St. Nicholas Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church
Encyclopedia
St. Nicholas Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church was a Reformed Protestant Dutch church in Midtown Manhattan
, New York City
that at the time of its demolition in 1949 was the oldest congregation in Manhattan. The church was located on the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and Forty-eighth Street. The church was built in 1872 to Gothic Revival
designs in brownstone
by architect W. Wheeler Smith
and "distinguished by an elegantly tapered spire that, according to John A. Bradley in the New York Times, 'many declare…the most beautiful in this country.'" The congregation dated back to 1628.
In the 1920s, the governing body of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Churches of New York considered putting the church up for sale, which prompted an early preservation campaign in New York with the Rev. Dr. Joseph R. Sizoo, the church’s minster, arguing that the church was “a shrine” and its sale would put the dollar sign before the cross. Despite initial success, the tension between the minister with congregation and the pro-sale church governing body led most of the congregation and Dr. Sizoo to leave. The governing body pitched the sale again, and after "considerable public debate," the church was demolished to make way for the former Sinclair Oil
Building at 596 Fifth Avenue, now 600 Fifth Avenue.
Midtown Manhattan
Midtown Manhattan, or simply Midtown, is an area of Manhattan, New York City home to world-famous commercial zones such as Rockefeller Center, Broadway, and Times Square...
, 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...
that at the time of its demolition in 1949 was the oldest congregation in Manhattan. The church was located on the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and Forty-eighth Street. The church was built in 1872 to Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
designs in brownstone
Brownstone
Brownstone is a brown Triassic or Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States to refer to a terraced house clad in this material.-Types:-Apostle Island brownstone:...
by architect W. Wheeler Smith
W. Wheeler Smith
William Wheeler Smith, AIA, professionally known as "W. Wheeler Smith," was an American architect and developer active in late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century New York City. His home office was located at 17 East 77th Street, New York City...
and "distinguished by an elegantly tapered spire that, according to John A. Bradley in the New York Times, 'many declare…the most beautiful in this country.'" The congregation dated back to 1628.
In the 1920s, the governing body of the Reformed Protestant Dutch Churches of New York considered putting the church up for sale, which prompted an early preservation campaign in New York with the Rev. Dr. Joseph R. Sizoo, the church’s minster, arguing that the church was “a shrine” and its sale would put the dollar sign before the cross. Despite initial success, the tension between the minister with congregation and the pro-sale church governing body led most of the congregation and Dr. Sizoo to leave. The governing body pitched the sale again, and after "considerable public debate," the church was demolished to make way for the former Sinclair Oil
Sinclair Oil
Sinclair Oil Corporation is an American petroleum corporation, founded by Harry F. Sinclair on May 1, 1916 as the Sinclair Oil & Refining Corporation by combining the assets of 11 small petroleum companies. Originally a New York corporation, Sinclair Oil reincorporated in Wyoming in 1976...
Building at 596 Fifth Avenue, now 600 Fifth Avenue.