. We know this area today as Times Square. A wealthy man named John Jacob Astor donated land for the church on West 45th Street.

The first church building was designed by William T. Hallett. It officially opened on December 8, 1870.

A New, Bigger Church

The Lady Chapel at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin
The Lady Chapel is a smaller, quiet space for prayer inside the church.

By 1890, so many people were coming to Saint Mary's that the first building was too small. Luckily, a member of the church named Sara L. Cooke left a large amount of money to the church when she passed away. This gift was used to build a new, much larger church.

The new church was built on a large piece of land between 46th and 47th Streets. The plan was to build a church, a house for the main priest (the rectory), and homes for other church leaders and staff.

The architectural firm Napoleon LeBrun & Sons was hired for the job. Building such a large church in a crowded city was a big challenge. They used a new method for the time: a hidden steel frame to support the building's stone walls. This made Saint Mary's one of the first churches in the world built with a steel skeleton.

The new church's cornerstone was laid in 1894, and it opened in 1895. The main part of the church, called the nave, is very tall, reaching 80 feet from the floor to the ceiling. Many of the beautiful sculptures on the church were created by an artist named J. Massey Rhind.

The Church Today

Today, Saint Mary's is known for its beautiful music and traditional services. On Sundays, the church holds special services called Solemn High Mass and Solemn Evensong. Mass is also held every day of the week.

The inside of the church was restored in the late 1990s. This restoration brought back bright colors, including a dark blue ceiling painted with gold stars. It remains a busy and important church in the heart of New York City.

  • The Nave of the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin

    The main hall of the church, called the nave

  • Statue of Our Lady at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, carved by Johannes Kirchmayer in 1920

    A statue of Mary, the mother of Jesus

  • The Reverend Stephen S. Gerth, Rector of The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin, leading a Corpus Christ Processional through Times Square

    A church procession walking through Times Square

  • Clergy and Acolytes at the High Altar of the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin. The Altar was made for the original church in 1870 and moved to the church's current location in 1895

    Church leaders at the high altar, which came from the first church

  • The Most Reverend Frank T. Griswold, 25th Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church USA, preaching at Saint Mary's

    Bishop Frank T. Griswold giving a sermon at Saint Mary's

  • Church of St. Mary the Virgin (Manhattan)1

    The back of the church as seen from 47th Street

  • Church of St. Mary the Virgin (Manhattan)2

    A view inside the church looking toward the high altar

  • SMtV NYC Entrance

    A statue of Mary above the entrance

Music at Saint Mary's

Dr. David Hurd, Organist and Music Director at the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin
David Hurd is the church's current organist and music director.

Music is a very important part of life at Saint Mary's. The church has a professional choir that sings at the main services. They sing many kinds of music, from very old chants written in Latin to modern pieces by living composers.

The church has had many talented organists and music directors over the years. The current organist and music director is David Hurd, a well-known musician and composer.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María la Virgen (Nueva York) para niños

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