Did you know that the Third Presbyterian Church wasn’t always here? Its story begins much further back. In 1835 a group of wealthy New Yorkers petitioned the Presbytery to establish a new church. They called it The Mercer-Street Presbyterian Church. Rev Thomas Harvey Skinner became its first pastor. The church was built on Mercer Street near Waverly Place. It was a stunning Gothic Revival building with a tall tower and arched windows. The architect remains a mystery. However the design was similar to Richard Upjohn’s Church of the Holy Communion.
The Mercer-Street Presbyterian Church quickly gained popularity. Prominent families like the Roosevelts and the Dodges joined its congregation. The church even hosted the commencement exercises for the Union Theological Seminary which Rev Skinner helped found. But change was on the horizon. In 1870 the Mercer-Street church merged with the First Presbyterian Church. The combined congregation moved to University Place. The Mercer Street building was sold.
Enter Cornelius Vanderbilt. This wealthy industrialist and his wife were friends with Rev Charles Force Deems. They purchased the Mercer Street building. It was then it became known as the Church of the Strangers. Rev Deems’s non-denominational congregation welcomed anyone who accepted the Apostles’ Creed. The Church of the Strangers hosted many notable figures including Horace Greeley and Peter Cooper.
An amusing anecdote involves an usher mistaking Vanderbilt for a clergyman. Vanderbilt’s response was a humorous acknowledgement of this common occurrence. The Church of the Strangers also hosted several Vanderbilt funerals including that of the Commodore himself. His funeral was a simple affair per his request. Despite the Commodore’s disinterest in organized religion his faith was strong. His friendship with Rev Deems grew close. Rev Deems visited Vanderbilt daily during his final illness.
A beautiful bronze and black marble tablet was installed in the church to memorialize Cornelius Vanderbilt. The donations to fund the memorial were limited to 10 cents to one dollar ensuring everyone could contribute. The Church of the Strangers was a hub of activity. Even the Knights Templar visited attending a Good Friday service. The event involved a fife and drum corps and a large floral Maltese cross.
The Church of the Strangers served the community for many years. It held its final service in 1898. The congregation moved to a new building on 57th Street. The original building on Mercer Street was demolished in 1901. A loft building now stands in its place. The history of this building though is far from ordinary. It tells a story of faith wealth and surprising friendships. It’s a story deeply woven into the fabric of New York City’s past.