Churches of New York
Worship arrived in America with the first humans hundreds of thousands of years ago. The first temples built, before the arrival of Europeans, are not well known. Religion has played an important role in the history of U.S.A. Much has changed with the arrival of European immigrants.
The first known houses of worship in New York City were built in the 17th century by Dutch settlers. Since then, many others churches have been built in the City. Some of the oldest existing churches were built in the 18th century.
During the Independence War (1775-1783) some churches were dismantled by the British troops and used for storage, as hospital or as prison. Some were burned in by the Great Fire of 1776, like the first temple of Trinity Church.
By 1860, there were over 250 churches in New York City, many occupying temples of real architectural distinction.
Churches in New York City:
• Brick Presbyterian Church, 1st temple, Beekman Street ►
• Brick Presbyterian Church, 2nd temple, Fifth Avenue ►
• Brick Presbyterian Church, 3rd temple, Park Avenue ►
• Calvary Church (Episcopal), Park Avenue South ►
• Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Amsterdam Avenue ►
• Central Presbyterian Church, Park Avenue, at 64th St. ►
• Chapel of St. Cornelius the Centurion, Governors Island ►
• Church of the Epiphany (Episcopal), Lexington Avenue ►
• Church of the Holy Trinity (2nd temple), Madison Avenue ►
• Church of the Holy Trinity (3rd temple), East 88th Street ►
• Church of the Strangers, Mercer Street and Waverly Place ►
• Church of the Transfiguration, East 29th Street ►
• Dutch Reformed Church, Washington Square ►
• Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church at West 55th Street ►
• Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church at East 22nd Street ►
• Grace Church (Episcopal), 2nd temple, 800 Broadway ►
• Madison Square Presbyterian Church (1854) ►
• Marble Collegiate Church, 5th Avenue at 29th Street ►
• New Dutch Church, Nassau and Liberty streets ►
• North Dutch Church, Fulton and William streets ►
• Plymouth Church of the Pilgrims, Brooklyn ►
• Riverside Church, Baptist congregation, Riverside Drive ►
• Rutgers Presbyterian Church (old temple), Broadway ►
• South Dutch Reformed Church, 5th Avenue at 21st Street ►
• St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Park Avenue ►
• St. George's Episcopal Church, Stuyvesant Square ►
• St. John's Chapel (parish of Trinity Church), Varick Street ►
• St. Mark's-in-the-Bowery Church, 2nd Avenue. & 11th St. ►
• St. Patrick's Cathedral (Roman Catholic), Fifth Avenue ►
• St. Paul's Chapel (parish of Trinity Church), Broadway ►
• Temple Emanu-El (Synagogue, demolished), Fifth Avenue ►
• Trinity Church, Episcopal Parish, Broadway and Wall Street ►
• Unitarian Church of the Messiah (Community Church) ►
Broadway showing Trinity Church and Grace Church based on drawing by William Strickland (1787-1854), dated 1812. Source: Columbia University.
This is the second temple of Trinity Church, completed in 1790 and demolished, in 1839. Grace Church, old temple on the corner of Broadway and Rector Street, held the first worship service on December 21, 1808. The new building, where the church sits today, was consecrated on March 7, 1846.
Vintage Images
Copyright © Geographic Guide - Antique photographs of NYC. |
Churches of New York
Vintage Images