Brick Presbyterian Church (New York City) Explained

The Brick Presbyterian Church
Location:New York City, New York
Country:United States
Denomination:Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
Consecrated Date:January 1, 1768
Status:Church
Functional Status:Active
Presbytery:Presbytery of New York
Synod:Synod of the Northeast
Minister:The Rev. Dr. Thomas Evans, Senior Minister
The Rev. Adam D. Gorman, Associate Minister
The Rev. Michael L. Lindvall, Pastor Emeritus[1]

The Brick Presbyterian Church is a large congregation at Park Avenue and 91st Street on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in New York City. A congregation of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), it is known for its Day School and music programs. It was founded as an offshoot of First Presbyterian Church. Its first building, in Lower Manhattan, opened in 1768.[2] The Park Avenue location opened April 14, 1940.[3]

History

The first church building was built and designed by architect John McComb, Sr.[4] on the corner of Beekman and Nassau Streets. It opened doors on New Year's Day in 1768.[2] During the American Revolutionary War, the British used the church to house prisoners of war.[5] When the congregation moved uptown, the New-York Daily Times used the site for its new headquarters, a dedicated five-story building.[6]

In 1858, the congregation moved to a new building on Murray Hill at 37th Street and Fifth Avenue since its congregation had moved farther uptown. The dedication was on October 31.[7] [8]

On April 23, 1910, Mark Twain's funeral was held at the church and the Rev. Henry van Dyke Jr. officiated.[9]

By the late 1930s, the congregation had decided to move yet farther north. The building at Fifth and 37th was sold and demolished in 1938.[10] The church merged with Park Avenue Presbyterian Church in 1937 and the joint congregation built the 91st St. location. The church also acquired a residence on East 92nd St. to turn it into a Parish House.[11]

The cornerstone to the current building was laid on November 25, 1938, in the presence of Mayor Fiorello La Guardia.[12] [10] The congregation first worshipped on 91st Street on April 14, 1940. The New York Times described the building as "a model of a colonial house of worship, is red brick with white trimmings and huge circular white pillars at the front."[3]

Following the end of WWII, Mrs. Stephen C. Clark and some of her friends who had also lost sons and daughters in that war installed lighted trees along Park Avenue as a memorial not only to their children but to those from throughout the city who had given their lives. These trees were first lighted on Dec. 17, 1945, and dedicated to the memory of those who had died in all of our country's wars. Subsequently, they became known as the Park Avenue Memorial Trees. Every year since a ceremony involving caroling and the tree lighting takes place on the first Sunday in December on the Park Avenue steps of Brick Church.[13] [14]

Brick Church School

The Brick Church School has early childhood programs and was founded in 1940. Dr. Lydia Spinelli served as Director from 1983 to 2019, followed by Amy Warden from 2019 to 2022. Marie Fabian became the Director of the school in December 2022. Members of the church are given preference in the competitive application process.[15] [16]

Music

Dr. Raymond Nagem has been the Minister of Music at The Brick Church since September 2021. He leads the church's acclaimed professional choir.[17]

The sanctuary has a French Symphonic style organ with 6,288 pipes built by Casavant Frères of Quebec. The organ was dedicated with a recital by Dutch master Ben van Oosten in the fall of 2005,[18] and was designed in the style of Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, a 19th-century organ maker. Jean-Louis Coignet was a consultant in the project. Coignet had been a Parisian government employee who was in charge of the city’s organs.[19] [20] [21] There is a two manual, 26 rank mechanical action by Guilbault-Thérien in the Chapel of the Reformed Faith. This organ was installed in 1996 and is fashioned after French choir organs of the mid-19th century.

Notable clergy and members

External links

40.7842°N -73.9551°W

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Brick Presbyterian Church Staff . July 30, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120330014005/http://www.brickchurch.org/RelId/608457/ISvars/default/Ministers.htm . March 30, 2012 . dead .
  2. Book: Miller, Samuel. Memoir of the Rev. John Rodgers, D.D. late pastor of the Wall street and Brick churches, in the city of New York, Abridged from the original 1813 edition.. 1840. Presbyterian Board of Publication. Philadelphia.
  3. News: M'Dowell. Rachel K.. New Brick Church Opens Tomorrow – Three Services in Dedication to Mark First Use of the Park Ave. Building – St. George Communion – Protestant Police Group Will Attend Breakfast Later — Mission Meeting Monday. July 31, 2013. The New York Times. April 13, 1940. 14.
  4. Web site: 2018-09-27 . March 2017 . 2022-04-05 . Brick Church . en-US.
  5. Book: Wright . Otis Olney . History of Swansea, Massachusetts, 1667-1917 . 1917 . Town of Swansea . 54. June 13, 2018. 1018149266.
  6. News: Dunlap. David W.. 150th Anniversary: 1851-2001; Six Buildings That Share One Story. June 5, 2014. The New York Times. November 14, 2001. H55.
  7. News: City Items. The New "Brick Church". July 31, 2013. The New York Times. September 30, 1858. 4.
  8. Book: Knapp, Shepherd. A history of the Brick Presbyterian church in the city of New York. 1909. Trustees of the Brick Presbyterian church. New York. 277–292.
  9. News: Last Glimpse here of Mark Twain . September 16, 2018 . The New York Times . April 24, 1910 . 3.
  10. News: McDowell. Rachel K.. New Brick Church Plans Ceremony – Cornerstone Will Be Laid on Friday at Park Avenue and Ninety-first Street – University To Be Aided – Catholics to Make Collection — Testimonial for Rabbi Henry A. Schorr. July 31, 2013. The New York Times. November 19, 1938. 20.
  11. News: Church Dedication Is Set for April 14 – New Brick Presbyterian at Park Ave. and 91st St. Is Nearing Completion. July 31, 2013. The New York Times. March 11, 1940. 12.
  12. News: Mayor Lays Stone for a New Church – Officiates With Clergymen at Ceremonies for the Brick Presbyterian – Intolerance is Scored – La Guardia Marks Contrast Between Building Here and the Destruction Abroad. July 31, 2013. The New York Times. November 26, 1938. 13.
  13. Web site: 72nd Annual Park Avenue Tree Lighting Draws a Crowd (Photos). December 4, 2016.
  14. Web site: Best Christmas Trees to See in NYC.
  15. News: Goldman. Victoria. The Babie Ivies. July 31, 2013. The New York Times. January 12, 2003. A4.
  16. Web site: The Brick Church School History. July 31, 2013.
  17. Web site: Brick Church Ministry of Music. July 31, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20140813195311/http://www.brickchurch.org/RelId/608890/ISvars/default/Ministry_of_Music.htm. August 13, 2014. dead.
  18. Web site: Brick Presbyterian Church - New York City . 2022-04-05 . www.nycago.org.
  19. News: Shulman. Robin. Resurrecting Strains of the Past, Lovingly, Pipe by Pipe. July 31, 2013. The New York Times. July 24, 2005. A28.
  20. Ambrosino. Jon. Significant accomplishment. Choir & Organ. May–June 2006. July 31, 2013.
  21. Cover Feature. The American Organist. March 2006.
  22. Web site: The Legacy Project: James W.B. Benkard '63 . 2022-04-05 . www.law.columbia.edu . en.
  23. Web site: IN MEMORIAM: James W.B. Benkard – FishersIsland.net . 2022-04-05 . en-US.
  24. News: Bagpipe Tunes at Carnegie Wedding – Charm of Bonnie Scotland Lent to Miss Margaret's Nuptial with Ensign Miller – Heiress in Floral Bower – Simple Ceremony In Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Carnegie's Home, with Less Than 100 Guests . July 30, 2013. The New York Times. April 23, 1919.
  25. Web site: Couric . Katie . November 20, 2006 . Katie: The Importance of Faith...And Doubt . CBS News.
  26. News: Dulles Attends Brick Church Service. July 30, 2013. The New York Times. June 18, 1956.
  27. News: FAME GAINED; LOVE LOST.; Husband of Mrs. Agnes G. Kimball Seeks Divorce from Singer.. The New York Times. January 11, 1913. 1.
  28. Web site: June 29, 2016 . Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Democrat .
  29. Web site: John McComb: Old New York Architect – Green-Wood . 2022-04-05 . www.green-wood.com.
  30. News: 1956-06-22 . WATSON FUNERAL ATTENDED BY 1,200; Overflow Crowd at Brick Church Hears Tribute to I.B.M. Industrialist 'Singleness of Mind' 42 Honorary Pallbearers . en-US . The New York Times . 2022-04-05 . 0362-4331.
  31. Web site: 2018-09-27 . March 2017 . 2022-04-05 . Brick Church . en-US.

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