St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery
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| St Mark's Church in the Bowery | |
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| U.S. National Register of Historic Places | |
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| Location: | East Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York |
| Built/Founded: | 1799, restored 1975-1978, restored 1978-1984[1] |
| Architect: | Ithiel Town Harold Edelman |
| Architectural style(s): | Federal body, Greek Revival steeple |
| Added to NRHP: | June 19, 1972 |
| Governing body: | Episcopal Church |
St. Mark's Church in-the-Bowery, at 131 East 10th Street, is located at the intersection of 10th and Stuyvesant Streets and 2nd Avenue in the East Village in New York City.
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[edit] History and architecture
In 1651, Peter Stuyvesant, Governor of New Amsterdam, purchased land for a bowery or farm from the Dutch West India Company and by 1660 built a family chapel at the present day site of St. Marks Church. Stuyvesant died in 1678 and was interred in a vault under the chapel.
Stuyvesant's great-grandson, Petrus, would donate the chapel property to Episcopal Church in 1793, stipulating that a new chapel be erected and in 1795 the cornerstone of the present day St. Mark's Church was laid. The church was completed and consecrated in 1799. Alexander Hamilton would then provide legal aid in incorporating St. Mark's Church as the first Episcopal Parish independent of Trinity Church in the new world.
In 1828, the church steeple, designed by Martin E. Thomson and Ithiel Towne is erected. Soon after the two-story fieldstone Sunday School is completed. In 1838, St. Mark's Church establishes the Parish Infant School for poor children. Later, in 1861, St Mark's Church commissioned a brick addition, designed and supervised by architect James Renwick, Jr. and the St. Mark's Hospital Association is organized by members of St. Mark's. And at the start of the 20th century, leading architect Ernest Flagg designed the rectory.
While the 19th century saw St Mark's Church grow through its many construction projects the 20th century would be marked by community service and cultural expansion. Several Dutch dignitaries made stops by the church on their visit to the states. In 1952, Queen Juliana of the Netherlands would visit the church and lay a wreath given by her mother, Queen Wilhelmina, at the bust of Peter Stuyvesant. And later, in 1981 and 1982, Princess Margriet and Queen Beatrix, both of the Netherlands would visit.
In 1966, The Poetry Project and The Film Project (later to become the Millennium Film Workshop), were founded. And in 1975, The Danspace Project is founded by Larry Fagin; the Community Documentation Workshop under the direction of Arthur Tobier is established; and the Preservation Youth Project expands to a full-time Work Training Program and under the supervision of artisan teachers undertakes mission of the preserving St Mark's landmark exterior.
On July 27, 1978, a fire nearly destroyed St. Mark's Church. The Citizens to Save St Mark's was founded to raise funds for its reconstruction and the Preservation Youth Project undertakes the reconstruction supervised by architects Harold Edleman and craftspeople provided by preservation contractor I. Maas & Sons. The Landmark Fund emerged from the Citizens to Save St Mark's and continues to exist to help maintain and preserve St. Mark's Church for future generations. Restoration finished in 1986.
[edit] Services
St. Mark's Church is a very active parish church, holding services, concerts, and occasional lectures. The church services include a long established Hispanic ministry and more recently a Japanese ministry.
[edit] Staff
- Reverend John E. Denaro, Priest-in-Charge
- Reverend Michael Relyea, Associate Pastors
- Reverend Frank Morales, Associate Pastors
[edit] St Mark's and the arts
St. Mark's also hosts modern artistic endeavors, The Poetry Project, Danspace Project holding events year round. Richard Foreman's avant-garde theater, Ontological-Hysteric Theater, is also housed there.
[edit] Famous congregants
- Gideon Lee, Vestryman and Treasurer of St. Mark's Church as well as Mayor of New York City
[edit] Notable burials
- Daniel D. Tompkins, Vice President of the U.S. under President James Monroe and former Governor of New York
- Alexander Turney Stewart, the wealthy New York merchant, is buried in 1876. Three weeks later his body is stolen and held for ransom.
[edit] Miscellanea
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Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones. |
- Gideon Lee, Vestryman and Treasurer of St. Mark's Church, is elected Mayor of New York City in 1832.
- 1860 The Ladies' Benevolent Society is formed by women of St. Mark's Church.
- American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright presents plans to build two high-rise towers on St. Mark's grounds in 1929.
- In 1940, St. Mark's Church becomes a branch of Bundles for Britain, Inc.
- Shortly after the 1996 murder of Abe Lebewohl, owner of the famous Jewish Deli, 2nd Avenue Deli across the street, the two triangle gardens in front of the church were renamed in his honor.
- During the 2004 Republican National Convention, hosted in New York City, St Mark's Church hosted the National Anarchist Movement by allowing the young members to erect a temporary encampment on its grounds.
[edit] References
- ^ "AIA Guide to New York City, 4th Edition, pg 173
[edit] External links
- St Mark's Church in-the-Bowery – Official website
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