Imagine scenes from the Old and New Testaments etched in bronze. These are not just any doors. They are portals to history at Saint Bartholomew’s Church.
Saint Bartholomew’s Church is commonly called St. Bart’s. It is an Episcopal parish with a rich past. It was founded in 1835. Today, it stands on Park Avenue between 50th and 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan.
The story of Saint Bartholomew’s Church spans three locations. The first service occurred in January 1835. It was held in a simple church at Great Jones Street and Lafayette Place. By 1872, the congregation had grown. A new church was built at Madison Avenue and East 44th Street. James Renwick designed it. He was also the architect of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. In 1902, Stanford White added a French Romanesque Revival portal.
Serious structural problems appeared. The parish commissioned Bertram Goodhue to design the current Saint Bartholomew’s Church. Its construction began in 1916. The design was altered to incorporate the bronze doors from the Madison Avenue church. These doors depict scenes from the Old and New Testaments.
The foundation stone was laid on May 1, 1917. The church was consecrated in 1918. The Romanesque style provided a setting for the Stanford White portal. Bertram Goodhue’s original design featured a vast space. It had no side aisles or chapels. After Goodhue’s death in 1924, Mayers, Murray and Philips modified the design. They added a tiled dome instead of a spire. Saint Bartholomew’s Church was completed in 1930. It cost $5.4 million.
Inside Saint Bartholomew’s, Hildreth Meiere’s stained-glass windows and mosaics captivate. A marble baptismal font by Bertel Thorvaldsen adds to the beauty. The Sanctus Window depicts different types of angels. It was a gift from the Vanderbilt family. The interior is decorated in the Byzantine style. Mosaics adorn the narthex and high altar.
Saint Bartholomew’s is also known for its music. Leopold Stokowski was a choir director. The Skinner Organ Company pipe organ is among the largest in the world. It was dedicated in 1930. Harold Friedell also directed music at the church.
The church’s history is not without controversy. In 1967, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission designated Saint Bartholomew’s Church a landmark. This move was opposed by the church at the time. In 1981, a dispute arose over air rights. The parish wanted to replace the community house with a high-rise. The Landmarks Preservation Commission rejected the plans. The U.S. Supreme Court sided with the Landmarks Commission in 1991.
In 1992, the St Bartholomew’s Preservation Foundation was established. It began restoring the site. In 2016, Saint Bartholomew’s Church and Community House became a National Historic Landmark.
Today, Saint Bartholomew’s Church stands as a testament to history. Its architecture, art, and music draw visitors from around the world. It is a place of worship. It is a landmark. It is a cultural treasure in the heart of New York City.