Church of St. Mary the Virgin (Manhattan)
Church of St. Mary the Virgin Complex | |
New York City Landmark No. 1562
| |
Napoleon LeBrun & Sons, Pierre Le Brun, architect-in-charge[2] | |
Architectural style | French Gothic |
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NRHP reference No. | 90000606[1] |
NYCL No. | 1562 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | April 16, 1990 |
Designated NYCL | December 19, 1989 |
The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin is an
Completed in 1895, the church has been called "one of the finest Gothic-inspired designs of New York's late 19th century".
History
Original church
The Society of the Free Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in the
On April 6, 1868, the cornerstone was laid for the first church, located at 228 West 45th Street, which is today the site of the
After the Episcopalians left the church on West 45th Street, it became the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer and then Fifth Church of Christ, Scientist.[4]
New church
By 1890, the congregation had outgrown the church on West 45th Street. In 1892, the late Miss Sara L. Cooke, a member of the parish, left the church a legacy which eventually amounted to $700,000, in addition to real estate. Brown and the other trustees decided to use this legacy to fund a new church on an eight-lot parcel running through from 46th to 47th Streets. The new complex was to include a rectory at the 47th Street end of the lot, a clergy house for curates and assistants and a mission house for the sisters. The style would be
Erecting this building was a challenge to the architectural firm of
The cornerstone for the new church was laid on December 8, 1894, and the church was dedicated in 1895. The completed church was 60 feet (18 m) wide and 180 feet (55 m) long, and the nave was 80 feet (24 m) from floor to ceiling and 46 feet (14 m) wide. The chancel, at the north end of the building, was 48 feet (15 m) deep, terminating with the marble high altar moved from the former church. Complementing LeBrun's design were many sculptural decorations by J. Massey Rhind.[2]
Today
Today, Saint Mary's is known for its solemn liturgies and choral and organ music.
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Nave
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Statue of Our Lady
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Corpus Christi processional in Times Square
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Clergy and acolytes at the high altar
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The Most ReverendFrank T. Griswoldpreaching at Saint Mary's
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Rear of the church on 47th Street
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View towards the high altar
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Statue of the Blessed Virgin at the entrance
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A clip of Panorama from the Times Building, New York 1905, Church of St. Mary the Virgin near Times Square
Music
The choir of the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin is a professional
A number of musicians have served as organist and music director at the parish, among them McNeil Robinson, Kyler Brown, Christopher Babcock, Robert McCormick, James Kennerley, and Simon Whalley. The current organist and music director is David Hurd.
See also
- List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets
- High church
- Oxford Movement
- Donald L. Garfield
- Grieg Taber
- Granville M. Williams SSJE rector 1930-1939
References
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-470-28963-1.
- ^ a b c d Savage, Charles; Pierson, Marjorie (ed.) "Free Church of Saint-Mary-the-Virgin Designation Report" New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (December 19, 1989)
- ^ ISBN 0-231-12543-7.
- ^ "Explore Parochial Trends". Episcopal Church. Retrieved September 21, 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-19538-386-7.
External links
- Official website
- New York Architecture Images Midtown - St Mary the Virgin - 12 images plus a short history
- Historical documents on the parish from Project Canterbury