The sun., 1894-05-04
THE END OF AN OLD CHURCH.
IT HAs 4 BTe BhNk ACCOUNT, BUT NO
C0NGREGA A1ION

Ths Cs.si Street Irish Fresbytsr,.- Chureh
| Crowded Out BY Hustness-Ths Prep
srty vsi-ed 1t 1oO,Ooe-It- History.
Action will probably be taken at the coming
meeting Of the New York Presbytery which
win bring to an end the history Of the Canal
Street Irish Presbyterial Church. In It's day
this church was one OF the etronRe in the
city. but It 10 suffering the fate Of all down.
town churches. and ls being crowded out By
business. There has been no apparent need
OF q church at the corner Of Canal and Greene
streets for over FIFTY years. It has been sur
rendering its property to business uses little
By little and gradually borrowing its own
quarters until now there Is nothing left but a
small chapel without q congregation or PAS
tor. an historic name, and big bank account.
This remnant will be turned over to the
trustees OF the New York Presbytery at the
May session next Tuesday. In round numbers
the property may be worth 100000. 1t con-
sists OF cash and securities to the amount OF
$500 and the lessehold which from the In
come II now produces may be worth 500 600.
This fortune will be added to the property
already in the treasury OF the Presbytsry and
which includes the church Of the Sea and Land,
formerly the Market Street Dutch Church,
at the southwest corner OF Henry and Market
streets. valued at $40. 900. and the beauest Of
Col. Elliot F. Shepard Of S15o.oo0 Two
thirds Of this property is held subject to spe-
cisl instructions as to it's use. but the gift OF
the Canal street Church will carry with It no
restrictions except the general request that
the income be applied to the maintenance OF
the chapel now at IL Greene street so long as
1t 10 needed there"
Frequent attempts have been m ads in the
last thirty years TO save the Canal Street
Church By removal to an uptown site. The
last OF these attempts was made nine years
ago. but 1t was successfully resisted by the
trustees The Rev. David q. Wylle was then
the pastor and he resigned soon after. Since
that time the chapel has been In charge OF the
Rev. Edward L. Payson. who is there simply as
stated supply. Once rear regularly the New
York Presbytsry has turned it's attention to
the church. The Presbyters have always
manifested q desire to get possession OF the
property. as It seemed to be the unanimous
opinion that to continue Presbyterian work at
the present site was an sxtravaeant waste OF
energy and funds. 1t has often happened that
the Presbytsry is sorely in need OF money.
At such times .spesially this property, has
enue and 12sth street. was In danger Of fore-
SsIS By the the bosery s.sinS. Bsns the sale Of
the Canal Street Church and Of the Church OF
OF both churches fought against the @ sale. At
that time IL was said that there was legal
otber than cSupcS p1spose This %ss su
cient to defeat the proposed sale.
uor IN botS absss on S
that 1t was improbable and unnecessary. met
Elss the apR5nov1l, , p. large number Sfths
Canal street Church are nov ready to give up.
The legal questions as to the title have been
remove the Greene street chspeTto the rear Of
the building at the corner OF Canal street. and
one % corner Of which a small chapel could be
fitted up for such services as the Presbytery
ssSqs fiss Ss na5ma IN ss .om hs .s. a
used In other sections OF the city without
violation Of the strictest construction OF the
The Irish Presbyterian Church was the third
organization OF that denomination founded In
this city. The first church was In Orange
street. now Baxter street and was erected on
three lots purchased on May Is. 1908. for
other church on the leland west Of the Bowery
and north Of Canal street. except the two
Greenwich Dutch Reformed Church near the
northeast corner Of Bleecker and West Tenth
sTIsss now With Tents @ E sna rt seven sS%
sad at M's s.. and The .'y eSussS sss
All the great re-, sity churches were down town. be-
The Orange Street Church. under its popular
Dat9,s hSSr SSs @ .ss lots SusGTsw M
leased from George Lorillard at q rental Of
S39l o year for the site Of a. new church.
That was during an evangelical movement In
this city that has never been equalled.
Churches were sprinRinR up like m mushroomS
below Fourteenth street and north of Canal
street was the sceno Of this ACTIVITY. The
Madison Avenue Reformed st. James's Eng
lish Lutheran. St ThomAs's Episcopal the |
Central Presbyterian, and the Twenty third
Street Baptist churches. from the last OF which
sprang the Fifth Avenue and the Calvary Bap-
tist churches, belong to this period. The va
Gated building IN Orange street was purchased
S6 800. and by him presented to the English |
LutheIa ian Church of st. James
When the Canal Street Church ceases to sx- |
ist the number OF abandoned Presbyterian
church sites below Fourteenth street will have |