New-York tribune., 1910-06-26
vESTRY VOTES TO MOVE ON
Church of the Redeemer Will Try
to Get Out of Harlem.
OWNS VALUABLE PROPERTY
Controversy Looked for Should
Bronx Site Be Chosen for
New Home.

The vestry of the Church OF the Re-
deener, in West 136th street, has voted to
sell the property, move to some other spot
and try again to build up fourishing
congregation. 1t Is announced that changes
In the population of Harlem have made 1t
impossible for the church. which belongs
to the ritualistic class of the Protestant
Episcopal denomination, TO get on longer
In its present setting.
Washington Heights or University Heights
is the choice for new location. In Wash
ington Heights Trinity and St Luke's have
Just had a dispute over the location Of q
new Chapel of the Intercession, and there
Is no one familiar with the situation who
believes that the Church Of the Redeemer
will be allowed to enter the field. If UNI
versity Heights is definitely chosen it is
expected that the hue and cry against
transferring any property from Manhattan
to The Bronx will at once be raised. The
chances are, 1t is said, that the Church Of
the Redeemer will have to stay where 1t is
if 1t wishes to avoid stirring up an In
tenseiy heated controversy.
The property Is valuable one. The
church fronts on 1SSth street. few doors
east Of Seventh avenue, but it's grounds
extend through to 18th street. The build
sign and we'll equipped Among the promi-
nent iaymen connected with the parish is
Lawson Purdy. president of the Depart
ment of Taxes and Assessments.
AS there are only few Episcopal
churches in Harlem, excluding those on
Morningsde and Washington Heights,
churchmen say there is ample field for
the Church Of the Redeemer If it would
modify its services
This church has had rather a checkered
career. Back in the SOS, when 1t was sit
uated at Park avenue and SD street. it
was considered one Of the greatest expo
nents Of ritualism, and was the centre of
controversy on that account. The Rev.
Henry Austin Adams. its rector in those
stormy days, later entered the Roman
Catholic Church and as a layman became
a leader among converts from Protestant
ism.
1t was said at the time that the churchs
site. or the title to 1t. was in some way
mixed UP with Tammany politics. This
was denied, but the fact remains that the
site was lost, the parish failed for lack of
Income and removal followed. This was
after Mr.. Adams left.
A little more than ten years ago the
Church of the Redeemer absorbed the
Church of the Holy Nativity, in West 156th
street. The latter struggling parish had
begun its career downtown and was itself
the product of consolidation. The Rev.
Guy L. Wallis, its rector, resigned and
made way for the Rev. William E. John
son, at the time rector of the Church of
the Redeemer. Mr.. Johnson himself re-
signed two or three years ago, becoming
priest In charge of small memorial
chapel in Chappaqua
Mr.. Johnson is quoted as saying that
there were ten thousand Episcopalians in
upper Harlem who would not attend his
church because of its forms and teachings
To reach these people the rector and vestry
offered to lease the church to Bishop Greer.
At one time it was proposed to hold two
services each Sunday there, one elaborate
and the other plain. Finally it was agreed
that the Bishop should put in any form of
worship he chose,
Bishop Greer hesitated at entering what
might become a bitter controversy. So,
without announcing any decision, he start
ed the church again with new rector, the
Rev William Whiting Davis, who still re-
mains in. charge. Mr. Davis was not
classed as a ritualist but he retained the
old forms observed in the church. He is
said to have had some success, however,
in increasing the church's income and num-
herS