Church of the Heavenly Rest
Encyclopedia
The Church of the Heavenly Rest is an Episcopal Church
on the Upper East Side
of New York City
, located on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 90th Street, opposite Central Park
and the Carnegie Mansion. The building is noted for its architecture
, and for some of its congregation members.
veterans, with the assistance of Reverend Robert Shaw Howland. It was meant as a memorial to soldiers who had died in the American Civil War
. By 1900, the Church amassed close to 1000 members. The Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest was originally located on Fifth Avenue and 46th Street before moving to its present site.
, Andrew Carnegie
's widow. Carnegie purchased the site in 1917 for $1.7 million dollars shortly after a sign was erected reading "for sale without restrictions," his ownership prevented apartment house development there that would intrude on his mansion's surroundings, but the site remained undeveloped with only a few billboards and a lemonade stand on one of the city's most expensive addresses. Its subsequent sale to the church carried the restrictions that the land could only be used "for a Christian church no higher than 75 feet, exclusive of steeple" through 1975.
The limestone church was designed in the neo-Gothic style by the firm Mayers, Murray & Phillip, successors to Bertram Goodhue
. Goodhue died before the first stone was laid. Mayers Murray & Phillip
took over construction. It opened Easter Sunday 1929, seating 1,050, at a cost of $3.2 million. Sculpture was to be executed by Malvina Hoffman
, Lee Lawrie
, and other artists. The architecture and sculpture combined Neo-Gothic styles
with Art deco
details. However, over two-thirds of the sculptural program was never executed; sculptor Janet Scudder
withdrew from a commission in 1928 after it was downsized. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 ended other work and the blocky limestone facade was retained without sculpture.
Innovative design features included unobstructed views of the altar, indirect lighting and a high-tech sound system.
's funeral took place there. Gloria Swanson
's ashes were interred there.
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
on the Upper East Side
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side lies within an area bounded by 59th Street to 96th Street, and the East River to Fifth Avenue-Central Park...
of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, located on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 90th Street, opposite Central Park
Central Park
Central Park is a public park in the center of Manhattan in New York City, United States. The park initially opened in 1857, on of city-owned land. In 1858, Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux won a design competition to improve and expand the park with a plan they entitled the Greensward Plan...
and the Carnegie Mansion. The building is noted for its architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
, and for some of its congregation members.
Congregation history
The Church was founded in 1865 (officially established in 1868) by American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
veterans, with the assistance of Reverend Robert Shaw Howland. It was meant as a memorial to soldiers who had died in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. By 1900, the Church amassed close to 1000 members. The Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest was originally located on Fifth Avenue and 46th Street before moving to its present site.
Present church building
The land for the current site was sold to the church in 1926 by Louise Whitfield CarnegieLouise Whitfield Carnegie
Louise Whitfield Carnegie was the wife of philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.Daughter of New York City merchant John D. Whitfield, Louise was born in the Gramercy Park neighborhood of Manhattan...
, Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a Scottish-American industrialist, businessman, and entrepreneur who led the enormous expansion of the American steel industry in the late 19th century...
's widow. Carnegie purchased the site in 1917 for $1.7 million dollars shortly after a sign was erected reading "for sale without restrictions," his ownership prevented apartment house development there that would intrude on his mansion's surroundings, but the site remained undeveloped with only a few billboards and a lemonade stand on one of the city's most expensive addresses. Its subsequent sale to the church carried the restrictions that the land could only be used "for a Christian church no higher than 75 feet, exclusive of steeple" through 1975.
The limestone church was designed in the neo-Gothic style by the firm Mayers, Murray & Phillip, successors to Bertram Goodhue
Bertram Goodhue
Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue was a American architect celebrated for his work in neo-gothic design. He also designed notable typefaces, including Cheltenham and Merrymount for the Merrymount Press.-Early career:...
. Goodhue died before the first stone was laid. Mayers Murray & Phillip
Mayers Murray & Phillip
Mayers, Murray & Phillip was an architecture firm in New York city and the successor firm to Goodhue Associates, after Bertram Goodhue's unexpected death in 1924. The principals were Francis L.S...
took over construction. It opened Easter Sunday 1929, seating 1,050, at a cost of $3.2 million. Sculpture was to be executed by Malvina Hoffman
Malvina Hoffman
Malvina Hoffman , was an American sculptor and author, well known for her life-size bronze sculptures of people...
, Lee Lawrie
Lee Lawrie
Lee Oscar Lawrie was one of the United States' foremost architectural sculptors and a key figure in the American art scene preceding World War II...
, and other artists. The architecture and sculpture combined Neo-Gothic styles
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
with Art deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
details. However, over two-thirds of the sculptural program was never executed; sculptor Janet Scudder
Janet Scudder
Janet Scudder was an American sculptor.-Biography:Born as Netta Deweze Frazee, Scudder's childhood was marred by tragedy. Her father was a hardworking Terre Haute, Indiana confectioner who was active in community affairs. Her mother died, aged 38, on September 6, 1874...
withdrew from a commission in 1928 after it was downsized. The Stock Market Crash of 1929 ended other work and the blocky limestone facade was retained without sculpture.
Innovative design features included unobstructed views of the altar, indirect lighting and a high-tech sound system.
Notable people
President Chester A. ArthurChester A. Arthur
Chester Alan Arthur was the 21st President of the United States . Becoming President after the assassination of President James A. Garfield, Arthur struggled to overcome suspicions of his beginnings as a politician from the New York City Republican machine, succeeding at that task by embracing...
's funeral took place there. Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson
Gloria Swanson was an American actress, singer and producer. She was one of the most prominent stars during the silent film era as both an actress and a fashion icon, especially under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille, made dozens of silents and was nominated for the first Academy Award in the...
's ashes were interred there.