The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-20
New Skyscrapers in Madison
Avenue Chief Cause
of Change.
TO MOVE WHOLE FACADE
Bronze Gates. Gift of Mrs. VAN
derbilt. Also TO Be Used in
New Structure.

TIE wardens and vestry of st. Barthol-
omew's Church have taken an option on
the site now occupied by the +. 4 NJ.
schaefer Brewing Company on Park
avenue between Fiftieth and Fifty-frst
streets, and II the present plans are car
ried out will erect a new church there.
The present church building at Madison
avenue and Forty fourth street will be
torn down and the property sold.
The announcement of the securing OF
the option was made by the Rev. Dr.
Leighton Parks. rector OF st. Bartholo-
news from the pulpit yesterday morning
The point is this" DIR. Parks said yes
tsrday afternoon. 1--WE found the organ
needs to be rebuilt the church is very
much out Of repair and the foundation Is
not in a satisfactory state, and therefore
II would cost very large sum Of money
70 restore the church building to the
7 condition it was in fifteen years ago.
other Reasons for Change.
'~rhe conditions surrounding the church
have changed greatly within a few years.
The building of the great hotel opposite has
caused SO great a wind to blow past the
front Of the church that II Is difficult
. TO get in and out In storm. For these
and other reasons the vestry decided
that IL was better to move to another
site. Therefore we have taken an option
on the Park avenue property.
According to the law of the State
governing the Episcopal Church 1t is nee
Of the
Bishop. Of the standing COMMITTEES Of the
diocese, of the supreme Court and also
~ the three par shes nearest TO the pro-
-osed site. These are the Church or the
Heavenly Rest on Fifth avenue near
hForty-ffth street: the Church OF ST Mary
the Virgin. in Forty-sixth street near
Seventh avenue. and st. Thomas's Church.
a, Fifth avenue and Fffty-third street.
Nothing further can be done until these
forma,ities have been complied WITH
IT, is proposed to take great deal OF
the present church with us and moor
porate it In the new building We snail
,sls the facade and the bronze doors
designed ny McKim. Mead & White: the
altar, the mural painting. Christ IN
GLORY" over the altar. done by the late
frdnclS IdtuTbps hlh 81 wv
In the church and the chapel adjoining
The Uncertainty of the future or the
property to the north and south OF the
, church is another reason for the decision
10 move"
site Held at &l,SO0,OOO.
r.. sale o, tn. brewery property. one
! Of the largest real estate transactions OF
The year, became public last Friday. but
the name of the buyer was withheld. The
Metropolitan Opera House, the Academy
Of Design and the Racquet and Tennis
Club were mentioned by real estate men
as possible purchasers The price to be
paid has not been announced, but the
brewery interests have held the property
al sl,500.000.
The present site of st. Bartholomew
occupies 7j.o frontage on Madison ave-
rue and l45 feet on Forty-fourth street
Real estate men apprsise the property
at between $1,000, 900 and s1.30O.o0O. The
church holds il for nearer sl,500,000, and
expects 10 get approximately the same
price for 1t that will be paid for the new
site
Henry Lewis Morris. senior warden OF
81 Bartholomew said last night that
probably the new church would be slightly
larger than the old. although no decision
Z had vet been reached regarding the plans
Tor the new building and the architect
had not yet been chosen.
Mr.. Morris said he did not know
whether or not McKim. Mead d White,
VINO designed the present facade. would
De retained for the new building. These
matters are in the hands of an architec-
Wfal committee Of which tho junior war
oeh William H. Butterworth. is chairman.
ms committee IS not yet ready 10 report.
Dr. Elgin 4. L. Gould, treasurer OF the
church. said that there was little doubt
mat me necessary consents would be OBJ
N "n'd. Bishop Greer, DR., Gould said.
II e'faiany approved the plan. and it may
o. assumed that the church was assured
mat there would be no opposition from
Co. Thomass and the other nearby
churches before it took the option.