Church of Saint Michael and Saint Mark

Is this where the heart of New York’s spiritual journey lies? It certainly feels like it standing before the Church of Saint Michael and Saint Mark. This isn’t just any church. The Church of Saint Michael and Saint Mark represents over 350 years of uninterrupted faith and worship, a testament to the enduring spirit of this city. This makes it the oldest site of continuous religious practice in New York City. And believe it or not, the building itself is the second-oldest church structure in all of Manhattan. Think back to 1651. Petrus Stuyvesant, the Director General of New Netherland, purchased this land. He envisioned a peaceful farm, a “bouwerij” in Dutch – hence the name “Bowery.” By 1660, he built a family chapel right here, where we stand. This chapel became his final resting place, and it’s the reason the current church faces true South. It was aligned with a rural lane back then, long before the city grid even existed. In 1793, the Stuyvesant family made a momentous decision: they sold the chapel to the Episcopal Church. The asking price? A single dollar, a symbolic gesture that paved the way for a new chapter. The cornerstone of the current Church of Saint Michael and Saint Mark was laid in 1795. John McComb Jr., the architectural genius behind New York City Hall, designed and built this beautiful Georgian-style church. Imagine the scene on May 9th, 1799, as the church held its first official service. Alexander Hamilton himself, one of America’s founding fathers, played a pivotal role in securing its independence from Trinity Church – a bold move at the time!