Have you ever heard of a church nicknamed the church of the United Nations? That’s the Church of the Covenant in New York City. It’s located near the United Nations headquarters on 42nd Street. This isn’t the original Church of the Covenant though.
The story begins in 1860. Rev Dr George L Prentiss founded the first Church of the Covenant. He was a pastor from the Mercer Street Presbyterian Church. He’d just returned from Europe. Friends and former parishioners helped him establish a new church in Murray Hill. It was a New School church meaning it was a Liberal Presbyterian church. This church fully embraced Revivalism.
Initially services were held in a chapel. It was the chapel of the Home for the Friendless on East 23rd Street. Prentiss gave his first sermon on November 25 1860. This was just nineteen days after President Lincoln’s election. In 1861 the church moved to Dodworth’s studio building. This was on Fifth Avenue and Twenty-sixth Street. The church was officially organized in March 1862. Three ruling elders were appointed.
The church was named the Church of the Covenant. They wanted a name that wouldn’t be tied to a specific street address. They didn’t want the church’s identity lost if it moved. The name became highly beloved.
In 1865 the Church of the Covenant got its first building. It was designed by James Renwick Jr. He also designed St Patrick’s Cathedral. This first church was located on Park Avenue and 35th Street. It was built in Romanesque style. The total cost was $160000.
Early on the Church of the Covenant started a young men’s prayer group. This group was on the East Side. They rented space above a stable. This was at 206 East Fortieth Street. The group grew quickly. They needed a larger space. The church wanted it to be the most attractive place for its worshippers.
The Church of the Covenant expanded. A mission chapel was built in 1871 at 310 East 42nd Street. It cost $50000. The architect was J Cleveland Cady. This chapel was a memorial to the reunion of the Old School and New School Presbyterian churches. The reunion happened in 1869. A joint prayer meeting marked the occasion.
Later the Church of the Covenant merged with the Brick Church. The Park Avenue property was sold to create an endowment. This ensured a strong Presbyterian church in Manhattan. The name Church of the Covenant was transferred to the mission chapel. The current Covenant Church is a direct descendant of this mission chapel. The Covenant Church continues to thrive in New York City to this day a testament to its enduring legacy.