Church of the Ascension, Episcopal (Manhattan) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Significant dates

Church of the Ascension (Episcopal)
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark

(2007)
Location in Manhattan Show map of Manhattan Location in New York Show map of New York Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	36–38 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York City
Built	church: 1840–41 parish house: 1888–89
Architect	church: Richard Upjohn parish house: McKim, Mead & White
Architectural style	church: Gothic Revival parish house: Northern Renaissance
NRHP reference No.	87002593
Added to NRHP	December 23, 1987
Designated NHL	December 23, 1987

The Church of the Ascension is an Episcopal church in New York City. It stands at 36–38 Fifth Avenue and West 10th Street in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan. This church was built in 1840–41. It was the very first church ever built on Fifth Avenue. Richard Upjohn designed it in the Gothic Revival style, which looks like old European cathedrals.

Later, in 1885–88, the inside of the church was updated by Stanford White. The church also has a parish house nearby. This building, at 12 West 11th Street, was originally a home built in 1844. It was changed into its current look in 1888–89 by the famous architects McKim, Mead and White. They designed it in a style inspired by the Northern Renaissance.

The Church of the Ascension is a very important historical building. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1987. Both the church and its parish house are part of the Greenwich Village Historic District. This district was recognized by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1969.

Church History: A Journey Through Time
Amazing Architecture and Art
The Church Organ
Gallery
See also

Church History: A Journey Through Time

How the Church Began

The Church of the Ascension first started in 1827. Their very first church building was on Canal Street. It was one of the first buildings in the city designed in the Greek Revival style. This first church was built in 1828–29. Sadly, it burned down in 1839. This fire led the church to move to its current spot on Fifth Avenue. While the new church was being built, the church community met in different places for two years.

A Presidential Wedding

Not long after the new church opened, a very special event happened. On June 26, 1844, John Tyler, who was the President of the United States, got married there. He married Julia Gardiner. She was much younger than him. This age difference made some people, like former President John Quincy Adams, call the couple the "laughing-stock of the city."

The Church of the Open Door

In 1929, a big economic crisis called the Wall Street Crash of 1929 happened. In response, the church's leader, Donald Bradshaw Aldrich, decided to open the church doors 24 hours a day. People could come in at any time for prayer and quiet thought. Because of this, the church earned the nickname "The Church of the Open Door." This special policy lasted for many decades. In the 1960s, about 30,000 people visited the church. Today, the doors are not open all the time, but the beautiful stained-glass windows are lit up at night.

Amazing Architecture and Art

The Church Building's Design

The main church building was designed by Richard Upjohn. His design is similar to other famous churches he created. These include Trinity Church in Manhattan and Christ Church in Brooklyn. The Church of the Ascension is made of brownstone. It has a balanced design with a tall, square tower.

Inside the Church: A Work of Art

The inside of the church was redesigned by Stanford White. This project was a huge team effort with many talented artists.

The pulpit, where sermons are given, was designed by Charles Follen McKim.
Beautiful mosaics were created by D. Maitland Armstrong.
A marble reredos, which is a screen behind the altar, was made by Louis Saint-Gaudens. He was the brother of the famous sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens.
The church has several stunning stained glass windows by John LaFarge.
LaFarge also painted a huge mural behind the altar called The Ascension. This painting is about 30 feet tall and 35 feet wide. It is considered one of his best works.

The Parish House

The parish house was designed by McKim, Mead and White. They took an older building and changed it. They gave it a new look with yellow bricks and special "bottle-glass" windows. This design was inspired by the Northern Renaissance style.

The Church Organ

The Church of the Ascension has had several organs over the years. The current organ is called The Manton Memorial Organ. It was officially dedicated on May 1, 2011. This amazing organ was built by Pascal Quoirin. He is from St. Didier in Provence, France. It is special because it was the first organ built in France to be installed in New York City. It replaced an older organ that was built in 1966.