A history of the churches, of all denominations, in the city of New York, from the first settlement to the year 1846, Part 3

Author: Greenleaf, Jonathan, 1785-1865. cn
Publication date: 1846
Publisher: New York, E. French; Portland, Hyde, & Duren
Number of Pages: 784


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 3


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ministry of Mr. Hunt was very brief. In a little more than a year after his settlement he was taken sick, and he died May 7th, 1839, aged 38. After the death of Mr. Hunt, the Rev. James Harkness was hired for a year,. and a strong desire was manifested by a part of the people to call him as permanent pas- tor ; others thought differently, and the result was a separation. Nearly the whole of the consistory, with nearly half of the members of the church, left, and with Mr. Harkness as the preacher, established separate worship in a Hall, on the corner of Broadway and Leo. nard street. They afterwards united with the Laight Street Presbyterian Church. In No- vember, 1840, the Rev. James B. Harden- bergh, D.D., was installed pastor of the Franklin Street Church. Divine Providence ** has again smiled upon them ; their desola- tions are repaired ; their house of worship is well filled ; and they reported in June last, 300 members in communion. Dr. Harden- bergh is still their pastor.


MARKET STREET. CHURCH.


After the establishment of the Franklin Street Church, in 1807, no farther attempt


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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.


was made by the Dutch Church to extend their borders, for about twelve years, and then three churches were added in quick succession, viz : Market Street, Houston Street, and Broome Street.


The " Market Street Church" was orga- nized in September, 1819, by Rev. Drs. Mil- ledoler and Kuypers, then the pastors of the Collegiate Church, when thirty-one members were enrolled. The house of worship now standing on Market street, at the corner of Henry street, was erected during that sum- mer, and occupied immediately by the newly constituted body. They were not long with- out a pastor, as the Rev. William McMurray was ordained, and installed as such, in the following year. Dr. McMurray remained in the pastoral office in this church for 15 years, and was removed by death in the au- tumn of 1835. The church was vacant for nearly one year, when the Rev. Isaac Ferris, D.D., then pastor of the First Dutch Church in Albany, accepted this call, and was in- stalled in the summer of 1836,-he is still pastor. A large congregation assembles there, and the church reported, in June last, four hundred and forty-four members.


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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.


HOUSTON STREET CHURCH.


In the year 1822, an effort of a missionary character was made to provide the means of grace for some destitute portions of the popu- lation, and the Rev. Stephen Ostrander was employed as a preacher. A large room in the Watch house, at the corner of Prince and Wooster streets, was procured, and a meet- ing for worship was held here for several months, the people having in view the estab- lishment of a Reformed Dutch Church, somewhere in that region. As the matter ripened for an effort to build, there was a diversity of sentiment as to the place, which resulted in a separation, amicably accom- plished, but of course demanding a great struggle in both sections.


The church, now worshipping on Green street, corner of Houston street, and known as the " Houston Street Dutch Church," was first formed. A consistory of three elders, and three deacons, was organized on the 15th of April, 1823, and at the communion in June following, other members had been added, making the whole number at that time eighteen. Arrangements were made


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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.


for the erection of a house of worship, which was accomplished, and the house was open- ed toward the close of the year 1825. Soon after this, the Rev. Eli Baldwin was ordain- ed, and installed pastor of the church. After some years the health of Dr. Baldwin de- clined, and he resigned the charge of the church in the spring of 1839. At this time the congregation had become very small, and the people were greatly disheartened ; they however called as pastor, the Rev. I. S. Demund, then pastor of a church in New Jersey, which he accepted, and was installed in July, 1839,-he is still pastor. The la- bors of Mr. Demund in this church have been much blessed; the congregation has been gradually increasing ; many have been added to the church, which now enrols one hundred and eighty-five members.


BROOME STREET DUTCH CHURCH.


When the division stated above took place, a site was selected for a church edifice on Broome street, corner of Greene street, and preparations made to build. Before the house of worship was finished, it was thought expedient to organize the church, which was


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accomplished on the second Wednesday in December, 1823. 'T'he meeting-house was ,finished, and opened in the beginning of the next year, and in April, 1824, the Rev. Robert McLean was called as pastor. Mr. Mc Lean remained but two years, when he resigned his charge, and was succeeded in April, 1826, by the Rev. Jacob Brodhead. The ministry of Dr. Brodhead continued over eleven years. He resigned in October, 1837 ; and was succeeded, in December following, by the Rev. Samuel A. Van Vranken. Dr. Van Vranken held the pas- toral office for four years, being dismissed in October, 1841, having been elected Professor of Theology in the Theological Seminary at New Brunswick, New Jersey. The present pastor of the church, Rev. George H. Fisher, D.D., was called in December, 1841. This church has been generally in a flourishing condition since its establishment. The con- gregation is large, and they report 217 mem- bers in communion.


ORCHARD STREET CHURCH.


In the year 1826, the Rev. James H. Teller, a young minister of the Reformed Dutch


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Church, commenced preaching in a school- room in Ludlow street, with a view of gathering a church. The enterprise was quite successful, and a church of 34 mem- bers was organized, December 27th, 1826. Arrangements were made to erect a church building, and a very substantial edifice was erected on Orchard street, between Broome and Delancy streets. A very considerable congregation was collected here, and for a time the affairs of the church looked en- couraging. But in the summer of 1829, the health of Mr. Teller failed, and when he was constrained to leave the people, the Rev. James B. Hardenbergh was obtained as pastor, in the autumn of that year. The church at this time had increased to 150 members, and had their house of worship been free of debt, a flourishing church and congregation might have been collected. But was not so, and the people became dis- couraged, and Mr. Hardenbergh resigned his charge in July, 1830. Still for a time they struggled onward. The Rev. Dr. Jane- way very generously gave the church one year's service, and they employed the Rev. Mr. Labagh for six months more. But the


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congregation could not sustain themselves. The house of worship was sold under fore- closure of mortgage, and the church, then · consisting of one hundred and sixty mem- bers, scattered into other churches.


COLORED REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.


About the year 1826, a church of a few members of colored people was organized by the Classis of New York, and Mr. Mark Jordan, a colored man, was licensed as their preacher. Their meetings were held in a school-room in Duane street, near Hudson street, and for a short time the prospect was encouraging ; arrangements were made for building a house of worship, and a founda- tion was laid in Wooster street, near Canal street. But the thing did not succeed. Af- ter about two years the license of Mr. Jordan was withdrawn, and the church became ex- tinct.


VANDEWATER STREET CHURCH.


In the spring of 1829, the Presbyterian Church in Vandewater street ceased opera- tions ; during that year the use of that house 5


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of worship was procured; a Reformed Dutch Church of a few members was orga- nized, and the Rev. Richard Varick Dey became pastor. His ministry, however, was terminated within a year, and the church was disbanded.


MANHATTAN DUTCH CHURCH.


This church owes its origin to efforts put forth by the Young Men's Missionary So- ciety of the Dutch Church in the north- eastern part of the city, near the Dry Dock. On Third street, near Avenue D, there stands a house of worship, a frame building with a brick front, now occupied by the " Asbury African Methodist Church." This house was built about the year 1826, by a society of Congregationalists, having the Rev. John Dick as their minister. But this society very soon came to an end, and the building being sold for its debts, came at length into the possession of the Rev. Charles Knouse, and, in 1833, it was pur- chased by the Collegiate Dutch Church. Here a church was organized in the year 1833, consisting of eight males and thirteen


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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.


females. For several years it was known as " The Young Men's Mission Church," though now as " The Reformed Dutch Church of Manhattan." The Rev. Richard D. Van Kleek was the first minister, but he officiated only about six months. Rev. Aaron A. Marcellus succeeded him, and re- mained a year and a half. On May 1, 1836, the Rev. Frederick F. Cornell became stated pastor of this church, and continues to the present time. The circumstances of this church and congregation have greatly improved. L. A new and substantial brick edifice was erected and opened in 1843, at a cost of about $7,000. It is situated on Avenue B, corner of Fifth street, and here a very considerable congregation is assembled from Sabbath to Sabbath. One hundred and seventy-three members are enrolled in communion.


GERMAN EVANGELICAL MISSION CHURCH.


This church was collected by the labors of the Rev. John Rudy, a native of Germany, who commenced his ministry among the German population in New York in the


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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.


autumn of 1835. He commenced preach- ing in the German language in his own house, on the corner of Sixth street and Avenue D, and continued his meeting there until the following spring, when he removed his congregation to a schoolroom on Allen street. Here a church was organized by the Classis of New York, and some time after, the congregation having become considera- · bly enlarged, a small house of worship was procured standing near the corner of Hous- ton and Forsyth streets. The labors of Mr. Rudy were very successful, a large congre- gation was gathered under his ministry, and when he was removed by death, on February 9, 1842, no less than three hundred members had been gathered into the church by his in- strumentality. A new and commodious house of worship had been built mainly through his labors, and about $10,000 col- lected towards its payment. It stands on Houston street near Forsyth.


After the death of Mr. Rudy, the Rev. John C. Guldin was settled in this church, in May, 1842, and continues to this time, preaching in the German language only. The present number of communicants is three hundred and seventy-five.


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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.


STANTON STREET DUTCH CHURCH.


This church was gathered by the labors of the Rev. John Lillie. It was organized with 77 members, March 29, 1843, and Mr. Lillie installed pastor in May of the same year. Meetings were held for a time in the chapel of the New York University, and then re- moved to Concert Hall on Broadway, and thence to a schoolroom in Allen street, near Broome street. A church edifice is now in progress of erection on Stanton street, corner of Forsyth.


" TRUE REFORMED PROTESTANT DUTCH CHURCH."


Such is the style of the Dutch Church in King street. It appears that, in 1823, a dif- ficulty arose in the Dutch Church, and several ministers and churches, principally in the eastern part of New Jersey, separated from the body, charging those they left with a departure from the standards of doctrine in the Dutch Church. The breach has never been healed, and to this day they have no fellowship with the main body. A church of this description was organized in this city 5*


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REFORMED DUTCH CHURCH.


on September 1, 1823, consisting of forty- five members, and at the same time the Rev. Cornelius T. Demarest was installed its pas- tor. In the course of the following year a good house of worship was erected on King street, and here a devout and serious congre- gation continue to assemble. Mr. Demarest resigned his charge in October, 1839, and was succeeded in December following by the present pastor, the Rev. Samuel D. Wes- tervelt. The present number of members in the church is about one hundred and seventy.


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DATES OF THE REFORMED DUTCH CHURCHES IN NEW YORK, WITH THE NUMBER OF COMMUNICANTS IN JUNE, 1845.


Date.


Com.


Collegiate Church,


1626


1376


Harlem Church,


1686


126


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German Reformed,


1758


135


Greenwich Church,


1803 525


Bloomingdale Church,


1805


82


Franklin Street Church,


1807


300


South Church, Murray Street,


1813 .


261


Market Street Church,


1819


444


Houston Street Church, . 1823


185


True Reformed Dutch Church, 1823


170


Broome Street Church,


1823


217


Manhattan Church, 1833


173


Twenty-first Street Church, 1836


67


German Mission Church,.


1836


375


Church on Washington Square, 1837


243


Stanton Street Church, 1843


94


4773


CHURCHES WHICH HAVE BECOME EXTINCT.


Orchard Street Church, . 1826


Colored Reformed Dutch Church, 1826


Vandewater Street Church 1829


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LUTHERAN CHURCH.


1663.


. SOME of the early settlers in New York City were German and Dutch Lutherans, and they had an old church edifice near the " Fort," at the Battery, in very early days, though we have but a few fragments of their history. In the Dutch records of the Secretary of State, it is stated that a Church of the Augsburg confession was established in New York, and also a Lutheran Church, in the year 1663, but we have no further in- formation on the subject. In the same re- cords it is stated that the Rev. Jacob Fabri- cus, a Lutheran minister at New York, was twice fined for misdemeanors, once in the year 1663, and again in 1674. It is not known what these misdemeanors were, but, in 1675, he was forbidden to preach any more in the province. The Rev. Barnardus


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LUTHERAN CHURCH.


Arentius succeeded Mr. Fabricus, but it is not known how long he remained, nor who · succeeded him.


In 1702, a small stone building was erected on the corner of Rector street and Broadway, and was continued as a Lutheran Church until the Revolutionary .... ar, about which time, there being more Germans than Hollanders belonging to the congregation, one-half of the services were performed in German, and one half in Low Dutch. The names of the several ministers who offi- ciated cannot now be ascertained. At the great fire in New York, in Sept., 1776, this Church edifice was burnt, and not rebuilt by the Lutherans. The ground remained un- occupied until 1805, when it was sold to the Episcopalians, and " Grace Church" erected on the spot.


Some years previous to the burning of the old church, in the year 1751, another Lu- theran Congregation was formed, and a small building erected in the northerly ter- mination of Cliff Street, then called " Skin- ner Street," not far from the place now oc- cupied by Mr. Hull, as a soap manufactory. Here they remained six years, and then, in


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LUTHERAN CHURCH.


1767, put up a very substantial stone build- ing, on the corner of Frankfort and Wil- liam street, known as the " Swamp Church." This building is still standing, the oldest church edifice in the city, and is now occu- pied by the colored Presbyterians. After the peace, when order was restored to the city, in 1784, the remnant of the old church in Rector street united themselves and their property with the "Swamp Church," and the Rev. John Christopher Kunze, D.D., became the stated pastor. Dr. Kunze con- tinued his labors usefully and acceptably, preaching in the German language only, until his death, which took place July 24th, 1807, at the age of 63, having sustained the pastoral office in New York, for twenty three years. The Rev. F. W. Geissenhai- ner, D.D., succeeded Dr. Kunze, officiating in the German language entirely, until 1814. At this time some dispute arose respecting the introduction of the English language, and Dr. Geissenhainer removed to Pennsyl- vania, and the Rev. F. C. Schaeffer was call- ed to officiate in German in the morning, and in English in the afternoon and even- ing, and this arrangement continued for


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LUTHERAN CHURCH.


about seven years, when he left the old church, and formed an independent English congregation in Walker street. When this took place Dr. Geissenhainer was recalled, and continued to officiate in German in the " Swamp Church," as before, until the build- ing was sold to the colored Presbyterians, and after that he preached in Walker street until his death, in 1838.


Mr. Schaeffer, as stated above, removed to St. Matthew's Church in Walker street, near Broadway, in 1821, preaching in Eng- lish only; but in a few years the congrega- tion became so involved in debt that they sold the church at auction, in 1826, and re- moved to St. James' Church in Orange


Mr. street, near Hester street, where Schaeffer shortly after died. He was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Mr. Strobel, and he in the autumn of 1841, by the Rev. Charles Mar- tin, the present minister. Soon after Mr. Martin was settled, the congregation aban- doned the old place of worship, which was taken down, and one of the public school- houses erected on the spot. The Church retired to the " Coliseum Hall," on Broad- way, and immediately commenced the erec-


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LUTHERAN CHURCH.


tion of a substantial brick edifice, measuring 75 feet by 60, at a cost of $11,000. It stands on Mulberry street, between Grand and Broome streets. It is nearly completed. The style of the Church is the " English Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. James."


When St. Matthew's Church was sold in 1826, as before stated, it was purchased . by an individual, who sold it in a few days after to the German congregation of the " Swamp Church." Having thus two houses of worship, an attempt was made to form an English Lutheran congregation in St. Mat- thew's Church, while preaching in the Ger- man language was continued in the Swamp Church ; and, to effect this, the Rev. F. W. Geissenhainer, Jr., was called to officiate in the English language in St. Matthew's Church -his father remaining with the German con- gregation in the "Swamp Church." But the experiment did not succeed well, and after about four years the Swamp Church was sold, as before stated, and the German congregation removed to St. Matthew's Church,-the service being conducted inter- changeably in German and English. This arrangement continued a few years, when, .


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LUTHERAN CHURCH.


the English congregation dwindling away, the service in German was introduced entire. On the death of Dr. Geissenhainer, in 1838, the Rev. C. F. E. Stohlman was elected as his successor, to officiate in the German lan- guage, and has continued to labor with in- creasing success to the present day.


In 1842, Mr. Geissenhainer, Jr., resigned his charge in St. Matthew's Church, and commenced a new enterprise in the Sixth Avenue. A house of worship was erected at the corner of Fifteenth street, and a congre- gation gathered there. It is styled " The Evangelical Lutheran Church."


GERMAN REFORMED CHURCH.


From a very early date there were two adverse parties in the German Reformed Church,-one a Lutheran party, and the other a Calvinistic party ; the former stand- ing alone, and the latter standing in con- nection with the Reformed Dutch Church. We style them the Lutheran and Calvinistic parties merely for distinction's sake, though they both claim to be the " German Reformed Church." The sketch of this last party is


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LUTHERAN CHURCH.


given under the head of the Reformed Dutch Church .* The controversy between the parties became more severe from about the year 1805, and at length, in 1834, the Lutherans obtained possession of the house of worship in Forsyth street, and the Rev. Lewis Smith, who was a Lutheran by pro- fession, was their minister. He officiated until his death, which took place in 1837. The legal question respecting the house was decided by the Vice Chancellor in favor of the Lutherans, and, in 183S, the Rev. Edward Meyer became pastor, and con- tinued to officiate about three years, when he resigned his charge, and was succeeded, in November, 1842, by the Rev. Lewis Miller. In the spring of 1844, the Chancellor reversed the decision before made, and the Lutherans gave up the house of worship, and retired to Columbia Hall on Grand street. In Jan., 1846, by a decision of the Court of Errors, this church again took possession of the house of worship in Forsyth street, where they remain. There are about two hundred members in communion. Mr. Miller is still their minister, and is himself in connection


* See page 24.


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LUTHERAN CHURCH.


with the Lutheran Synod. He officiates in the German language only.


" OLD LUTHERAN CHURCH."


Such is the designation of a church gathered in the eastern part of the city by the labors of the Rev. Mr. Brohm, about the year 1842. They met at first in a small room on Stanton street, corner of Essex street, where they remained about two years. They then removed to a hall on Columbia street, near Houston street, where they still remain. The congregation is small. Mr. Brohm is still their minister. The ser- vices are conducted in the German lan- guage.


LUTHERAN CHURCHES IN THE CITY.


St. Matthew's Church, 1751, .. Walker street. St. James's Church, . 1821,. . Mulberry street. German Reformed Lutheran


Church, 1834, .. Forsyth street. Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1842, . . 6th Avenue.


Old Lutheran Church,. 1842, .. Columbia street.


First Lutheran Church. 1663,-became extinct 1784.


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 1661.


THE province of New York was surrender- ed to the British, by Governor Stuyves- sant, in 1664. Up to this time the Reformed Dutch Church had enjoyed the precedency of any others. But when the British obtain- ed the government, as a matter of course, the Episcopal, or, as it was then more generally called, the " English Church," obtained the ascendency. From that time the Chapel in the Fort, near the Battery, was called " The King's Chapel," and here the Episcopal ser- vice was held. The building known as " Trinity Church," was erected in the year 1696, and divine service was first performed there, February 6th, 1697. It was a small square building, and as Smith, in his History of New York, says, " very pleasantly situated on the banks of Hudson's river." The truth


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


is, it was built on the site of the present ele- gant building, at the head of Wall street, but in all probability, there were no buildings at that time between that and the North river. In 1735, the church edifice was en- larged, and a farther enlargement took place two years after, until it was 140 feet in length, and about 70 feet in breadth. In Septem- ber, 1776, a great fire occurred in New York, which is said to have destroyed four hundred and ninety-three buildings ; and among these was Trinity Church. No attempt was made to rebuild, until after the close of the war of the Revolution ; but in 17SS, a new building was erected, 104 feet long, and 72 feet wide,


on the site of the former building. In the year 1839, on commencing some repairs of the house, it was found necessary to rebuild, and arrangements were made accordingly. The corner-stone of the new and splendid edifice, now built, was laid June 3d, 1841, and the house was opened for worship, May 21st, 1846.


ST. PAUL'S CHAPEL.


In all the ancient churches in New York city, the plan of a collegiate charge seems to


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


have obtained. We shall not undertake, in this place, to discuss the wisdom or the ex- pediency of the arrangement. It may suf- fice to say, that the plan has been abandoned altogether by the Presbyterians, and partial- The an- ly by the other denominations. cient Episcopal Church, in New York city, was established on this plan ; Trinity Church was considered the parish church, and had as a collegiate charge, St. George's, St. Paul's, and St. John's, which were called " Chapels." St. George's is now a distinct charge, but the other two are still collegiate.


St. Paul's Chapel near the Park, between Fulton and Vesey streets, was erected, and first opened for worship, October 30th, 1766. It is a fine structure, of a reddish grey stone, 113 feet long, and 73 feet wide. Continuing a collegiate charge with Trinity Church, its ecclesiastical affairs are consequently merged in that. .


ST. JOHN'S CHAPEL.


This is an elegant stone structure, 111 feet long, and 73 feet wide, situated on Varick street, fronting Hudson's square, more re-


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EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


cently known as " St. John's Park." It was built in 1807, at the cost of more than $200,- 000. . This, like St. Paul's, continues as a chapel of Trinity Church, and therefore needs no separate ecclesiastical notice.


The following list exhibits the names of the regular rectors of Trinity Church, from its commencement to this time ; with the dates of their accession, and dismission or death, viz. :




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