St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church (Manhattan) facts for kids

St. Bartholomew's Church and Community House
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church in 2012
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	109 E. 50th St. Manhattan, New York City
Area	1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built	1903 (1903)
Architect	Bertram Goodhue McKim, Mead & White
Architectural style	Romanesque Revival, Byzantine Revival
Website	stbarts.org
NRHP reference No.	80002719
Quick facts for kids Significant dates
Added to NRHP	April 16, 1980
Designated NHL	October 31, 2016

St. Bartholomew's Church, often called St. Bart's, is a very old Episcopal church in New York City. It was started in January 1835. You can find it on the east side of Park Avenue between 50th and 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan.

In 2018, the church celebrated 100 years since its first service in its current home on Park Avenue. This church is special because it was named a National Historic Landmark in 2016. This means it's a very important building in American history and architecture. It was designed by a famous architect named Bertram Goodhue.

Early Church Buildings

The church at Madison Avenue and 44th Street, around 1918

St. Bart's has been in a few different places over the years. The very first church opened in January 1835. It was a simple building located at Great Jones Street and Lafayette Place.

Later, a second church was built between 1872 and 1876. This one was at Madison Avenue and East 44th Street. It was designed by James Renwick Jr., who also designed St. Patrick's Cathedral.

This second church had a beautiful triple entrance added in 1902–1903. It was designed by Stanford White and looked like an old French church. The fancy bronze doors on this entrance showed scenes from the Bible. Famous sculptors like Andrew O'Connor and Daniel Chester French helped create them.

The Current Church Building

The church building you see today was built in 1916–1917. The first design for this church was by Bertram Goodhue. People called his design "a jewel in a monumental setting."

Goodhue had to change his plans a bit. The church members really loved the old entrance from the Madison Avenue building. So, it was moved and put onto the new church. This included the beautiful bronze doors.

The first stone for Goodhue's design was laid on May 1, 1917. The church was ready enough to be officially opened in 1918. After Goodhue passed away in 1924, other architects finished the building. They added a community house and a lovely outdoor terrace. This terrace is now used for a restaurant called Inside Park.

They also added the church's famous dome. It has colorful tiles on the outside and a fancy pattern inside. The church also has amazing stained-glass windows and mosaics by Hildreth Meiere. There's even a marble baptismal font made by Bertel Thorvaldsen. The whole church cost $5.4 million to build.

St. Bart's is known for many different programs. People come to worship here from all over New York City. It is also the final resting place for famous actresses Lillian Gish and Dorothy Gish, and their mother Mary Gish.

Protecting a Historic Building

In 1967, Saint Bartholomew's Church and Community House was named a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. This meant the building was protected because of its history and beauty. At first, some people at the church didn't agree with this decision.

Later, in the 1980s, there was a big discussion about the church's future. Some church members wanted to sell part of the land to build a tall office building. This would have given the church money. However, the Landmarks Preservation Commission said no to these plans. They wanted to protect the historic building.

The church tried to argue in court that the landmark status was unfair. But in 1991, the highest court in the U.S. decided not to hear their appeal. This meant the Landmarks Commission's decision to protect the church stood.

After this, in 1992, the St. Bartholomew's Preservation Foundation was started. This group helped raise money to fix up the church. They repaired the roof, secured the dome, and rebuilt the terrace. The restaurant "Inside Park" also opened that year. In 2012, a new group, the St. Bartholomew's Conservancy, took over the preservation work.

In 2016, St. Bartholomew's Church and Community House was officially named a National Historic Landmark. This recognized its importance as an amazing example of architecture and art. The restoration of the church's famous dome was finished in 2017.

Music at St. Bart's

St. Bartholomew's Church is famous for its music. A very well-known conductor named Leopold Stokowski used to be the choir director here. He came from the United Kingdom to work at St. Bart's.

The church also has a huge Skinner Organ Company pipe organ. It's the largest organ in New York City and one of the biggest in the world! It was first played in a concert on December 9, 1930.

Other important music directors at the church include Harold Friedell, a famous composer. The church's choir is also very well-known. It has been led by talented conductors like Jack Ossewaarde and James Litton. The Chorister Program helps children aged 6–18 sing in the church. They have even been on TV shows like The Today Show.

Gallery

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia Episcopal de San Bartolomé (Manhattan) para niños

• Anglican Communion
• Anglo-Catholicism
• Churches Uniting in Christ
• List of National Historic Landmarks in New York City
• Complete List of Presiding Bishops
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets
• Succession of Bishops of the Episcopal Church in the United States