Church of the Incarnation and Parish House
Encyclopedia
- Not to be confused with the Church of the Incarnation, Roman Catholic (Manhattan)Church of the Incarnation, Roman Catholic (Manhattan)The Church of the Incarnation is a Roman Catholic parish church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located at 1290 St. Nicholas Avenue at the corner of 175th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue, Washington Heights, Manhattan, New York City, New York. The church is known as "the St...
on St. Nicolas Avenue and 175th Street
The Church of the Incarnation is a historic Episcopal
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...
church at 205-209 Madison Avenue at the northeast corner of 35th Street in the Murray Hill
Murray Hill, Manhattan
Murray Hill is a Midtown Manhattan neighborhood in New York City, USA. Around 1987 many real estate promoters of the neighborhood and newer residents described the boundaries as within East 34th Street, East 42nd Street, Madison Avenue, and the East River; in 1999, Frank P...
neighborhood of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, 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...
. The church was founded in 1850 as a chapel of Grace Church located at 28th Street and Madison. In 1852, it became an independent parish, and in 1864-85 the parish built its own sanctuary at its current location.
Notable among the parishioners of the church were Admiral David Farragut
David Farragut
David Glasgow Farragut was a flag officer of the United States Navy during the American Civil War. He was the first rear admiral, vice admiral, and admiral in the United States Navy. He is remembered in popular culture for his order at the Battle of Mobile Bay, usually paraphrased: "Damn the...
and Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an advocate for civil rights. After her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to be an international...
, who was confirmed in the church. The funeral for the mother of Franklin Delano Roosevelt was held at the church, and a ramp was built so that FDR could attend.
Buildings
The sanctuary was built in 1864-1865, and was designed by Emlen T. Littel. It was "distinguished for both its architecture and refined interior decoration and artwork." The cornerstone was laid on March 8, 1864 by Bishop Horatio PotterHoratio Potter
The Right Reverend Horatio Potter , was an Episcopal Bishop in the Diocese of New York.The youngest brother of Bishop Alonzo Potter, he was born near Beekman , Dutchess County, New York on 9 February 1802, to Quaker farmers Joseph and Anne Potter...
of the New York Diocese, the first services were held on December 11 of the same year Recor Rev Henry Eglinton Montgomery, and the church was consecrated on April 20, 1865. The church rectory was constructed in 1868-69, designed by Robert Mook.
Except for its tower and walls, the building was destroyed by a fire which began on March 24, 1882. It was rebuilt and enlarged by David Jardine
David and John Jardine
The brothers David , John E. and George Elliott Jardine were architects of Scottish nationality, sons of a Scottish architect-builder of Whithorn, Wigtownshire; they took up American citizenship and practiced in New York City, forming "one of the more prominent, prolific and versatile...
, with a spire added in 1896 by Heins and LaFarge following Jardine's designs. In 1905-06 the church rectory was rebuilt and received a new facade in neo-Jacobean style designed by Edward P. Casey. It is now the H. Percy Silver Parish House.
The building was designated a New York City landmark in 1979, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1982. In 1991, a renovation of the building was supervised by Jan Hird Pokorny.
Artworks
The church contains art work by noted Victorian artists including Louis Comfort TiffanyLouis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements...
, John Lafarge
John LaFarge
John La Farge was an American painter, muralist, stained glass window maker, decorator, and writer.-Biography:...
, Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Augustus Saint-Gaudens
Augustus Saint-Gaudens was the Irish-born American sculptor of the Beaux-Arts generation who most embodied the ideals of the "American Renaissance"...
, Edward Burne-Jones
Edward Burne-Jones
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet was a British artist and designer closely associated with the later phase of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, who worked closely with William Morris on a wide range of decorative arts as a founding partner in Morris, Marshall, Faulkner, and Company...
, William Morris
William Morris
William Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
, Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French
Daniel Chester French was an American sculptor. His best-known work is the sculpture of a seated Abraham Lincoln at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.-Life and career:...
and Henry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson
Henry Hobson Richardson was a prominent American architect who designed buildings in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago, Pittsburgh, and other cities. The style he popularized is named for him: Richardsonian Romanesque...
.
Stained glass windows
A list of stained glassStained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows by various artists of the Victorian Era
Victorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
.
South Wall
- "Christ's Resurrection and Ascension" by Henry HolidayHenry HolidayHenry Holiday was an English historical genre and landscape painter, stained glass designer, illustrator and sculptor. He is considered to be a member of the Pre-Raphaelite school of art.-Early years and training:...
Company - "Moses and the Law" by Heaton, Butler & BayneHeaton, Butler and BayneHeaton, Butler and Bayne is the name of an English firm who produced stained glass windows from 1855 onwards.-History:Clement Heaton originally founded his own stained glass firm in 1852, joined by James Butler in 1855. Between 1859-61 they worked alongside Clayton and Bell and were joined by...
- "St. Paul on Mars Hill" by Clayton & BellClayton and BellClayton and Bell was one of the most prolific and proficient workshops of English stained glass during the latter half of the 19th century. The partners were John Richard Clayton and Alfred Bell . The company was founded in 1855 and continued until 1993...
- "Christ Calling Peter and Paul" by John LaFargeJohn LaFargeJohn La Farge was an American painter, muralist, stained glass window maker, decorator, and writer.-Biography:...
- "Christian Nurturing" by Henry HolidayHenry HolidayHenry Holiday was an English historical genre and landscape painter, stained glass designer, illustrator and sculptor. He is considered to be a member of the Pre-Raphaelite school of art.-Early years and training:...
Company - "God as a Good Vintner" by John LaFargeJohn LaFargeJohn La Farge was an American painter, muralist, stained glass window maker, decorator, and writer.-Biography:...
- "Infant Children" by William MorrisWilliam MorrisWilliam Morris 24 March 18343 October 1896 was an English textile designer, artist, writer, and socialist associated with the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood and the English Arts and Crafts Movement...
of Morris & CompanyMorris & Co.Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. and its successor Morris & Co. were furnishings and decorative arts manufacturers and retailers founded by the Pre-Raphaelite artist and designer William Morris... - "The Pilgrim" by Louis Comfort TiffanyLouis Comfort TiffanyLouis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements...
- "Apostles" by Heaton, Butler & BayneHeaton, Butler and BayneHeaton, Butler and Bayne is the name of an English firm who produced stained glass windows from 1855 onwards.-History:Clement Heaton originally founded his own stained glass firm in 1852, joined by James Butler in 1855. Between 1859-61 they worked alongside Clayton and Bell and were joined by...
North Wall
- "Faith & Charity" by Edward Burne-JonesEdward Burne-JonesSir Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1st Baronet was a British artist and designer closely associated with the later phase of the Pre-Raphaelite movement, who worked closely with William Morris on a wide range of decorative arts as a founding partner in Morris, Marshall, Faulkner, and Company...
, Henry HolidayHenry HolidayHenry Holiday was an English historical genre and landscape painter, stained glass designer, illustrator and sculptor. He is considered to be a member of the Pre-Raphaelite school of art.-Early years and training:...
of London - "Feeding the multitudeFeeding the multitudeFeeding the multitude is the combined term used to refer to two separate miracles of Jesus in the Gospels.The First Miracle, "The Feeding of the 5,000" is the only miracle which is present in all four canonical Gospels...
s" by Cottin & Company - "Love of Christ", designer unknown
- "Victory over Death" by Tiffany Studios
- "23rd Psalm" by Tiffany Studios
- "Samuel"by Guthrie and Davis
West Wall
- "Dignity of Labor" by Tiffany Studios
- "Great West Window" by Charles Eamer KempeCharles Eamer KempeCharles Eamer Kempe was a well-known Victorian stained glass designer. After attending Twyford School, he studied for the priesthood at Pembroke College, Oxford, but it became clear that his severe stammer would be an impediment to preaching...
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan from 14th to 59th StreetsNational Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan from 14th to 59th StreetsThis is a list of properties and districts in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.This is intended to be a complete list of properties and districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets...
- List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets