West Presbyterian Church (New York City)
Encyclopedia
West Presbyterian Church was a former Presbyterian church located at 31 West 42nd Street. Founded 1829 as North Presbyterian Church (New York City)
, "Within a few years [in the late 1830s] it changed its name to West Presbyterian Church." "In 1860, following the northward movement of Manhattan’s population, [the congregation] was relocated [from Greenwich Village
]...and soon built a Victorian Gothic-style edifice.... West Presbyterian counted a number of distinguished citizens among its membership, including Russell Sage
, Jay Gould
, and Alfred H. Smith, and by 1890 had become known as the millionaires’ gate to heaven. By the early twentieth century, commercialization of its midtown location led to the displacement of the area’s residential population and the loss of many of West Presbyterian’s members, including the prominent men mentioned above after an internal dispute. As a consequence, [West and Park Presbyterian] began competing for members and decided to merge their memberships, forming the West-Park Presbyterian Church (New York City)." "The deal between the two organizations included the construction of a new church in Washington Heights at 175th Street and Wadsworth Avenue, called the Fort Washington Presbyterian Church (New York City), which remained affiliated with West Park until 1923."
North Presbyterian Church (New York City)
North Presbyterian Church was a former Presbyterian church located at 273 Bleecker Street, Carmine Street, Greenwich Village. Founded 1829, the church building was built 1831-1832 to designs by Town & Davis. "Within a few years it changed its name to West Presbyterian Church ." Following a move...
, "Within a few years [in the late 1830s] it changed its name to West Presbyterian Church." "In 1860, following the northward movement of Manhattan’s population, [the congregation] was relocated [from Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
]...and soon built a Victorian Gothic-style edifice.... West Presbyterian counted a number of distinguished citizens among its membership, including Russell Sage
Russell Sage
Russell Sage was a financier, railroad executive and Whig politician from New York, United States. As a frequent partner of Jay Gould in various transactions, he amassed a fortune, which passed to his second wife, Margaret Olivia Slocum Sage, when he died...
, Jay Gould
Jay Gould
Jason "Jay" Gould was a leading American railroad developer and speculator. He has long been vilified as an archetypal robber baron, whose successes made him the ninth richest American in history. Condé Nast Portfolio ranked Gould as the 8th worst American CEO of all time...
, and Alfred H. Smith, and by 1890 had become known as the millionaires’ gate to heaven. By the early twentieth century, commercialization of its midtown location led to the displacement of the area’s residential population and the loss of many of West Presbyterian’s members, including the prominent men mentioned above after an internal dispute. As a consequence, [West and Park Presbyterian] began competing for members and decided to merge their memberships, forming the West-Park Presbyterian Church (New York City)." "The deal between the two organizations included the construction of a new church in Washington Heights at 175th Street and Wadsworth Avenue, called the Fort Washington Presbyterian Church (New York City), which remained affiliated with West Park until 1923."