St. George's Episcopal Church (Manhattan) facts for kids
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St. George's Episcopal Church
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 Location in Manhattan
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 209 East 16th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York |
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| Built | 1846–1856 |
| Architect | exterior: Otto Blesch interior: Leopold Eidlitz |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001249 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 8, 1976 |
| Designated NHL | December 8, 1976 |
St. George's Episcopal Church is a very old and important church in New York City. You can find it at 209 East 16th Street near Rutherford Place, right by Stuyvesant Square in Manhattan. People say it's one of the first and best examples of a style called Early Romanesque Revival church architecture in America.
The outside of the church was designed by Charles Otto Blesch. The inside was designed by Leopold Eidlitz. Today, it's one of two main churches in the Calvary-St. George's Parish.
Contents
History of St. George's Church
Early Beginnings (1752-1846)
The first St. George's Church was a small chapel. It was built in 1752 by Trinity Church. This chapel was on Chapel Street (which is now Beekman Street) in Lower Manhattan. It was built so people living on the east side of the city could easily go to church.
This first building had columns, arched windows, and a six-sided steeple. In 1811, the church became independent. This meant it could make its own decisions. Later, between 1846 and 1856, the church built a brand new building. This new church was built uptown, on the very popular Stuyvesant Square.
Designing the New Church (1846-1856)
The new church was designed by Charles Otto Blesch and Leopold Eidlitz. Charles Otto Blesch is credited with the outside design. His ideas came from a German style called Rundbogenstil, which means "round-arch style." He was inspired by churches in Germany, like the Ludwigskirche in Munich.
Leopold Eidlitz designed the inside of the church. He also designed the rectory, which is the house where the church's leader lives. This house is also known as the Henry Hill Pierce House. It was built in the early 1850s. The tall spires on top of each church tower were finished almost ten years after the rest of the building.
Fire and Rebuilding (1865-1867)
In 1865, a fire badly damaged the church. It was rebuilt over the next two years. Leopold Eidlitz oversaw the rebuilding work.
The church's pastor at that time was Stephen H. Tyng. He was a very important leader in the evangelical part of the Episcopal Church. Many people thought he was one of the best preachers of his time. He wanted the rebuilt church to show his beliefs. For example, the altar, which is a special table in the church, was made very simple.
In 1889, more than twenty years after the church was rebuilt, the spires on the two towers were taken down.
J.P. Morgan's Influence
For many years, the famous banker J.P. Morgan was a senior warden at the church. This made him a very important and powerful member. Because of his influence, people often called the church "Morgan's Church."
By 1880, the area around the church had changed. Many new families, mostly Catholic and Jewish immigrants, moved into the neighborhood. The church's original members had moved to other parts of the city.
Helping the Community (1883)
J.P. Morgan helped bring in a new rector, or church leader, in 1883. His name was the Rev. William Stephen Rainsford. Rainsford had experience working with churches in big cities. He believed that many modern churches in cities didn't welcome poor people.
Rainsford had a plan, and Morgan approved it. He wanted to focus less on strict church rules. He also wanted to stop charging people to sit in certain pews (church benches). Instead, he wanted to offer helpful programs for the poor. These programs included:
- An industrial school
- Sewing classes
- Soup kitchens
- Health programs
- Clubs for boys and girls
- Other learning and fun activities
J.P. Morgan agreed to pay for any costs these programs had. Within seven years, the church's new direction and Rainsford's focus on helping people made the church popular again. It became a leader in a movement where churches helped their communities more.
Other Notable Members
Besides J.P. Morgan, another famous person who went to St. George's Church was Harry Thacker Burleigh. He was a spiritual singer and a classical composer. He sang in the church choir for 50 years!
Merging Churches (1976)
In 1976, St. George's Church joined with two other churches. These were Calvary Church (founded in 1832) and the Church of the Holy Communion (built in 1844). Together, they formed the Calvary-St. George's Parish.
Calvary Church is still open today. It's located on Park Avenue South at 21st Street. However, the Church of the Holy Communion was closed as a church and sold. This helped pay off debts for the new combined parish. That building was later used as a nightclub called the Limelight. After that, it became a marketplace, and since 2017, it has been a gym.
Historic Designations
St. George's Church is part of a group of important buildings. This group includes the rectory, which Leopold Eidlitz designed. It also includes the St. George Memorial House at 207 East 16th Street. This building was designed by Eidlitz's son, Cyrus L. W. Eidlitz. J.P. Morgan gave it as a gift in 1886.
Another building is the neo-Romanesque St. George's Chapel. It was designed by Matthew Lansing Emery and Henry George Emery and built between 1911 and 1912.
All these buildings are part of the Stuyvesant Square Historic District. The church itself is a New York City landmark. It received this special title in 1967. In 1976, it was named a National Historic Landmark, which is an even higher honor. The outside of the church was fixed up in 1980, but the main work to preserve the stone was done in 1985.
Rectors
- The Rev. James Milnor, D.D. (1773–1845), was the rector at St. George's Chapel from 1816 until he passed away on April 8, 1845.
- The Rev. William S. Rainsford (October 30, 1850 – December 17, 1933) was the rector from 1883 to 1906.
Images for kids
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The church before its spires were removed in 1889
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The interior of the church after the fire in 1865
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia Episcopal de San Jorge (Manhattan) para niños
- The St. George
- Calvary-St George's Parish
- Saint George: Devotions, traditions and prayers
- Calvary Church (Manhattan)
- Church of the Holy Communion and Buildings, a deconsecrated church
