St. Philip's Church in the Highlands facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Philip's Church
in the Highlands |
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| Location | Garrison, NY |
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| Nearest city | Peekskill |
| Built | 1861–1917 |
| Architect | Richard Upjohn |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Hudson Highlands Multiple Resource Area |
| NRHP reference No. | 82005391 |
| Added to NRHP | 1995 |
St. Philip's Church in the Highlands is an Episcopal church in Garrison, a small community in New York. It's a beautiful stone building built in the Gothic Revival style. A church member named Richard Upjohn designed it, and it opened in 1865.
This church has a very long and interesting history. It goes all the way back to the time when America was still a group of colonies. The church's story is closely linked to the growth of the Garrison community. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 because of its importance.
Contents
History of St. Philip's Church
Early Days: Colonial Times and the Revolution
The church started around 1770. Back then, it was part of St. Peter's Church in Peekskill. King George III of Great Britain gave them permission to create the church. Two church leaders, Beverley Robinson and Charles Moore, wanted to build a church further north. They wanted to serve families living in the area known as Four Corners.
After meeting in another church and a person's home, a small wooden chapel was built. This is where the current church stands today. The graveyard was also started at the same time. The church was likely named St. Philip's to honor the Philipse family. They were the original landowners in the area.
A Time of Change: The American Revolution
The first minister for both churches, Rev. John Doty, left after a few years. He was loyal to the British King, while many people in the area supported the American Revolution. Beverley Robinson, a church leader, also supported the British. He helped organize a group called the Loyal American Legion. He also gathered information for the British.
Because of this, the new government of New York took Robinson's land and home. He moved to England after the war and never came back. About half of St. Philip's families also left. The church was disliked by some because of its ties to the British. There's a story that a crowd wanted to burn it down. But George Washington himself supposedly stopped them. He stood at the door and said, "That, sir, is my church!" Because of this, a stained glass window in the church shows him.
After the Revolution: Rebuilding the Church
After America became independent, the church was empty for a few years. The community and the church slowly began to rebuild. In 1786, William Denning, who took over from Robinson, had the church's altar and inside areas fixed up. Six years later, the church got a new minister, Rev. Andrew Fowler. He later helped start the Episcopal Church in South Carolina.
Growing Community and New Buildings
The Garrison Union Free School was built for local families in the 1830s. It still stands today. The church building itself was rebuilt in 1837. By 1840, Garrison and the church had grown enough to be separate from Peekskill. So, the church became its own independent parish. A house for the minister, called a rectory, was built in 1854.
Building the Current Church
A new pastor, Rev. Charles Frederick Hoffman, arrived in 1860. The Hudson River Railroad had recently been built nearby. This made Garrison easier to reach from New York City. Many important families from the city started moving there. Many of them became church members. Hoffman realized the growing church needed a bigger, new building.
The church members helped make this happen. Henry Belcher donated three acres of land for the church. Others raised $10,000 to build it. The famous architect Richard Upjohn designed the new church. He was also a member of St. Philip's. He had designed the well-known Trinity Church in Manhattan. The new church was made of gray granite in the Gothic Revival style. It was finished in 1861 and officially opened in 1862.
In the years that followed, a building for carriages and a shed were added. Around 1900, a parish house was built. It was designed by George E. Harney and William S. Purdy, who were architects.
The 20th Century: Changes and Growth
The early 1900s brought a disagreement within the church. A chapel built to the east of the mountains became a monastery. Later, a group called the Graymoor Friars moved there. They left the Anglican church to join the Roman Catholic Church in 1909. St. Philip's Church said they still owned the land. It took a special law from the state legislature to settle the argument. The law decided in favor of the friars.
Modernizing the Church
In 1908, Rev. Edward Clowes Chorley became the new minister. He wrote a two-volume history of St. Philip's. While he was in Garrison, he made many updates. He had electricity and gas lighting installed in the church. He also started a boys' choir. Outside the church, Chorley oversaw the replacement of the old rectory in 1911. Six years later, a house for the sexton (church caretaker) was built. These buildings are now considered important parts of the historic listing. Chorley also helped start Garrison's volunteer fire department.
Later, a kindergarten was started at the church. It moved to the expanded school in the 1960s. At that time, a nursery school program began. William Reisman became the minister for 27 years in the 1960s. He updated and redecorated many of the church buildings. He added covers to protect the beautiful stained-glass windows. He also started classes for adults at the church.
Under the next minister, Francis Geer, a new pipe organ was installed. The roof and floor of the parish house were replaced. The parish house is used for many community groups in Garrison. A memorial garden was built north of it. This garden serves as a welcoming area after church services.
