Wasn’t it Ralph Adams Cram who designed this magnificent Christ Church United Methodist? This isn’t just any church. It’s a testament to architectural brilliance. Christ Church United Methodist stands proudly at the corner of Park Avenue and 60th Street. Its history stretches back further than its 1933 dedication.
The story begins long before the building you see today. In 1881 the Madison Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church was formed. It served a growing community of affluent families. Many came from the Fourth Avenue Methodist Episcopal Church. A new building was constructed between 1881 and 1883. It was a Romanesque masterpiece designed by R H Robertson. The original church seated 750. Its bell tower soared 175 feet.
By the 1920s the building proved too small. The congregation purchased an adjacent lot. They then decided a new church was needed. They acquired a larger site nearby. This new site is where Christ Church United Methodist stands today.
In the early 1930s they hired Ralph Adams Cram. He is famed for his Gothic churches. He surprisingly used Romanesque and Byzantine styles for this church. This created a harmonious exterior. The Great Depression and World War II delayed the interior’s completion. The planned mosaics weren’t added until 1948-1949.
Christ Church United Methodist also became famous for its National Radio Pulpit. Reverend Dr Ralph W Sockman’s sermons aired on NBC radio. His broadcasts ran from 1928 to 1962. He was associated with the church for fifty years.
The church’s impressive Casavant Frères organ was installed in 1960. It’s a four-manual instrument with 76 registers. It’s a marvel of craftsmanship. In 1982 an Austin console was added for the nave. Later updates included a solid-state memory system. This was updated with a Trompette en chamade in the gallery in 1999. Christ Church United Methodist is more than just a place of worship. It is a landmark of history architecture and faith. This building reflects its rich past and enduring spirit. A true treasure of New York City.