New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-12-01
COST OF WORSHIP.

D,rw-yopKvRs PAY FOR HEARING THE GOSPEL.
The amount of money annually spent III the
maintenance of ministers aud the support OF churches IN
this city and Brooklyn probably comprehended by 1e"
people who arc not membe OF fashionable churches
The annual rental OF some pews equal TO tue mouse
rent of a family OF moderate The "hard times
which are now affecting the whole country have com
PEELED reduction in the prices at few churches, p'
IN the majority while the prices remain uhchaneeu' ~
income is affected by delay Of pewhoders ID INC pay
ment OF the high prices charged for stthgs' 1ne III
como derived from the pews obtained IN various ways
an fine different churches. In sOme nearly all Oh Ine
news are sold and the owners pay ceIlhm peoo'"Ho
OF the valuation annually In Others the pews are SOFA
AT auction to the highest bidder; but most OF the
churches have an annual rental of the pews In many
hurches the custom Of subletting is in vogue and In
some cases it made the source of profit to the pew
holder In nearly all OF the churches free seats are pro-
yded for visitors those who cannot afford to pay Tor
them.
OF the seven churches which compose Trinity parish
Trinity ST. Pauls ST. Johns, Trinity Chapel ST. Chrys-
ostoms Chapel st. Augustine's Chapel, and ST. Cor
nelius Chapel, of Governors lsland-the last three
named are entirely free. st. Pauls and ST. johns
are also free with exception OF the Few pews OWeu
by individuals over which the vestry have no control
No pews are sold any of the churches OF the PARISH
while those which are rented cannot be claimed by the
persons holding them at any time other than Sunday
morning and afternoon and on certain high east days.
such as Christmas The pews in Trinity Chapel, where
the wealthy part Of the parish attend are rented from
year TO year at exceedingly low rates. the highest rental
being only $s5 Ownership Of pews in Trinity parish
dates from very remote period. and not within the
memory of any living person has any pew been solu by
the corporation. The vesry constantly acquiring
the ownership of the pews by purchase from the descend
ants Of the original pOssessOrs or by sale on Tor
fedre thus extnguishing the property in them for the
purpose of facilitating the attendance of those desiring
70 avail themselves of the advantages offered by the
churches The parish is wholly supported from the III
come Of its real Tins is generally greatly eNag
gerated The corporation estimate their property 10 De
worth from 81 100000 70 $80OOOOO, leaving out the
unproduetye pIrt OF the estate and estimating that po
ton only which yields inc me. From this income
there are Is churches outside Of the parish which
receive aid in the shape Of annual donations and CON
trbutions. amounting in years to over $4,000.
Nearly all the pews Of Grace Church were sold when it
was built in 1917 the sale netting about $125OOO They
are subject to a ground of 10 per cent on their
valuation the highest rent being sos and the lowest
Sc The amount Of the ground rents is S11,36O. II an
wishes to dispose Of his pew he Is compelled 10
treat it as though 1t real estate but pews always
command ready sale and been sold for $3.50
year in the temporary absence Of their owners About
200 free seats are provided every Sunday for visitors
The church endowed and much of its support is de-
rived the proceeds of leases OF downtown property
At the Church Of the Holy Trinity 0he Rev. DE- Tying
ir the pews are rented at prices varying from $40 to
1919 There are 1872 pews, which will accommodate
1000 people. The income of the churcl it is stated,
not perceptby diminished this year. as the desire Tor
pews is the usual and there is no falling
OFF in the prices.
onehaf Of the pews at ST. Georges Church 1.-THE Rev.
Dr. Tying sri are owned, the highest valuation being
81 POO The owners pay assessment OF per cent
annually other half are rented at rate OF II per
cent on their valuation.
When St. Thomas's new church dhe Rev. DR.. Morgan)
was built, 80 pews sold to the old parshioners
the prices ranging from 900 to $500, the sale
these ground
of IL per cent is charged Since the original sale no
pews have been sold but all rented. The highest
rent this year $3.50, advance Of $50 on the year
previous This advance has been enormously reported
to the purpose Of paying the salary Of the assist
ant pastor the Rev Mr. Courtney but the real object OF
the advance was assist in paying off the debt OF the
church The income from the pew rents amounts to
$4,000 The church has 800 pews ana VIII seat 1900
people, and said to be in exceedingly prosperous
condition. From the income the Rev. Dr. Morgan re-
ceves Ss 900 year, he having relinqushed $1,000
year TO aid in paying his assistant, and $4,000 is spent
fol- music From 800 to 500 visitors attend the church
every Sunday.
Many of the peys of ST. Marks Protestant Episcopal
Church, famous the resting place Of the late A. l.
Stewart were sold many years ago. and they brought
prices which, though good at the time now far below
the ordinary The highest price received was 800
and ground OF cent is charged yearly The
rents range 500 sos, and the income of the pews
is about 800, but large income is Also derived from
Dr. Rylance the pastor, has a salary Of $4,000. There
are 100 pews which will seat about 500 people and the
galleries are free all This church is about 70 years
old and is in prosperous condition The are let 1t
such low figure that they within the reach OF al,
ard consequently the income from the pew rents Is az
most invariable.
At Calvary Church, Chc Rev. Dr. E. A. Washburn), the
pews have been owned by individuals for many years
BY constant removals and other causes they leave the
church. and the renting system is carried on to great
extent The prices OF the pews vary from $40 to
81 800 and the rents range from $40 to $780, The rents
have suffered reduction this year Of about per cent
The First Reformed Episcopal Church at present only
IN temporary building as new church edihce mas Deeh
begun at Madson-ave. and Fftydfth-st, and will be
occupied by Easter next The pews are rented at be-
tween $40 and $780, The present church will seat 800
and the new one 1000 persons. Many of the pews
uurented so that the present income from this source is
only So OOO subscription OF $4,000 has been col
eced to pay the ground occupied by the new church
The Rev William Sabine, the rector, receives $4,000
year.
AT the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church Dr. John
HALL the system ting pews only is carried On at
present although when the church was built a large
number OF the pews sOld the highest bringing
$4,000 and the lowest $780, An assessment OF six per
cent yearly is levied upon the Those who rent
pews arc charged the rate Of - per cent on the vu-
alton at the time Of the sale. This makes the annual
rental highest pew $3.50 ana the lowest $39 The
church has SAG pews aud seats 1000 people Dr. Hall
receives a salary Of $4,000 year.
At the Church of the Covenant Mt Park-ave. and
Thrtyffth-st., the pews all rented, the highest
bringing S20S, and the lowest Sl7. There l92 pews IN
the church and gallery, Yhieh ~" scat lOoo people.
Nearly an the pews rented, 2nd the Income from
them is about $4,000 of which the Rev Marvin r.
Vincent receives 5000 and tie use on the nnc pasOn
age connected with the church.
The system at the West Presbyterian Church he Rev
Thomds g. Hastng) combine both sellinL ana renting,
selling price varying from 81 loo To 500 Tor winch