Whispers of “Romish practices” once swirled around Saint Clement’s Church. This grand Gothic Revival structure, consecrated in 1831 on what was then Amity Street (later West Third Street), defied the architectural norms of its time. Saint Clement’s Church’s bold design, with its crenellated towers and delicate ogival arches, drew both admiration and criticism. The church quickly became a neighborhood landmark. It was a haven even for literary figures like Edgar Allan Poe and his young wife, Virginia. They lived across the street, and it’s said Virginia would often listen to the church’s vested choir from their window, a first for an Episcopal church in New York City. Beneath the church lay a single vault, belonging to the Pintard family. John Pintard, founder of the New-York Historical Society, was the last of his family to be interred there in 1844. The church wasn’t just a place of worship. It played a role in the Civil War too, providing aid to Union soldiers through its Ladies’ Aid Association. Saint Clement’s assistant rector, Reverend Treadwell Walden, served on a committee investigating conditions in Confederate prisons. His reports led to a humanitarian agreement between the warring sides. As wealthy families migrated north, Saint Clement’s Church faced new challenges. The once-fashionable neighborhood transformed, leaving the church surrounded by factories and serving a predominantly poor congregation. Despite its dilapidated state, the church remained a vital resource for the community. Its rector, Reverend Edward H. Van Winkle, fiercely defended its mission, recognizing its importance to the less fortunate. However, after his death in 1909, the diocese, led by Bishop Henry C. Potter, moved to repurpose the valuable property. The church’s fate was sealed. In 1910, the Pintard family remains were moved, and Saint Clement’s Church was demolished. The site, once a testament to architectural innovation and community spirit, is now occupied by NYU Law School’s D’Agostino Hall.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to