St. Michael's Episcopal Church (Manhattan) facts for kids
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St. Michael's Church
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(2009)
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 225 W. 99th St., New York, New York |
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| Built | 1890–91 |
| Architect | Robert W. Gibson |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival, Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 96001354 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 15, 1996 |
St. Michael's Church is a historic Episcopal church located in New York City. You can find it on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, at 225 West 99th Street and Amsterdam Avenue.
The church started in January 1807 in a quiet, country area called the Bloomingdale District. The building you see today is the third one on this spot. It was built between 1890 and 1891. The architect, Robert W. Gibson, designed it in a style called Romanesque Revival.
St. Michael's Church is famous for its beautiful stained glass windows made by Tiffany Studios. It also has two special pipe organs that were built in Germany in 1967. The church is known for its excellent sound quality, which is called acoustics.
In 2016, the church, its parish house, and the rectory (the priest's home) were officially named landmarks by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. This means they are important historical buildings that need to be protected.
Contents
A Look at St. Michael's History
St. Michael's Church is special because it has been in the exact same spot for over 200 years. This is quite rare for churches in upper Manhattan!
The First Buildings
The very first church building was a simple white wooden structure with a bell tower. It was built for people from Trinity Church who had summer homes nearby. They wanted a closer place to worship. At that time, New York City was much smaller, only at the southern tip of Manhattan. One famous person who attended was Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, the wife of Alexander Hamilton.
A second, larger building was used from 1854 to 1891. It was built in a style called Carpenter Gothic. In the 1840s and 1850s, a priest named Rev. Thomas McClure Peters helped start a missionary church in a diverse community called Seneca Village. This village was later removed to create Central Park.
In the 1850s, Mrs. William Richmond, the wife of the church's leader, helped create a special home. It was for women who needed support and a safe place to stay. The Peters family, including Rev. Peters' son and grandson, led the church for an amazing 99 years!
The Current Church Building
The third and current church building was finished in December 1891. It was designed to hold 1,500 people. Its style mixes Romanesque and Byzantine influences.
The church stands on land that was once a cemetery. When the new church was built, they decided not to move the graves. Some people, like Rev. Mr. Richmond, the first leader of the church, are still buried there. The last burial happened in 1872. This new church was built after an elevated train line was added nearby, which helped the area grow from a rural district into a busy part of the city.
Tiffany Art at St. Michael's
In 1895, the famous artist Louis Comfort Tiffany was asked to design and install seven large lancet windows. These windows show "St. Michael's Victory in Heaven." He also designed a beautiful marble altar. About 25 years later, Tiffany's work was completed with a mosaic behind the altar in the Chapel of the Angels. This mosaic shows "Witnesses of the Redemption."
Between the 1890s and 1920s, church members donated many other stained glass windows, each with its own unique style.
Architecture and Art at St. Michael's
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The church building was designed by architect Robert W. Gibson. It has a tall, square bell tower that reaches 160 feet high. This tower is built in the Romanesque Revival style.
Tiffany studios created many amazing artworks for the church. After the church was built, seven large windows were ordered. These windows show "St. Michael's Victory in Heaven." Louis Comfort Tiffany designed them, and artists like Clara W. Parrish and Edward P. Sperry helped make them.
Two more Tiffany stained glass windows were later added in the Chapel of the Angels. There is also a large Tiffany mosaic behind the altar. Other Tiffany designs in the main church area include a white marble altar, an altar rail, and a pulpit. The dome of the apse (a rounded part of the church) also has Tiffany decorations. All these beautiful Tiffany pieces were installed between 1891 and 1920. The windows were carefully cleaned and fixed in 1990. After that, the entire inside of the church was painted with colors inspired by the windows and mosaics.
The Church Organ
A special Rudolf von Beckerath organ was installed in the church in 1967. This type of organ is known for its unique sound and design.
St. Michael's Impact on the Community
For most of its history, St. Michael's Church has played an important role in the growth and social life of New York City.
Community Support and Programs
St. Michael's helped start at least six other churches in New York. One of these was All Angels' Church, which was first located in Seneca Village. After the Civil War, St. Michael's provided space and money for many helpful services. These included a free clinic, a nurse association, a day nursery for children, and a library.
In the 1980s, the number of people attending the church had become very small. But by 1987, it grew to 300 members, thanks to the hard work of Rev. Frederick Hill. St. Michael's is known for its many different programs and for having a diverse group of people in its congregation. People from all over New York City come to this church.
In 2013, the church had five choirs and over 100 children involved in its Christian education program. The church also helps people in need through its social ministries. These programs assist the hungry and homeless, the sick, the unemployed, and their families. Both the church and the parish house offer space for many church activities and for other non-profit community groups.
Since the early 1990s, St. Michael's has partnered with other churches around the world. These include St. Michael's, Promosa, in Matlosane, South Africa, and the Diocese of Madras in the Church of South India.
Images for kids
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St. Michael's Church in 2009.
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The "St. Michael's Victory in Heaven" windows by Tiffany.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia Episcopal de San Miguel (Manhattan) para niños
- Anglican Communion
- List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan from 59th to 110th Streets
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan from 59th to 110th Streets
- St. Michael's Episcopal Church (disambiguation)
- St. Michael's Church (disambiguation)
