New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-01-02
BUILDING OF NEW CHURCHES.

| 4 noteworthy landmark of older New York,
| the former edifice of the Madison Square Pres
| byterian Church. erected in 1858. has been torn
down to make room for lofty business struct-
ure. The congregation wont to worship in it
has erected a classical structure on the oppo-
site corner, which is unique among the church
| edifices of the city in design and beauty. Thu
most important work Of church erection in this
city continues 10 be the construction Of the
imposing Cathedral of St John the Divine,
which IS TO crown Morningside Heights and
which when completed will be one of the sights
of the city. To the single great arch which
now indicates the enormous size of the struct-
three more are to be added and the main
portion of the edifice will be designed to ac-
cOmmOdate five thousand worshippers making
it the largest religious audience room in the
city. For the present services are held in ths
crypt. The sum already expended on the great
cathedral is nearly S3.OO0OGO. and the COM
plete plans call for the expenditure of $4,000
600 The new st. Thomas's Episcopal Church
to replace the one burned in Fifth avenue will
cost $1.OOOOO0
Another noteworthy cathedral is being planned
for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn,
which includes all Long Island. Nearly hair
a century ago a site secured for a cathe-
dral at Lafayette and Clermont avenues in
what was then the heart of the small city OF
Brooklyn. The foundations were laid and the
walls built q few feet above ground. and then
the work was stopped. for the erection OF
a small chapel and the house of the bishop ad-
Joining. In all the years that have elapsed
since the work halted steps have been
taken TO renew it, the demands for other enter
prtSes having been deemed more pressing and
the portion of the walls built have become ruins
covered with moss and bearing signs of decay
The bishop who planned the structure has
passed away but the work has not been taken
up by his successor. Now. however. a new
plan Is afOot and the old site will probably bs
sold or converted TO some other than that
long intended.
The site is where the present Kings
County Penitentiary stands. az Crown and Car
roll streets. on the height OF the ridge of lanf
which extends eastward from Prospect Park
and on which already stands the most note
worthy structure of the borough. the great
Brooklyn Museum of Arts and Sciences The
penitentiary has long been regarded as an eye
sore and great drawback to what should be tina
most desirable residence region in BROOKLYN.
IL was established where il is when that re-
glon was regarded as hOpelessly rural and re-
mote from any desirable part of the city. But
IN recent years the demand has become more
and more insistent for its removal and finally
the necessary legislative action was secured
and the prisoners are now being removed else
where, and by next spring Grow Hill" as tho
region was long known, viii longer have
hundreds of prisoners behind frowning walls
or bluestone. As soon as possible thereafter
those walls will be levelled, and it Is probable
that in a few years the height viii be crowned
by a stately cathedral. which will be visible
from the Sound TO the sea and will receive
much admiration from those TO whom the
St Patrick'S Cathedral with its twin towers, In
Fifth avenue. or as will the Protestant Episco~
pal Cathedral which Will overlook Columbia
University.