Did you know that Saint Paul’s Methodist Protestant Church has roots stretching back to 1834? It began as the Second Wesleyan Chapel. It was located on Manhattan’s Lower East Side.
Let’s explore the story of Saint Paul’s Methodist Protestant Church. Its journey reflects the changing face of New York City. The church evolved alongside the city. It adapted to new challenges and embraced opportunities.
In its early days, Saint Paul’s Methodist Protestant Church was progressive. It was only the second “pewed” Methodist church in New York City. This was quite controversial back then. Pews were seen as an innovation. Many Methodists resisted them.
The congregation moved several times. In 1857, it moved to Fourth Avenue and East 22nd Street. Then in 1893, Saint Paul’s sold its white marble church building. It was known as the most expensive Methodist Church edifice in the city. The sale price was $304,000. Services were temporarily held in a chapel on Fifth Avenue.
In 1894, seven lots on West End Avenue were purchased for $125,000. Plans were made for a new church, schoolroom, and parsonage. Construction began in 1895. The project was completed two years later. The cornerstone was laid on June 27, 1895. It contained the 1857 cornerstone. It also held a piece of marble from the old church. Various contemporary documents were included.
Robert H. Robertson designed the new Saint Paul’s Methodist Protestant Church. He created a happy marriage of styles. The design included a soaring octagonal bell tower inspired by German Romanesque churches. There were Renaissance balconies at the belfry. A shorter square tower sat askew at the opposite corner. An Italian Renaissance entrance porch completed the design. The New York Times described the style as an outgrowth of a study in the Spanish Renaissance.
Inside Saint Paul’s Methodist Protestant Church, the audience room was octagonal. There was a gallery on three sides. The walls above the galleries were supported by arches. The ceiling was an elliptical dome with panel ornamentation. The church cost $300,000. It was designed to seat 1,200 worshipers.
Dedication services were held in September 1897. One service lasted until 2 o’clock. Bishop Foster commented that Saint Paul’s Methodist Protestant Church was without a peer among Methodist church edifices.
Not everything about Saint Paul’s Methodist Protestant Church was progressive. In 1927, Rev. Dr. Clarence True Wilson predicted the end of liquor traffic. However, the Eighteenth Amendment was repealed in 1933.
In 1937, Saint Andrew’s Methodist Episcopal Church merged with Saint Paul’s. This created the Church of Saint Paul and Saint Andrew.
Saint Paul’s Methodist Protestant Church has maintained a commitment to New York’s immigrant population. In 1963, the church launched its first Spanish-language ministry. It continues a dual language Sunday School program. It also has a weekly Homework Help tutoring program.
Since the 1990s, Saint Paul’s Methodist Protestant Church has played a role in social-justice advocacy movements. In 1991, it became a reconciling congregation. This welcomed LGBTQ+ individuals.
Today, Saint Paul’s Methodist Protestant Church stands as a testament to faith. It is a beacon of community and a symbol of architectural beauty. It embodies the spirit of its ever-evolving neighborhood. It continues to serve. It adapts and thrives.