A majestic bell tower pierces the Manhattan skyline. This is the West-Park Presbyterian Church a stunning example of Romanesque Revival architecture. Its reddish-brown sandstone gleams in the sun.
West-Park Presbyterian Church has a rich history. Founded in 1852 as the 84th Street Presbyterian Church it moved north with the growth of Upper Manhattan. A wealthy pastor Anson Phelps Atterbury envisioned a grand church. He commissioned Leopold Eidlitz to build a chapel in 1884. This small chapel was described as “muscular” Romanesque. It was an appropriate style for an evangelical Protestant church. Later Henry Franklin Kilburn designed the main sanctuary. This was built in 1889-90 using intricately carved brown and red sandstone. The sanctuary continued the Romanesque style of the chapel. Kilburn also added an offset tower to Eidlitz’s original design.
The West-Park Presbyterian Church’s iconic bell tower dominates the neighborhood. It’s a beautiful landmark. Without the surrounding skyscrapers it would be even more stunning. The church has faced challenges. In the 1980s the sandstone eroded. Repointing with cement caused further damage. A new elevator was installed for accessibility.
Financial difficulties and declining attendance led to proposals in the early 2000s. One plan was to replace the church with a residential tower. This would have included a smaller glass church. Community activists protested this plan. They feared the loss of air and light. They created the “Friends of West-Park” group. The Friends offered an alternative. Their suggestion was to renovate the existing building. They also suggested selling Eidlitz’s chapel for redevelopment to offset costs.
West-Park Presbyterian Church found itself sharing space with the Saints Paul and Andrew United Methodist Church in 2008. It received landmark status in 2010. In 2022 there were plans to demolish the building. This was due to the high cost of repairs. This plan was met with significant opposition. Celebrities like Matt Damon Mark Ruffalo and Wendell Pierce spoke out against the demolition. The application to demolish the church was withdrawn in January 2024. The church continues to be a significant part of the Upper West Side community. Its legacy of social justice and global peace is still felt today. The West-Park Presbyterian Church stands as a testament to faith resilience and community spirit.