Contemplate the story of St. George’s Episcopal Church a beacon of faith and community. This historic church stands proudly at 209 East 16th Street. It graces Rutherford Place on Stuyvesant Square in Manhattan.
St. George’s Episcopal Church is more than just a building. It represents architectural innovation and spiritual dedication. Called one of the first and most significant examples of Early Romanesque Revival church architecture in America, its exterior was designed by Charles Otto Blesch and the interior by Leopold Eidlitz. It stands as one of the two sanctuaries of the Calvary-St. George’s Parish.
Originally a chapel built in 1752 by Trinity Church, it served congregants on the east side. By 1811, the congregation gained independence. The new church uptown, on fashionable Stuyvesant Square, was built from 1846 to 1856.
Blesch’s exterior design drew influence from Munich’s Ludwigskirche. Eidlitz shaped the interior spaces and designed the rectory. The spires atop each tower were added almost a decade later.
A fire gutted St. George’s Episcopal Church in 1865. It was rebuilt within two years under Eidlitz’s supervision. The pastor, Stephen H. Tyng, was a prominent evangelical leader. His views shaped the rebuilt interior with a plain altar.
Interestingly, the spires on the two towers were removed in 1889, more than twenty years post-reconstruction. For decades, St. George’s Episcopal Church was known as “Morgan’s Church”. This was due to J.P. Morgan’s influential role as senior warden.
By 1880, the neighborhood around St. George’s Episcopal Church transformed. Immigrants, largely Catholic and Jewish, populated the area. Long-time parishioners had moved away. Morgan brought in Rev. William Stephen Rainsford in 1883. Rainsford aimed to connect with the poor through social services. These included an industrial school, sewing classes, and health programs. Morgan financed any deficits. Within seven years, the church revitalized. It became a leader in the institutional church movement.
Harry Thacker Burleigh, a classical composer, was a notable member. He sang in the St. George’s Episcopal Church choir for 50 years. In 1976, St. George’s Episcopal Church merged with Calvary Church and the Church of the Holy Communion. This formed the Calvary-St. George’s Parish.
Today, St. George’s Episcopal Church is part of a complex. This includes Eidlitz’s rectory and the St. George Memorial House. All the buildings are landmarks within the Stuyvesant Square Historic District.
Remember St. George’s Episcopal Church as a place of architectural beauty. Recall its history and its commitment to serving the community.