St. Thomas Episcopal Church (Amenia Union, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Thomas Episcopal Church |
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Northwest elevation and south profile,
with carriage step in foreground, 2008 |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Episcopal Church in the United States of America |
| Leadership | The Rev. AJ Stack |
| Year consecrated | 1852 |
| Location | |
| Location | Amenia Union, NY, USA |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Richard Upjohn |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1849 |
| Completed | 1851 |
| Construction cost | $3,000 |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | northwest |
| Materials | Stone, brick, asphalt |
| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
| Added to NRHP | April 6, 2005 |
| NRHP Reference no. | 05000261 |
| Website | |
| Welcome to St. Thomas Episcopal Church | |
St. Thomas' Episcopal Church is a beautiful old church in Amenia Union, New York. It was built in the mid-1800s. A famous architect named Richard Upjohn designed it. The church looks like an old English country church. Inside, you can find a very old organ and special stained glass windows made by Louis Comfort Tiffany. In 2005, the church, its parish house, and a carriage step became part of the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.
Contents
Exploring the Church and Its Land
The church and its other buildings are on a 3.6-acre piece of land. This land is on the north side of Leedsville Road in a small area called Amenia Union. This area is in the eastern part of the Town of Amenia. The property's corner touches the Connecticut state line.
The Church Building
The church is a one-story building. It sits on a stone base and is made of white-painted brick. The roof is steep and covered with asphalt shingles. At the front, there is a flat tower with a small bell tower on top. The main entrance has two wooden doors with pointed arches.
The sides of the church have strong supports called buttresses. These separate the tall, narrow windows. On the south side, there is another entrance with similar arched doors. At the back, a lower section called the chancel sticks out. This is where the altar is located. A small room called the sacristy is also at the back.
Inside, the main part of the church, called the nave, has rows of pews. The floor is made of wood, and the walls are plaster. Pointed arches support the high ceiling. The windows have deep frames. A special three-part stained glass window at the back shows an elderly St. John being carried into church. The colorful window behind the organ is the only one that is original to the church.
Other Buildings on the Property
The parish hall is a long building made of concrete blocks. It was built in the mid-1900s and has a similar roof to the church. The carriage step is made of large stone slabs on a brick base. Both the parish hall and the carriage step are considered important parts of the historic site.
The Church's Design and Style
The church's design shows the ideas of the "high church" movement in American Episcopalianism. Richard Upjohn, the architect, was part of this movement. People in this movement believed that churches should be built in the Gothic Revival style. This style was inspired by old English country churches. They thought this design was perfect for their church services.
It was important for the chancel (the area around the altar) to face east, towards the rising sun. This was possible on the church's land. Upjohn made the church look interesting by placing the entrance porch along the side wall. This made the building look uneven, which was another idea favored by the high-church movement. The tall bell tower and entrance porch are also common features in the English country churches that inspired this style.
Inside, the deep chancel is a key feature. Its floor is raised to highlight the altar and the activities that happen there. The three tall, narrow windows in the chancel represent the Trinity. The walls are simple plaster, and the wooden ceiling beams are visible. The church has very little decoration. This follows the idea that "all ornament should consist of enrichment of the essential construction of the building." This means decorations should be part of how the building is put together, not just added on.
Experts in architectural history believe St. Thomas' Episcopal Church is one of the best examples in America of an English Gothic country parish church.
History of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church
The church community started in 1848. Local people decided to form a group after a missionary, Rev. Homer Wheaton, worked in the area. By the next year, they had collected $2,000 to build a church. A local farmer gave $500 and all the bricks needed. Trinity Church in New York City helped by providing a $500 loan. This helped cover the total building cost of $3,000.
Rev. Wheaton knew the leaders of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Through them, he met Richard Upjohn, who was working on Trinity Church. Wheaton asked Upjohn to design St. Thomas' Church too.
The first plan was to build the church with stone, but that was too expensive. Members of the new church community helped by bringing stones, sand, and wood to the site with their own teams. Other materials were also found nearby. For example, the wooden rafters for the roof came from trees cut in a neighboring town.
Stephen Knibloe became the senior churchwarden in 1849. A churchwarden is a leader in the church. Members of the Knibloe family held this important role for almost 90 years. The church was finished in 1851. However, it was not officially dedicated until April 1852, when the Bishop of New York had time to visit.
Later, more things were added to the church. Two of the stained glass windows are thought to be Tiffany windows. In 1869, a bell made in Troy, New York, was installed for $300. In 1875, a special three-part window for the chancel was brought from England. It cost $1,085 and was put in memory of a church leader who had passed away. Finally, in 1886, an Odell organ was bought for $500.
The inside of the church has not changed much since then. In the 1950s, most of the other stained glass windows were replaced. The parish house was also built around that time. The brick on the outside of the church was painted white to protect it. In the early 2000s, the old organ was fixed up. It was then named a historic instrument by the Organ Historical Society.
See also
