West End Collegiate Church facts for kids
|
West End Collegiate Church
and Collegiate School |
|
 |
|
 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | West End Ave. and W. 77th St., New York, New York |
|---|---|
| Built | 1892 |
| Architect | Robert W. Gibson |
| Architectural style | Dutch-Flemish Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002729 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1980 |
The West End Collegiate Church is a beautiful church in Manhattan, New York City. It stands on West End Avenue at 77th Street. This church is part of The Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church. This group is the oldest Protestant church organization in America that has been running continuously. The Collegiate Church of New York works with both the United Church of Christ (UCC) and the Reformed Church in America (RCA). The West End Collegiate Church is also listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historical building.
The building is also used by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They signed a temporary agreement to use it. This is because their own building, the Manhattan New York Temple and Stake Center, is being remodeled.
Contents
A Look Back: The Church's History
Building a New Church
The West End Collegiate Church was built when the Upper West Side was growing fast. In the late 1800s, this area changed from country estates to a busy city neighborhood. It soon had many townhouses and apartment buildings.
On October 16, 1890, the church leaders decided to find land for a new church. They wanted at least seven plots of land. They bought four plots on West End Avenue and three on 77th Street. This cost them $89,000.
A special committee was formed to oversee the building. Construction started in 1891. The church building was finished in the fall of 1892. It was officially opened on November 20, 1892. The Reverend Henry Evertson Cobb became the first minister of the church on November 19, 1892.
Helping During Wartime
During World War II, the church became a center for Dutch refugees. It also helped with relief efforts for people from the Netherlands. Princess Juliana of the Netherlands visited the church twice during the war. She came to see how the church was helping her people.
Special Landmark Status
The church buildings were recognized as a New York City Landmark in 1967. This means they are protected because of their historical importance. Later, in 1980, they were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a list of important historical places across the United States.
Sharing the Space Today
In January 2024, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints signed an agreement. They are now sharing the church building with the West End Collegiate congregation. This is happening while their own building, the Manhattan New York Temple and Stake Center, is being remodeled.
The Church's Design: Architecture
The architect Robert W. Gibson designed the church in the Dutch Colonial style. He based his design on a building from 1606 called the Vleeshal in Haarlem, the Netherlands. This style has a charming, old-fashioned look. It was very popular in the late 1800s, especially for churches.
To make the church look even more authentic, long, thin, brown bricks were used. They were laid in a special pattern. The church also has many decorative stone blocks called quoins and buff-colored terra cotta. Terra cotta is a type of baked clay.
The architect added beautiful terra cotta panels. These panels are carved with the coats-of-arms of the church and people who helped fund it. The large, eight-sided pulpit inside the church is made from oak wood. Its panels show the coat-of-arms of the Dutch Reformed Church and the church's great seal. The chairs around the pulpit are also carved from oak in an old Dutch style.
The church's beautiful stained glass windows were added over many years. Three of them were made by Tiffany Studios, a famous art company. One special window, in the east transept, is called The morning cometh and the shadows flee away. It was designed by Clara Miller Burd. In the early 2000s, all the stained glass windows were carefully removed, repaired, and put back.
See also
