A history of the churches, of all denominations, in the city of New York, from the first settlement to the year 1846, Part 7

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 7


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city, on the Fifth avenue, between Eleventh and Twelfth streets, at a cost of about $55,000. It was opened for worship January 11, 1846.


BRICK CHURCH.


After the dissolution of the collegiate connection, as related above, the infirmities of Dr. Rodgers led the members of the Brick Church, of which he was then sole pastor, to seek some farther ministerial aid. Accordingly, in the month of May, 1810, they gave a unanimous call to Mr. Gardiner Spring, who was ordained and installed collegiate pastor with Dr. Rodgers, on the Sth of August following. Rev. Dr. Spring continues sole pastor of the Brick Church, now, with one exception, the oldest in the pastoral relation of any one in the city.


RUTGERS STREET CHURCH.


Rev. Dr. Milledoler, D.D., was the first pastor of this church, when the collegiate relation was dissolved in April, 1809. Four years from that time, Dr. Milledoler resigned the charge of this church, and became co- pastor of the collegiate Dutch Church in this city, and subsequently President of


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Rutgers College. The church was without a pastor until October 17, 1815, when Mr. Alexander McClelland was ordained and installed pastor. Rev. Dr. McClelland hav- ing been elected a professor in Dickinson college, was succeeded in the pastoral office in Rutgers Street Church, by Rev. Thomas McAuly, D.D., in August, 1822, and he by the present pastor, the Rev. John M. Krebs, D.D., who was installed November 12, 1830. In 1841, the present elegant house of wor- ship was built on the site of the old one, which was then taken down. It was opened April 21, 1842.


DUANE STREET CHURCH.


In the year 1SOS, it was thought expedient to attempt the establishment of a new Presbyterian church in New York, uncon- nected with the three collegiate churches then in the city ; and on November 9 of that year, a church of twenty-eight members was organized, who occupied a house of wor- ship which had been erected in the year preceding, situated on Cedar street, between William and Nassau streets. On the day of the organization of the church, the Rev.


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John B. Romeyn, D.D., was installed its pastor. This church, from its location, was called the "Cedar Street Church." Here a large congregation was gathered, and Dr. Romeyn continued his labors until his death, which took place February 22, 1825, in the forty-eighth year of his age. After a vacancy of nearly two years, during which the Rev. Dr. Payson, of Portland, and Rev. Dr. Sprague of Albany, were both called and declined, the Rev. Cyrus Mason was


ordained pastor in December, 1826. Dr. Mason resigned his charge in June, 1835, and is now a professor in the University of New York. During the ministry of Dr. Mason it was thought expedient to remove the place of worship, inasmuch as the vicinity of the church-building was crowded with stores and warehouses, and the families had nearly all removed. It was sold with the lots for about $75,000, and taken down in 1834. The congregation were temporarily accommodated in the lecture room of the Brick Church, near the Park ; and in 1835, an elegant house of worship was built on Duane street, corner of Church street, at a cost of about $40,000, exclusive of the lot


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on which it stands. To this building the congregation removed on the first Sabbath in January, 1836, and the name of the church was changed from Cedar Street to " Duane Street Church." In May of that year, the Rev. George Potts was installed pastor of the church. The congregation was soon considerably enlarged, and after a few years of successful ministry, it was suggested that inasmuch as many of the congregation had removed into the upper part of the city, a new church might be formed by those living at a distance from Duane street, and their places supplied by others residing in the lower part of the city, and thus the cause of evangelical truth would be promoted. To accomplish this Dr. Potts resigned the charge of Duane Street Church, in April, 1844, and shortly after commenced preaching in the chapel of the New York University, thus laying a foundation for a congregation, while a house of worship was building. He was succeeded in Duane Street Church by the Rev. James W. Alexander, D.D., who was installed in October, 1844, and is the present minister. The prospects of the congregation are very


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encouraging, their large house of worship is 1 well filled on the Sabbath, and four hundred and forty-four members in communion were reported in May last.


CHURCH ON UNIVERSITY PLACE.


During the spring and summer of 1845, an elegant building was erected on Univer- sity place, corner of Tenth street, at a cost of $56,000 dollars, and was opened for public worship in June, 1845. To this building the congregation repaired which had been gath- ered by the labors of the Rev. Dr. Potts, in the Chapel of the New York University, after his dismission from Duane street. On the evening of October 26th, 1845, a church was organized here by a Committee of the Presbytery of New York, consisting of one hundred and fifty-eight members, about eighty of whom were dismissed for that pur- · pose from the Duane Street Church, and on the 26th of November following, Dr. Potts was installed pastor.


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CANAL STREET CHURCH.


This church was formed in the year 1809. The church edifice was first located in Orange street, near Grand street, on the spot now occupied by one of the public school- houses. The corner-stone of the building was laid by the Rev. Dr. Rodgers. It was commonly called the " Irish Presbyterian Church" from the fact that the original members were principally Irish Presbyteri- ans. The first pastor of this church was the Rev. John McNeice, who held the pastoral office until the year 1815, when he was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Henry Blatchford, who remained in the pastoral office four years. He resigned the charge in November, 1818, and was succeeded by the Rev. John Albur- tis. The ministry of Mr. Alburtis continued but two years, being succeeded by the Rev. Robert McCartee, D.D., in April, 1822. During the ministry of Dr. McCartee, the circumstances of the church were greatly improved. The location of their house of worship was very unfavorable, and the build- ing, though not old, had been slightly built, and was going to decay. The congregation


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resolved to remove, and having disposed of their old building, they erected a large and substantial one of brick, on the corner of Green and Canal streets, to which they re- paired in the year 1825, and the church from that time has been known as the " Canal Street Church." A large congregation soon assembled here; the labors of Dr. McCar- tee were greatly blessed, so that at one time the church numbered seven hundred com- municants. In 1836 Dr. McCartee resigned his charge, and subsequently became pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Goshen, Orange county.


In the following year, the Rev. John An- derson became pastor of the Canal Street Church, but his ministry was terminated by his resignation, in 1839. In 1840, Rev. Richard W. Dickinson, formerly of Lan- caster, Pennsylvania, and more recently pastor of the Bowery Church, was installed pastor ; in which office he remained about four years, when he also resigned the charge of the church. After several ineffectual attempts to secure a pastor, Mr. Hugh Smith Carpenter accepted the call of the congre- gation, and was ordained, and installed


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pastor of the church, in October, 1845. Thus in the space of thirty-six years, the Canal Street Church has had seven pastors, not one of whom has died with them.


LAIGHT STREET CHURCH.


In the month of April, 1810, a house of wor. ship was commenced in Spring street, near Varick street. The venerable Dr. Rodgers, then in his eighty-third year, was present, and offered a short prayer, which is believed to have been his last public service. In April, 1811, a church was organized here, and the Rev. Matthew La Rue Perrine was installed its pastor in October of that year. Dr. Perrine continued in the pastoral office nearly nine years ; being dismissed at his own request in July, 1820. He was subsequently appointed a professor in the Auburn Theological Semi- nary. Rev. Samuel H. Cox succeeded Dr. Perrine, being installed pastor, Dec. 25, 1820. In 1825, the congregation erected a new house of worship on the corner of Laight street and Varick street, fronting on St. John's park, to which they removed in that year, changing their name from the Spring Street to the " Laight Street Church." Ten years


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after this, Dr. Cox was elected professor of Sacred Rhetoric and Pastoral Theology in the Theological Seminary at Auburn ; and, on Oct. 22, 1835, the Rev. Flavel S. Mines was installed as his successor in Laight street. Mr. Mines resigned the charge of this church in Oct., 1840. At this time the people were very much disheartened ; heavy debts were pressing on them, and they had been borne down by trials of various kinds. About this time a difficulty occurred in the Reformed Dutch Church in Franklin street, when a large number of members withdrew, and had established a separate meeting in a hall on Broadway, under the ministry of the Rev. James Harkness, who had preached in Franklin street for a year or more previous, and it was in prospect to organize a Presby- terian Church, of which Mr. Harkness should · be pastor. It was suggested that a union might be effected between this branch of the Dutch Church and the Laight Street Church, to the advantage of both. After some nego- tiation, this was effected, and on Dec. 29, 1840, Mr. Harkness was installed pastor of the Laight Street Church. But pecuniary difficulties still pressed hard upon the con-


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gregation, and in December, 1842, Mr. Hark- ness resigned his pastorship in the Laight Street Church, and accepted a call to the church in Matteawan, near Fishkill landing ; and the congregation sold their house to a Baptist Church, then newly constituted by a colony from the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Mulberry street. On October 10, 1843, the Laight Street Church was dissolved by Presbytery.


ELIZABETH STREET CHURCH


A little previous to the year 1811, a reli- gious meeting under a Congregational or In- dependent form, was established in Elizabeth street, connected with the " West Chester Association." In the month of April, in the year 1811, this body was re-organized as a Presbyterian Church, and received to the Presbytery of New York : thirty-seven com- municants were at that time enrolled. The Rev. Henry P. Strong was installed pas- tor of this church, September 4th, in the same year. But the church was always fee- ble, and the congregation small, and in less than two years Mr. Strong resigned his


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charge, and in October, 1813, the church was regularly dissolved by Presbytery.


CITY MISSIONARY OPERATIONS.


For several years following the year 1816, there were in operation in this city three so- cieties, having for their object the advance-, ment of religion among the more destitute population of the city, as well as missionary operations in the country. These were the " Young Men's Missionary Society," " The New York Evangelical Society of Young Men," and " The Female Missionary Society for the Poor.". The first of these societies had, as missionaries in the city, at different times, Messrs. W. W. Phillips, John E. Mil- ler, Robert Steel, and Abraham O. Stanbury ; the second employed Messrs. Samuel C. Aiken, Elihu W. Baldwin, Samuel E. Cor- nish, Samuel H. Cox, and Matthias Bruen ; while Messrs. Ward Stafford and Samuel J. Mills labored for the third society. There was a rivalry between some of these societies, and occasionally they came in each other's way, as they were laboring on very nearly the same ground. We state the fact merely for historical accuracy, and there leave it, as 13*


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the tales of former times. The labors of these missionaries were blest, and have result- ed in the gathering of five churches, viz. the Seventh Presbyterian, in Broome st., where Mr. Baldwin became pastor ; the Allen Street Church, afterwards supplied by Mr. Gray ; the Bowery Church, where Mr. Stafford be- came pastor ; the colored Presbyterian Church, where M.r. Cornish became pastor, and the Bleecker Street Church, where Mr. Bruen became pastor. The exertions of these mis- sionaries were directed mainly to the north- eastern section of the city, stretching from Peck Slip to the Dry Dock. There were, at that time, four little villages or clusters of houses within these limits, known as " Cor- laer's Hook," " Grand Street Market," " Stag- town," and " Manhattan Island," the latter be- ing about half a mile to the north of Cor- laer's Hook, and approached by a bridge, rendered necessary at high water .* In all these places stated services were held, on the Sabbath, and at other times, as rooms could be procured. In the summer of 1818, the building, known as the " Mission House," was erected on Broome street, between Lewis


* Hatfield's Life of Baldwin, page 183. .


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and Cannon streets, and opened for worship on October 14th, of that year. The Seventh Presbyterian Church had very recently been formed, and were locating themselves in the same neighborhood, and it was soon thought best to dispose of the Mission House. It was accordingly leased during the next year, and afterwards sold to a society of Metho- dists, who had recently been gathered in a school-room in Broome street, then just va- cated by Mr. Baldwin's congregation, and who afterwards became the " Willet Street Methodist Church." This took place in May, 1819, and the Mission House continued to be occupied by the Methodists for six years, when it formed the place of gathering of the Cannon Street Baptist Church, by whom it was occupied until the spring of 1841, when it was converted into dwelling-houses. From this time the sketch of the several churches, gathered by these missionary ope- rations, will best exhibit them. The first of these was the


· Hatfield's Life of Baldwin, pages 227-228.


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SEVENTH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.


The Rev. Elihu W. Baldwin commenced . his labors in New York as a city missionary in the autumn of the year 1816. He labored, as has already been stated, mainly in the neighborhood of Corlaer's Hook, the Grand street market, Stag Town, and Manhattan Island, preaching the gospel from house to house, and gathering the people together in little assemblies, as opportunity offered. These means, humble as they seemed, re- ceived the blessing of God. There was an evident desire by many to hear the Word, and several hopeful conversions occurred. In the early part of the year 1818, the ques- tion of the formation of a church was referred to a Committee of the Missionary Board, under whose patronage Mr. Baldwin was laboring, who reported favorably, and a church was organized. The organization took place March 27th, 1818, in a private room in a house in Grand street, near Lewis street, then occupied by the family of Mr. William Badeau. Rev. Mr. Stafford and Rev. Mr. Perrine assisted Mr. Baldwin on this occasion. Eleven individuals were en-


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rolled at that time ; eight dismissed for this purpose from the Rutgers Street Church, one from Laight Street Church,-then called Spring Street Church, one from the Presby- terian Church in Catskill, and one from the Congregational Church in New London. Five of them were from one family, and but four were males. The church having been thus organized, nine others, all females but one, were added on profession of their faith. Not one of the members brought to the en- terprise either wealth or extensive influence. It was truly with them the day of small things .* In the course of a few months arrangements were made for the erection of a house of worship. It stood on Sheriff street, between Broome and Delancy streets. The corner-stone was laid on the 10th of August, and the house was opened for wor- ship on the 18th of June of the following year.


On December 25th, 1820, Mr. Baldwin was installed as pastor of the church. The activity and devout earnestness of Mr. Bald- win received signal blessing, and in a few years it was discovered that their house of


* Memoir of Baldwin, page 200.


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worship would not accommodate the multi- tudes who were thronging around him to hear the gospel from his lips. The house was accordingly sold to the Roman Catholics, and a larger one erected on the corner of Broome and Ridge streets. This building was finished, and opened for public worship, May 6th, 1827. It was a substantial brick building, 80 feet by 64,-more than twice as large as the former house. This building was burnt on the night of February 26th, 1831, and the 20th of November following found the congregation in a new house of worship, erected on the same spot. The labors of Mr. Baldwin were not only abun- dant, but always judicious and acceptable, and scarce any man has ever labored in New York with more permanent success. 880 persons were gathered into the church during his ministry, 539 of whom were on profession; and when he resigned his charge, in the early part of 1835, in order to accept the Presidency of Wabash College, Indiana, it was with the most sincere regret that his people parted with him. Mr. Baldwin was succeeded in the ministry by the Rev. Edwin F. Hatfield, the present pastor of the church,


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who entered on his labors as soon as Mr. Baldwin left. This church continues to be one of the most flourishing in the city. The ministry of Mr. Hatfield has been very suc- cessful ; several seasons of marked revival have been enjoyed ; many have been gather- ed into the church ; and, while they have dis- missed several colonies to aid in the forma- tion of other churches around them, they have more than one thousand members in communion still on their roll.


ALLEN STREET CHURCH.


This was the second church which arose from the city missionary operations. It was in the summer of 1816, that the Rev. Ward Stafford and the Rev. Samuel J. Mills ex- plored a large, and at that time a very forbid- ding district of the city, having for its centre the corner of Catharine and Madison streets, then called " Bancker street." These labors were blessed : a small congregation was gathered, and a house of worship was erected on Bancker street soon after. On May 28th, 1819, a church of twenty-five members was organized here, and the Rev. William Grey


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supplied it as a city missionary. In 1823, the building in Bancker" street was taken down and removed to Allen street, and since that, in 1832, the present brick building has been erected, at a cost of $16,000. Mr. Gray continued to supply the Allen Street Church from its formation, in 1819, to the year 1827. Two years after this the church ceased to be a " Mission Church," and assumed the re- sponsibility of calling their own pastor. Since that time this church has had for pastors, viz. :


Rev. Henry White, D.D., installed in May, 1829, and dismissed to accept the Professorship of Theology in the New York Union Theological Seminary, May 9th, 1837.


Rev. William Bradley, installed December 3d, 1837, and dismissed April 3d, 1839.


Rev. George B. Cheever, D.D., installed October 10th, 1839, and dismissed April 24th, 1844 ; and


Rev. David B. Coe, the present pastor, who was in- stalled October 14th, 1844.


COLORED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.


This was the third of the Mission churches, and was organized January 13th, 1822, with twenty-four members. Mr. Samuel E. Cor- nish, a colored preacher, had commenced his


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labors with the colored population in the city, in the autumn of the previous year, and occupied a small house of worship on Rose street. The church was taken under the care of the presbytery of New York, and Mr. Cornish became its pastor. Encouraged by many around them, an effort was made by this church to erect a house of worship, and in 1824, a brick building, 62 feet long and 50 wide, was erected on Elm street near Canal street, at a cost of about $14,000. But little of the money was actually paid, and the congregation soon found themselves with an incumbrance which they could not bear, and they relinquished the house within a year, which was sold under foreclosure of mortgage, and is now the Jewish Synagogue, " Benai Jeshurun."


The church retired to a room in Sullivan street, where they continued for two or three years, aided by Mr. Cornish, and other sup- plies. But Mr. Cornish's health failing, he was dismissed in April, 1S28.


In September following, Mr. Theodore S. Wright, a licentiate, educated at the Theo- logical Seminary at Princeton, commenced his labors with this church, and in March,


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1829, he was ordained by the presbytery of 'Albany, to which he then belonged. A large school-room was obtained near the junction of Duane and Hudson streets, and in this place the church continued for nearly three years. In the year 1831, the congregation purchased the old German Lutheran Church building, formerly known as the "Swamp Church," situated at the corner of Frankfort and William streets, for the sum of $13,000, and here they have remained. Rev. Mr. Wright is still pastor of the church ; his labors have been much blest ; several very interesting revivals of religion have taken place, and more than four hundred members are now enrolled in communion.


BOWERY CHURCH.


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i The fourth Mission Church was located at the Bowery, and arose chiefly through the labors of the Rev. Ward Stafford, who was employed as a missionary in the city for several years. The building known as the "Bowery Church," was completed in the year 1822, and on April 17th of that year, a church was there organized by the presby- tery of New York, consisting of sixteen


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members, and in October of the next year, Mr. Stafford was installed its pastor. The Bowery Church being but a feeble band, Mr. Stafford was sustained in part by the City Mission Society, for a few years. In the spring of 1827, some serious difficulties occurred in the Bowery Church, and in the following year, Mr. Stafford resigned his charge. In February, 1827, the church in- vited the Rev. Joel Hawes, of Hartford, to become their pastor, but he declined. In October of the same year the Rev. Joseph S. Christmas was installed pastor. Mr. Christmas was a young man of great pro- mise, and the church and people were high in their hopes; but these hopes were soon blasted by the sudden death of their minis- ter, in less than five months. He died March 7th, 1830, aged 27.


The next pastor of this church was the Rev. John Woodbridge, D.D., formerly of Hadley, Massachusetts, who was installed October 1, 1830, and dismissed at his own request February 29, 1836. He was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Richard W. Dickinson, formerly of Lancaster, Pa., who was installed November 2, 1836, but resigned the charge in April following.


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At this time the congregation had become much disheartened, for although a consider- able assembly attended public worship, and about one hundred and fifty members were enrolled in the church, yet a heavy load of debt lay upon the building, which they saw little prospect of discharging without great · personal sacrifices, and after struggling for a while, the building was sold and the church disbanded.


BLEECKER STREET CHURCH.


This was the fifth church which was es- tablished in a great measure through mis- sionary labors. The first city missionaries, from the year 1816, and onward, bestowed some labor on the then scattered population in the upper end of Elizabeth, Mott, and Mul- berry streets, and after the settlement of Mr. Baldwin in Broome street, and Mr. Stafford at the Bowery, a city mission was established by the Presbytery of New York, in the spring of the year 1823, and the Rev. Samuel Nott, jun., and the Rev. William S. Heyer, were employed as missionaries. Mr. Heyer soon left, on account of ill health, and Mr. Nott


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remained alone. He had a preaching station, at what was then called " Bowery Hill," near what is now " Union Square." He after- wards removed to a room in Elizabeth street, near Bleecker. He was succeeded in his missionary work by the Rev. Matthias Bruen, who labored gratuitously for several years.


In April, 1825, a church of a few mem- bers, was organized by Mr. Bruen, and at- tached to the .presbytery of New York, and in June following he was installed its pas- tor. In the year 1826, a handsome stone edifice was completed on Bleecker street, near Broadway, the corner-stone of which had been laid April 26, 1825, and to this, the church removed.




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