USA > New York > New York City > A history of the churches, of all denominations, in the city of New York, from the first settlement to the year 1846 > Part 15
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METHODIST CHURCH.
1800. The corporation was legally orga- nized in February following. After several years the house of worship was found too small for the congregation, and in. May, 1820, it was taken down, and the foundation of another was laid, to be 55 feet wide and 70 feet long, which was finished, and opened for worship in August of the same year. This building was consumed by fire in the year 1839, and the present house of worship was erected during the next year.
A branch of the Zion Church is established at Harlem, called " Little Zion," and a small brick building was erected there in 1843. Another branch of the same church has been established in Twenty-second street, near Seventh avenue. These three are con- sidered at present as one pastoral charge. The Rev. J. A. King is the preacher in charge, and they report at this time on the roll of communion eleven hundred and ninety-six members at Church street, sixty- six at Harlem, and fourteen at Twenty- second street.
This branch of the Methodist Church stood in connection with the white conference until 1820, when they separated, and since that
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METHODIST CHURCH.
time have elected superintendants or bishops of their own color. At the present time Rev. Christopher Rush and Rev. William Miller are superintendants; and their last annual minutes report four annual conferences,- viz. : Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and New England, containing in all ninety- nine churches.
ASBURY AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Such is the style adopted by another dis- tinct portion of the colored Methodist Church in this city. It was in the year 1813, that . Thomas Sipkins, William Miller, and some others separated from the Zion Church, and purchased a house of worship, standing on Elizabeth street, near Walker, which had been built by a Congregational Church, under the ministry of Mr. Townley, where public worship was commenced, and a church formed, which was called the " Asbury Church."
For about seven years the Asbury Church continued to stand independently, but in November, 1820, a union was effected be- tween this church and the Zion Church,
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METHODIST CHURCH.
which continued about two years, For at least twenty years succeeding this, the Asbury Church was in various ecclesiastical connec- tions ; sometimes standing with the white churches, in the Methodist Episcopal con- nection, sometimes with the African Con- ference of the same name, and sometimes with the Zion Church. Their place of wor- ship was also frequently changed. Their house of worship on Elizabeth street being de- stroyed by fire, they occupied for some time a room in the basement of the Broadway Tabernacle, entering from Anthony street. They were also in a hall on the corner of Elizabeth and Grand streets, and then occu- pied a hall on Howard street. After this they removed to Fourth street, near the East 'river, and at length an individual purchased for them a house of worship, standing on Third street, near Avenue D, and to this they have removed, with a view to per- manency. A few churches of the same name having been formed in other places, their preachers met in convention on Sept. 7th, 1844, and organized themselves into a conference, and elected the Rev. Francis P. Graham as superintendant or bishop. . Their
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first conference was held in June follow- ing.
The church in Third street is as yet the. only " Asbury Colored Church" in the city of New York. It contains about seventy members in communion. The Rev. Brito M. C. Varick is the present officiating minister.
AFRICAN METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
In November, 1787, the colored people belonging to the Methodist Church in Phila- delphia, assembled together to take into con- sideration the evils under which they labored from their connection with the white church- es, but nothing at that time was effected.
In 1793, the number of colored members having considerably increased, Richard Al- len, a colored preacher, proposed to erect for the colored people, a house of worship on his own ground, and at his own expense, which he did, and it was dedicated to the worship of God by the Rev. Francis Asbury, then bishop of the Methodist church in the · United States, and the house was named " Bethel." Severe contentions followed, as the whites claimed both the house and the congregation as theirs, which claims, the 28*
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METHODIST CHURCH.
colored people resisted. Similar hardships were experienced by the colored people in Baltimore, and some other places, and at length, in the month of April, 1816, a general convention of the colored people in the Methodist churches, was held in Philadel- phia. A new connection was formed, called " The African Methodist Episcopal Church," and the first general conference was held. At this meeting, on April 11, 1S16, the Rev. Richard Allen was unanimously elected Bishop. Mr. Allen had been ordained as a deacon by Bishop Asbury, seventeen years before, and was at this time set apart to the Episcopal office by prayer, and the imposi- tion of the hands of five ordained ministers. Thus this denomination commenced. They are sometimes called " Allenites," after the name of Bishop Allen, and their churches are usually called the "Bethel Churches," after the name given to the first church in Philadelphia. Bishop Allen died in P'hila- delphia, March 26, 1831, having previously, in 182S, ordained the Rev. Morris Brown as his assistant; and since his death, on May 15, 1836, Bishop Brown, with the assistance of five elders, ordained the Rev. Edward
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METHODIST CHURCH.
Waters to the Episcopate with himself. Bishop Waters has since deceased, and the Rev. William Paul Quinn supplies his place.
There is but one colored Methodist church in this particular connection, in this city, and this commenced in the early part of the year 1820. William Lambert and George White, two preachers in this connection, commenced preaching here in the spring of that year. A building was obtained in Mott street, near Walker street, and opened as a place of public worship, July 23, 1820. A church was organized, and the Rev. Henry Harden became its pastor.
This church continued to meet in Mott street for several years, having a moderate degree of prosperity, until their house of worship was destroyed by fire. They then met for a time in Elizabeth street, and in 1835, they succeeded in erecting a decent · brick edifice on Second street, where they remain at this time. A small branch of this church has been founded at Harlem within about two years, but both meetings are un- der one pastoral supervision. They number in communion, seven hundred and sixteen members at Second street, and thirteen at
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METHODIST CHURCH.
Harlem. The Rev. John Boggs is now the preacher in charge.
METHODIST AFRICAN UNION.
This is the designation of another section of the Colored Methodist Church in the city of New York. It is an independent body, which commenced in the year 1826, when a church of seven persons was formed. They met in a small room in the Seventh avenue, near Eighteenth street. Mr. Camp- bell, a respectable colored. man, and Mr. Isaac Barney, were the preachers. They , continued their meetings regularly for about nine years, when in 1835, the building where they met was consumed by fire, and they fitted up a room over a stable in the Sixth avenue, near Fourth street, where they met for four or five years. In 1840, the congregation succeeded in erecting a brick building, measuring fifty-three feet by twenty-four, situated on Fifteenth street, near the Sixth avenue, where they still re- main. A considerable congregation assem- bles here on the Sabbath, and about three hundred and fifty are enrolled in communion. Mr. Barney still holds the pastoral office.
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METHODIST CHURCH.
A small branch of this church has recently commenced a meeting near Yorkville, but has as yet no distinct organization.
DATE OF THE METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCHES IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
WITH THE NUMBER OF COMMUNICANTS IN EACH, AS RE- PORTED TO CONFERENCE IN JUNE, 1845.
Date.
Com.
John Street
.1766
388
Forsyth Street
1790
655
Seventh Street
1800
311
Allen Street
1810
955
Bedford Street
1810
1057
Eighteenth Street
1829
819
Greene Street
1831
462
Second Street
1832
793
Yorkville .
1832
35
Vestry Street
1833
216
Mulberry Street
1834
277
Twenty-seventh Street.
1834
209
Harlem .
1836
70
Forty-first Street.
1840
94
Twenty-fourth Street
1842
105
German Mission
1842
184
Asbury Church
1842
475
Sullivan Street. 1843
320
Madison Street.
1843
270
Mariners' Methodist Episcopal
1844
400
Floating Bethel
1845
25
Jane Street.
1845
210
Home Mission Church
1845
Churches 25
Members 9,595
Duane Street
1797
601
Willet Street
.1819
664
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METHODIST CHURCH.
OTHER METHODIST CHURCHES OF WHITE MEMBERS.
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Methodist Society
1820
300
1st Protestant Methodist Church
1826
200
2d Protestant Methodist Church
1826
20
Welsh Methodist .
1828
105
Primitive Methodist
1829 unkno'n
German Evangelical.
1841
60
1st Wesleyan Church
1841
85
2d Wesleyan Church
1843
35
805
COLORED METHODIST CHURCHES.
Zion Church
1801
1196
Little Zion
1843
66
Twenty-second Street.
14
Asbury Church.
.1813
70
Methodist Episcopal, or Bethel Church. . . 1820
736
Branch of do. (Harlem)
1843
13
African Union
1826
350
Churches 15 Members 2,445 Total in all the Methodist Churches, 12,845.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 1783.
SIR THOMAS DONGAN, who was governor of New York under James II., about the year 1685, was a Roman Catholic, and it was during his administration that the first Ca- tholic families settled in the city. But the prejudices of the people against them were very strong, and under the administration of subsequent Governors, very oppressive laws were passed. There was even a law passed in one instance, for hanging every Catholic priest who should come voluntarily into the colony. There is, however, no evidence that this law was ever enforced It is true that in August, 1741, John Ury, an Englishman,. who was a Catholic Priest, was publicly ex- ecuted in this city. But he was indicted as . being concerned in what was called " The. Negro Plot," which was a supposed conspi-
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racy of negroes, and others, to burn the city, and murder the inhabitants; and there is no evidence that the law formerly passed against the Catholics was brought into view at all in this case. There was, however, a most intolerant spirit reigning, as the conside- ration of another fact will show. Before the Revolution, the port of New York was the great depôt of the captures made by the British cruisers. In the month of February, 1778, a large armed French ship was taken by the British, near the Chesapeake bay, and sent into New York, for condemnation. Among her officers was the Rev. Mr. De la Motte, a Catholic priest, of the order of St. Augustin, in the capacity of the Ship's Chap- lain ; and he, with the other officers, was per- mitted to go at large in the city, within cer- tain limits, on his parole of honor. Mr. De la Motte was solicited by his countrymen, and by those of his own faith, to hold reli- gious service according to the forms of the Catholic Church. Being apprised of the existence of some prohibitory law, he ap- plied to the Commandant for permission, which it seems was refused ; but not under- standing the language very well, Mr. De la
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Motte supposed he had obtained the permis- sion, and proceeded to hold the service. For this he was arrested, and kept in close confinement until he was exchanged. Thus, until the close of the Revolutionary war, and while the English laws were in force in the country, no Catholic clergyman was al- lowed to officiate in this State; but after the war, and when the independence of the country was acknowledged, full toleration was enjoyed, and every man was allowed to worship God according to the dictates of his own conscience. The Roman Catholics in this city took immediate advantage of this, and in November, 1783, a congregation was formed under the ministry of the Rev. Andrew Nugent, who it is believed was sent hither by the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church in Maryland. 'Their place of worship was in a building erected for public purposes in Vauxhall garden, situated on the margin of the North river, the garden extending from Warren to Chambers streets. One of the most active men in this enter- prise was Sieur de St. Jean de Crevecœux, then consul of France, for New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, who with Joze Roiz
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ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Silva, James Stewart, and Henry Dufflin, became incorporated on the 11th of June, 1785, by the name and style of the " Trus- tees of the Roman Catholic Church in the city of New York." The church not being well accommodated with a place of worship applied for the use of the " Exchange," a building then standing at the lower end of Broad street, and occupied as a court room, but failing in this, measures were immedi- ately taken for the erection of a church build- ing.
Ground having been procured on Barclay street, corner of Church street, a brick edifice was erected, measuring forty-eight feet by eighty-one, and so far finished as to have mass performed for the first time within its walls, on Saturday, November 4, 1786. The services were conducted by the Rev. Mr. Nugent, as pastor, assisted by the chaplain of the Spanish ambassador, and the Rev. Joze Phelan.
In the following spring, the name of the church was changed to that of St. Peter's.
Mr. Nugent continued to officiate until 1788, when he was succeeded by the Rev. William O'Brien, who continued pastor of
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ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
St. Peter's church until his death, which took place May 14, 1816. . The Rev. John Pow- er, D.D., succeeded Mr. O'Brien in the pas- toral office, in which office he remains, having now as a colleague, the Rev. Charles C. Pise, D.D.
In the year 1336, it was found necessary to rebuild St. Peter's Church, as the old one was going to decay, and was, moreover, altogether too small to accommodate the increasing multitudes who resorted thither. It was accordingly taken down, and a most substantial edifice of stone was erected in its place, more than twice as large as the ori- ginal building. The corner-stone was laid with appropriate services by Bishop DuBois, October 26, 1836. In September of the following year, public worship was com- menced in the basement, and on February 25, 1838, the principal auditory was conse- crated by Bishop Hughes.
ST. PATRICK'S CHURCH.
For more than thirty years St. Peter's Church was the only Catholic Church in the city of New York, but the denomination · increasing rapidly, another church build-
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ing was needed for their accommodation. . Accordingly, in the year 1815, a very spa- cious stone building was erected on the corner of Mott and Prince streets, and called " St. Patrick's Cathedral." Here, within a short time, a large assembly was collected, and not many years elapsed before it was judged expedient to enlarge the building. When first erected it was 120 feet long and 80 wide, and now 36 feet more were added to the length, extending the building from Mott to Mulberry streets ; and although there are no galleries in the house, except an organ loft, yet probably two thousand persons can be accommodated on the principal floor of the house. This cathedral is considered the seat of the Episcopate in this diocese. Bishops Hughes and McCloskey reside here, assisted by a number of the subordinate clergy.
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
After the erection of St. Patrick's Cathe- dral, more than ten years elapsed before an- other Catholic Church was built in the city. But the Catholic population was fast in- creasing, especially in the northeastern part
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of the city, and farther accommodations were needed for them. Accordingly, towards the close of the year 1826, a building, then vacated by the Seventh Presbyterian Church, was purchased, and a congregation collected. The building was situated on Sheriff street, between Broome and Delancy streets. It was a small frame building, with a brick front. The church remained here between six and seven years, when the building was consumed by fire. A large and convenient structure was immediately erected on Grand street, corner of Ridge street, and opened in 1833, under the name of " St. Mary's Church." The Rev. William Starrs is pastor.
CHRIST'S CHURCH, ST. JAMES'S, AND CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION.
In the year 1S25, as related heretofore the Episcopal Church in Ann street near Nassau became extinct, and their house of worship was offered for sale. At the close of the following year it was purchased by a church of Roman Catholics, then formed, who took the name of " Christ's Church," -the name of the Episcopal Church, whose
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place they then occupied. Of this church, the Rev. Felix Varela, then recently from Spain, became pastor. They continued in Ann street, in ordinary prosperity, until the year 1834, when the church edifice was con- sumed by fire. This event led to the speedy establishment of two churches. The congre- gation had become numerous, and a part of them, residing in the vicinity of the East river, wished to locate in that direction. A large edifice was accordingly put up on James street, near Chatham, and opened in the year 1835,-legally holding the old cor- porate name of " Christ's Church," but known among the people as " St. James's Church." . The other section of the congre- gation purchased a house of worship situated on Chambers street, near Centre street, which had been occupied by the Reformed Presby- terians, where they commenced service on March 13th, 1836. This was called the " Church of the Transfiguration." The Rev. Dr. Varela took the pastoral charge of this church, in which office he still continues : the Rev. John M. Smith is pastor of St. James's.
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ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
ST. JOSEPH'S CHURCH.
Shortly after the establishment of the church in Ann street, as just related, the Catholic population increased very greatly in the northwest part of the city, and it be- came necessary to provide for their religious instructions. This led to the erection of " St. Joseph's Church," standing on the Sixth avenue, corner of Barrow street, which was opened in the year 1833, under the ministry of the Rev. James Cummisky.
The Rev. Dr. Pise, Rev. Dr. McCloskey, now one of the bishops of the diocese, and Rev. Dr. Manahan, have successively minis- tered to this flock. The Rev. Michael McCarron now holds the pastoral office.
GERMAN CHURCHES.
The emigration to this city, of Germans, has been very great for the last ten or twelve years, and the German population in the city, at this time, is computed at nearly thirty thousand. A large proportion of this popula- tion are of the Roman Catholic religion, and, to provide for their instruction, there have been established four German churches,-
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ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
viz .: " St. Nicholas's Church," in Second street, founded in 1835, of which the Rev. A. Buckmeyer is now pastor ; the " Church of St. John the Baptist," situated on Thir- tieth street, near Eighth avenue, founded in 1840, of which the Rev. J. A. Jacop is pas- tor ; " St. Francis' Church," in Thirty-first street, near the Seventh avenue, founded in the year 1844, of which the Rev. Zacharias Kunze is pastor ; and " The Church of the most Holy Redeemer," situated on Third street, near Avenue B, founded in 1844, of which the Rev. Gabriel Rumpler is pastor. - In these churches the service is conducted in the German language. As these chur hes are of recent origin, the above facts comprise about the whole of their history.
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.
A large Catholic population had settled at Harlem, and to accommodate them with a house of worship, a large edifice of stone, measuring seventy-two feet by fifty-two, was erected in the year 1835. The Rev. John Walsh is the officiating minister.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH. 341
ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.
In the year 1840, another Catholic Church was formed, called " St. Andrew's Church," under the pastoral charge of the Rev. John Maginnis. A house of worship, originally built by a Universalist Society, situated on Duane street, near Chatham, was purchased, and here they remain.
CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY.
Such is the style of a Catholic Church formed in the year 1841. At that time the " Second Avenue Presbyterian Church," finding themselves embarrassed, felt obliged to relinquish their house of worship to their creditors. It was sold at auction, and pur- chased by this Catholic Church. It has since been enlarged. A very numerous congregation assemble here. The Rev. Edward O'Neil is pastor.
CHURCH OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST.
This church was founded in 1842. The church-edifice is of wood, rather a frail building, but capable of accommodating a large congregation. It stands on the Fifth
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avenue, near the Institution for the Deaf and Dumb. The Rev. Felix Larkin is pastor.
CHURCH OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL.
In the summer of 1839, the Episcopal " Church of the Ascension," standing on Canal street, near Broadway, was destroyed by fire, and that congregation rebuilt their church-edifice on the Fifth avenue. In a year or two after this, the site of the old church in Canal street was purchased by a church formed of French Catholics, under the above name. Their present house of worship was built in 1843. The Rev. Ounet Lafont is the present pastor. The service is conducted in the French language.
CHURCH OF ST. COLUMBA.
This is the last Catholic Church formed in the city. It was organized in 1845, when a large and handsome edifice was erected on Twenty-fifth street, near the Ninth avenue. The Rev. Joseph P. Burke is pastor.
343
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
LIST OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, WITH THE DATE OF THEIR ORGANIZATION.
St. Peter's Church, Barclay street, 1783
St. Patrick's Church, Mott street, 1815
St. Mary's Church, Grand street, . 1826
Christ's Church, Ann street (now extinct), 1826
St. Joseph's Church, Sixth avenue,
1833
St. James's Church, James street, 1835
St. Paul's Church, Harlem, .. .. 1835
St. Nicholas' Church (German), Second street, 1835
Church of the Transfiguration, Chambers street,. . 1836 St. Andrew's Church, Duane street, 1840
St. John the Baptist (German), Thirtieth street,. . .. 1840
Church of the Nativity, Second avenue, .1841 Church of St. John the Evangelist, Fifth avenue, 1842 Church of St. Vincent de Paul (French), Canal street, .. 1843 St. Francis' Church (German), Thirty-first street, 1844 Church of the Holy Redeemer (German), Third street, 1844
Church of St. Columba, Twenty-fifth street 1845
Churches 16
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH. 1796. ·
A FEW discourses on the subject of Uni- versal Salvation had been delivered in the city of New York, by the Rev. John Mur- ray, and other preachers, who as they were journeying would stop in the city for a day or two, and hold a meeting. Thus several years passed, and nothing permanent was effected.
. The finalestablishment of the denomination in the city was peculiar. Three prominent members of the John Street Methodist Church, viz., Abraham E. Brouwer, Robert Snow, and Edward Mitchell, while they still held to spiritual religion, the Divinity of Christ, and atonement only through his blood, had adopted the belief of limited fu- ture punishment, and a final restitution of all things, On account of this sentiment 344
345
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
their situation in the church became un- pleasant, and they withdrew from it with ' fair characters, on the 28th of April, 1796. In the following month, being joined by several others, they formed themselves into a religious society, styled " The Society of United Christian Friends, in the city of New York." Fourteen members were en- rolled at the organization. The constitution they adopted, provided for the annual elec- tion of an Elder from among themselves to lead their meetings, and take the oversight of the society, as well as for an indefinite number of public speakers ; and also for the , celebration of the Lord's Supper, the ordi- , nance of baptism, and other religious observ- ances.
The society first worshipped in the house of Mr. Brouwer, but the number of mem- bers increasing it was judged expedient to build, and a small edifice was accordingly erected in Vandewater street, near to the spot where the Episcopal Church now stands.
For about seven years after the formation of the society, they adhered to their original plan of conducting their meetings among
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UNIVERSALIST CHURCH.
themselves, and edifying each other by such gifts as they possessed. In these exercises Mr. Edward Mitchell, one of the original members, was a leading man, and his la- bors being acceptable and useful, he was requested by the society to become their stated preacher, and was ordained as such July 18th, 1803. The society was soon con- siderably enlarged, and being straitened for room, they disposed of their house of worship, and purchased one then recently built, standing on Pearl street, between Chatham and Cross street .* In the spring of. 1810, Mr. Mitchell received an invitation to settle in Boston, as a colleague with the Rev. John Murray, which he thought proper to accept, and he left New York in August following. But in the next year he was re- called by the congregation at New York, and returned here in Oct., 1811, and con- tinued in the pastoral office until his death, ich took place in the year 1834, having
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