“Remember us then go thy way.” That’s what a sign near the locked gate of Saint Luke’s Episcopal Chapel once read. Saint Luke’s Chapel stands as the third oldest church in Manhattan. It whispers tales of a bygone era. We are standing before a piece of New York history.
Saint Luke’s Episcopal Chapel began its story in 1821. Trinity Parish donated farmland for its construction. This act gave rise to an independent parish known as Saint Luke’s Church. Clement C. Moore played a crucial role as a founder. He also served as the first senior warden.
Originally, the congregation moved uptown. The land was repurchased. Saint Luke’s then became Saint Luke’s Chapel of Trinity Parish in 1892.
The name Saint Luke’s in the Fields was chosen for a reason. Greenwich Village provided a sanctuary. People fled diseases in the city proper to this area. The name evoked the pastoral quality of the surroundings.
John Heath’s architectural vision shaped Saint Luke’s. The Christian Journal reported the laying of the cornerstone in June 1821. The inscription acknowledged John Heath as the architect. Heath even paid for the cornerstone.
The location on Hudson Street was once bucolic. Summer estates dotted the landscape. Aristocrats called this area home. Only a few structures were within eyesight. This rural setting inspired the name Saint Luke’s in the Fields. It is a name that endures even today.
In those early years, some leaders of Saint Luke’s urged New Yorkers to build winter homes there. Before that, Greenwich Village had been a summer colony. Calamity aided their cause.
In 1822, a yellow fever epidemic struck the city. Those who could afford it escaped to Greenwich Village. A building boom followed. Houses sprang up on the dirt streets.
Saint Luke’s has faced adversity. Fires damaged the church building in 1886 and 1981. After the devastating 1981 fire, Hugh Hardy led the reconstruction. He restored much of its original Federal style. The reconstruction concluded in 1985.
The Leake Dole of Bread is a tradition connected to Saint Luke’s. John Leake’s will provided bread for the poor. Every Saturday, bread was distributed after the 10 am service.
Saint Luke’s has a strong connection to the arts. The Orchestra of St. Luke’s draws its name from this church.
Saint Luke’s embraced its new members. The parish was impacted by the AIDS epidemic. The AIDS Project of St. Luke’s was founded in 1987. It provided meals and support.
Saint Luke’s Episcopal Chapel stands as a testament to resilience. It has survived fires and changing times. The former churchyard now serves as a welcoming garden. Saint Luke’s embodies the spirit of Greenwich Village. Its doors are open. It is a place for reflection and prayer. As the sign once said, remember us and go your way.