Church of the Holy Comforter (Poughkeepsie, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of the Holy Comforter |
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South elevation and tower, 2007
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | The Archdiocese of New York (The Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church of America |
| Rite | Western Rite Orthodox |
| Year consecrated | 1860 |
| Location | |
| Location | Poughkeepsie, NY, USA |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Richard Upjohn |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| General contractor | William Harloe |
| Groundbreaking | 1859 |
| Completed | 1860 |
| Construction cost | $19,000 (church, 1860) $8,700 (north addition, 1867) |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | East |
| Capacity | 300 |
| Spire height | 100' |
| Materials | Ulster County bluestone trimmed with New Jersey brownstone |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added to NRHP | April 13, 1972 |
| NRHP Reference no. | 72000831 |
| Website | |
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The Church of the Holy Comforter is a beautiful old church in Poughkeepsie, New York. It was built in 1860 and looks like a classic Gothic Revival building. You can find it at 18 Davies Place, not far from the train station and the Hudson River. Its tall steeple is easy to spot from the US 9 highway that runs through the city.
Contents
Building a Historic Church
The church's story began in 1854. Back then, the group of people who wanted to build it were called Christ Church. Six years later, in 1860, they officially formed a church and decided to build a special place to worship.
Choosing the Architect
They hired a famous architect named Richard Upjohn. He was well-known for designing many beautiful churches. His original drawings for the Church of the Holy Comforter are kept safe at Columbia University's Avery Library.
Construction Details
The first stone, called the cornerstone, was placed on June 14, 1859. It's located at the southwest corner of the church tower. The church was officially opened and blessed by Bishop Horatio Potter on October 25, 1860.
The church is built in the Gothic Revival style. Its walls are made from a local stone called bluestone, found in Ulster County across the river. The decorative parts are made from New Jersey brownstone. Inside, the original wooden benches, called pews, are still there. The high, arched ceiling is supported by wooden ribs, making it look very grand.
In 1867, a new section was added to the north side of the church. This addition was paid for by William Augustus Davies. He wanted to honor his late wife, Sarah Van Wagenen.
A Changing Church Family
Today, the church is known as the Church of the Holy Comforter within The Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church of America. It used to be part of the Episcopal Church.
The church changed its affiliation after some disagreements in the 1970s. It was later connected with the Anglican Church. More recently, it became part of the Holy Orthodox Catholic and Apostolic Church of America.
A Recognized Landmark
The Church of the Holy Comforter is an important historical building. On April 13, 1972, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a special place that is important to the history of the United States. It is also part of the Mill Street-North Clover Street Historic District, which was added to the Register later that same year.
See also
