Judson Memorial Church facts for kids
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Judson Memorial Church,
Campanile and Judson Hall |
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 Location in Lower Manhattan
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 55 Washington Square South at Thompson Street, Manhattan, New York, United States |
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| Built | Sanctuary: 1888–93 Campanile: 1895–96 Hall: 1877 |
| Architect | Sanctuary: Stanford White Campanile: McKim, Mead & White Hall: John G. Prague |
| Architectural style | Italian Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001274 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 16, 1974 |
The Judson Memorial Church is a famous building in Greenwich Village, a neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City. It stands on Washington Square South, across from Washington Square Park. This church is connected to the American Baptist Churches USA and the United Church of Christ.
The church building, its tall campanile (bell tower), and the attached Judson Hall are very important. They were named landmarks by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1966. Later, in 1974, they were added to the National Register of Historic Places, which lists important historical sites in the United States.
Contents
History of Judson Memorial Church
How the Church Started
In the mid-1800s, the area around Washington Square Park was home to many different groups of people. There were large communities of African-Americans, Germans, French, and Irish immigrants. To the south, many Italian immigrants lived.
Edward Judson, a pastor, noticed that many wealthy people were moving away from this part of the city. He wanted to create a church that would welcome everyone, especially those in need. The church was built right where the rich and poor parts of the city met.
Judson had been leading a church nearby, but it became too small for his growing group. In 1888, with help from important people like John D. Rockefeller, construction began on a new church. Edward Judson chose this spot to help the local communities.
The church was built to honor Edward Judson's father, Adoniram Judson. His father was one of the first Protestant missionaries to Burma. The famous architect Stanford White designed the church building. It has a beautiful Italian Renaissance style.
Inside, the church features amazing stained glass windows created by John La Farge. There is also a marble carving called a frieze in the baptistery. This frieze was designed by sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudens and finished in 1893.
Besides religious services, the church also offered healthcare and community help. However, it struggled to get enough money from its wealthy neighbors. By 1912, the church faced financial problems. A larger Baptist organization took over its property and finances until 1973, when the church could manage itself again.
Early 1900s Community Work
In 1921, under pastor A. Ray Petty, the church started helping the community even more. They offered space in their building for Dr. Eleanor A. Campbell. She was a pioneering female doctor who ran the Judson Health Center. This center provided free medical and dental care.
The health center operated from 1922 to 1950 at 237 Thompson Street. It then moved to a new location on Spring Street. During the 1920s, the church also ran the Judson Neighborhood House. This was a settlement house that helped people in the community.
During the Great Depression, a difficult time in the early 1900s, Laurence Hosie was the pastor. Even though fewer people attended church, it stayed active in helping others. Sometimes, homeless men were allowed to sleep on the church pews. In 1937, Renato Giacomelli Alden became the new pastor.
After World War II, many new students came to New York University, which is near the church. The former parish house and health center became a home for international students. It also welcomed students of different races. Dean R. Wright, a Baptist chaplain for NYU, led this effort.
At the same time, a new pastor named Robert Spike started new ways of thinking about faith. He worked with war veterans and artists in the village. This brought new people to the church and changed its worship style to be more modern.
Later 1900s and Today
In 1956, Howard Moody became the senior minister. He continued the church's strong support for civil rights and free expression. He also spoke out on social issues, which was new for many churches at the time. This focus on social justice continues today.
Al Carmines, who was an associate pastor from 1962 to 1979, focused on the arts. Many artists were part of the church community. During this time, the church grew, and it was able to take back control of its property in 1973.
After Moody retired in 1990, Peter Laarman became the senior pastor. He had a background in helping workers' unions. Laarman led the church in helping with economic issues. He also continued the church's work with the arts and other social causes. He started a long project to fix and update the church's old buildings.
In 2005, Donna Schaper became the senior pastor. She started a special program to train future religious leaders. This program taught them how to do "public ministry" from a church base. It offered part-time training to students and recent graduates. Under her leadership, the church also became a leader in the New Sanctuary Movement, which helps immigrants.
Church Building Features
The Judson Memorial Church building is located at 54–57 Washington Square South. It has a beautiful Italian Renaissance style. The building's shape and outside look are said to be like the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, Italy. The entrance is inspired by a Renaissance church in Lucca, Italy.
Inside, you can see the amazing stained glass windows by John La Farge. The church has the largest collection of his major windows in one place in the United States. There is also a marble carving by Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The building also features scagliola, which is a very good imitation of marble made from polished plaster.
The tall campanile (bell tower) is next to the church at 51–54 Washington Square South. It was built in 1895–96, after the main church was finished. The firm of McKim, Mead & White designed it. The Judson Hall, which is next to the church, is actually older. It was built in 1877 and designed by John G. Prague.
In 1999, the church faced money problems. Its leaders sold the Judson House, a building behind the church, to New York University School of Law. NYU used the land for its new Furman Hall. This new building is eleven stories tall and stands over the church and Washington Square Park. Its construction caused some debate in the community. The church's offices and a small meeting hall are now in a part of the new building, next to the main church.
From 1990 to 2006, the church building was repaired and updated. It was repainted, and the roof was fixed. The stained glass windows were cleaned and put back in place. An elevator was added to make the building easier to access, and air conditioning was installed. These projects used all the money from selling the back lots and about $1 million more from donations.
Notable Ministers
Some important ministers who served at Judson Memorial Church include:
- Edward Judson (minister, 1890–1914)
- Howard Moody (minister, 1956–1992)
- Al Carmines (associate minister, 1961–1981)
See also
In Spanish: Judson Memorial Church, Campanile, and Judson Hall para niños
