Originally called the Fifth Avenue Church, can you guess why Marble Collegiate Church got its current name? It is now named for its facade. The facade is covered in Tuckahoe marble. This beautiful building stands at 272 Fifth Avenue. It sits at the corner of West 29th Street.
Marble Collegiate Church is not just another pretty building. It is one of the oldest Protestant congregations in North America. It was founded way back in 1628. This makes it a true New York City institution.
Designed by Samuel A. Warner, Marble Collegiate Church was built between 1851 and 1854. Its architectural style is Romanesque Revival. Gothic trim adds to its unique look. In 1967, it became a New York City landmark. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
The church has a rich history. It began as the Collegiate Reformed Protestant Dutch Church. This linked it to the Dutch Reformed Church in the Netherlands. For its first 150 years, ministers served multiple Collegiate congregations. That changed in 1871.
The name Collegiate is a shared heritage. Four churches in New York City still carry it. They jointly manage properties and investments. The other Collegiate churches are Middle Collegiate, West End Collegiate, and Fort Washington Collegiate.
Norman Vincent Peale led Marble Collegiate Church from 1932 to 1984. He wrote The Power of Positive Thinking. His leadership made the church nationally known. It became America’s Hometown Church. Lucille Ball even married Gary Morton here in 1961.
Arthur Caliandro followed Peale. He served as senior minister for 25 years. During his time, MarbleVision was founded. The church ordained its first woman minister. It welcomed its first women elders. A new stained-glass window was added after almost 100 years.
Michael B. Brown took over in 2009. He came from North Carolina.
The Trump family has ties to Marble Collegiate Church. Norman Vincent Peale officiated Donald Trump’s first marriage to Ivana in 1977. In 1993, Arthur Caliandro performed Trump’s marriage to Marla Maples. Trump claimed to attend Marble during his 2015-16 presidential run. However, the church clarified that he was not an active member.
Marble Collegiate Church embraces inclusivity. It welcomes LGBT people. It performs same-sex marriage ceremonies. The church participates in the NYC Pride parade.
Inside Marble Collegiate Church, stained glass tells stories. The nave has ten large windows. Each features Romanesque arches. Originally, the windows were clear. In 1891, they were replaced with geometric designs.
Dr. Burrell wanted biblical scenes in the windows. Frederick Wilson created the first narrative windows. His Joshua Leading the Israelites was installed in 1900. Moses and the Burning Bush followed in 1901.
Roy Coomber created the Crucifixion and Pentecost windows. Sarah Hall designed Nativity and Peaceful Kingdom. Debora Coombs depicted Stilling the Storm and Sermon on the Mount. Nikki Vogt created Good Samaritan and Prodigal Son. Kenneth Crocker worked on The Creation.
Marble Collegiate Church stands as a beacon. It is a landmark of faith. It is a testament to history. It is a welcoming community. Its doors are open to all.