Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-22
ST. Johns Chapel, New
York, TO Be Demolished.
Corner Stone Was Laid in The
Year Of 1903.
Ancient Building Gives Way to
March OF Improvement.

New York, Sept 21.-The end of ST.
Joints chapel the century old church
in Varick street, New York City is
approaching. Since it has been decided
that Seventh avenue is to be extend
ed and Varick street is To be widehed
by slicing 20 feet off the east side OF
the .horoUghfare, the Corporation OF
Trinity church must decide in few
weeks what is to be done with t1e
property. When the city gets through
with it the front of the chapel Inetud-
ing the tower and part Of the hospital
and parish house will be gone.
The chapel was virtually stripped of
it's furnishings some time ago ond the
famous organ will be dismantled soon
The altar cross. candelabT anG pew
cushions are now in use in ST Lakes
in Hudson street. The memorial leetern
to H.. Sullivan II, Weston, the former
assistant rector in charge. has also
been removed. More than three years
ago Trinity vestrymen decided 10 close
ST. Johns and use the site for bust
ness, but the plan aroused such a pro-
test that injunetions were granted ana
Sunday morning services have been
held up 20 the present time. When the
chapel is RACED, the land will De sold /
for loft building improvements.
The cornerstone of ST. Johns was
laid N 1909 and the Rev. DR.. wilkins, |
friend of Bishops Seabury and Cfan I
dler. preached the first sermon within
its walls in 1907
1t cost $4,000, which was regarded
by cortemperaneous critics as .in 'eS-
travagant sum 10 invest in a church.
The organ was built in Philadelphia
and eGst 5000. II was carried away iii
1912 by British cruiser and was re
covered only after the payment Of
5000 ransom.
In his history Of Trinity Parish the
late Or. Morgan Dix said the architects
of st Johns chapel We're John ard
isaac McCoomb, but the authority his
since been questioned. The structure
is a Inc specimen Of the British Geos
gian period. and Montgomery Schuyler.
in 1903, writing in The Architects
Record. tried to prove that it was
Frenchmau. Joseph F. Mansin. and pct
McCocmh. who designed the city hall.
and in all probability McCoomb, who
was really builder, allowed his name
to stand on the record as the designer
of St Johns. Mr.. Schuyler considered
the work on the chapel to be far above
the ability of a mere builder
The interior architecture was known
as the three decker. type. Above the
altar was the PRAYER desk
and above that was the pulpit. In the
quaint pews sat many of the first fam
lies of the city during the first %
years of the chapel's existence. There
we're the Vesseys. the Barclays. the
Hharitons and the Lispenards, fami-
les for whom many streets in the
owef West Side section We're named.
After 80 years an alarming exodus
" families of rank began to takeI
place. One by one the leading citizens
f0rsook their downtown homes for
others above Greenwich village. In
1851 the Rev. DIR. Weston preached a
sermon on this subject lamenting the
prospects for the future OF st. Johns.
The park fronting the church was
swept away and the neighborhood be-
gan 10 suffer from invasions of ware
houses and freight depots.
In 1908 Trinity vestrymen decided
that the chapel had outgrown its use
fulness and steps We're taken to sell
out. The chapel then had 1856 commit
nieants and 1858 baptized persons con-
nected with it. The action of Trinity
|ealled forth torrent of criticism and
the legal fight went to the supreme
court. In the end Trinity vestrymen
agreed to keep the chapel open as long
as IT appeared that there was q relig-
ious need for the work.
Some of the rectors OF ST. Johns
rose to places OF rank in the church.
Dr. Wainwright afterward becamel
bishop of New York and the Rev.
john L. Young was made bishop OF |
Florida in 1867 Among the other rec
tors were the Rev. Philip A. H. Brown.
who preached the centennial sermon mi
1907