USA > New York > New York City > A history of the parish of Trinity Church in the city of New York, pt 4 > Part 29
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St. George's Chapel, built in the old Montgomerie ward in 1751-2, was the first Chapel of Ease in Trinity Parish. In the year 1811, it was set off as a separate parish, and endowed with an amount of property in real estate sufficient to ensure its maintenance. In the year 1844, the Vestry of St. George's Church made an applica- tion to Trinity for help to build a chapel up-town ; they asked for a gift of $25,000 to purchase lots for that pur- pose, believing that the additional amount needed for the erection of a suitable edifice, $60,000, would be forthcom- ing from other quarters. The Corporation of Trinity did not accede to the request.
In the month of January, 1849, a communication was received from the Vestry of St. George's Church, repre- senting that their church in Beekman Street had become less desirable as a place of worship, on account of the removal of many of the inhabitants of that part of the city, and the conversion of dwellings into warehouses, shops, and manufactories ; and that in 1846 they had commenced the erection of a large, substantial and elegant church edi- fice in 16th Street, which was so far completed as to be fit for occupancy, but of which the cost had largely exceeded the estimates; and they asked for a release of the condi- tions of the deed of August 4, 1812, conveying the chapel in Beekman Street to them, which conditions were, that the said chapel should be forever used for divine service, and that the corporation of St. George's should keep and maintain forever at least one public church as a place of worship in the city ; and they requested a grant of power
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to mortgage or sell their property received from Trinity Church, in order to meet the expense of a proposed removal to the upper part of the city. They further prom- ised that on the granting of such release the same condi- tions would be annexed to the tenure of the property in 16th Street, which had been given them by Peter G. Stuyvesant, Esq. The Vestry of St. George's also asked that they might be heard, through a committee which they had appointed for that purpose.
The negotiations which followed at this request con- tinued for about two years before a conclusion satisfactory to both sides was reached. Repeated conferences were held with the committee of St. George's Church, and many reports and references appear on our Minutes. It seems that a considerable number of the congregation of the church in Beekman Street were opposed to the removal, being strongly attached to their old home, and desirous that it should be kept up on the ancient site; and they memorialized the Vestry of Trinity, in earnest remon- strance against the design to abandon the church and alienate the property.
The first conference was held in the Vestry office, 187 Fulton Street, February 19, 1849. The Committee ob- serve, that "in the long lapse of thirty-seven years, this is the first instance of any conference being held as re- quested." The committee of St. George's Church urged that the real estate be released from the conditions of the gift from Trinity Church, "so that it may be advan- tageously disposed of and the proceeds thereof applied to the payment of their debt." To this the Vestry did not assent and the conference produced no result.
Meanwhile, the new St. George's, on Stuyvesant Square and 16th Street, was opened for divine service during the winter of 1848-9, and consecrated on Tuesday, December
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4, 1849, the Rector, Church Wardens, and Vestrymen of Trinity being present at the service.1
Negotiations were soon resumed. At a meeting of the Vestry, held February 11, 1850, resolutions were presented and adopted as follows :
" Resolved, that in the opinion of this Vestry the church edifice of St. George's in Beekman Street, ought, if possible, to be preserved for the original purpose of maintaining public worship according to the rites and doctrines of the P. E. Church, in that part of the City, as well in pursuance of the spirit of the original grants and foundation, as with a regard to the religious wants of the persons of our communion resident in the Fourth Ward of the City and parts of the adjoining wards."
" Resolved, that the resolutions reported by the Standing Com- mittee be referred back to them with instructions to confer with the Vestry of St. George's Church, or its Committee, in order to ascertain if an arrangement can be made with said Vestry on the following terms : viz., That the Corporation do release from all conditions reserved by them all or any (as may be desired) of the property formerly granted by them to St. George's Church; UPON the said St. George's Church conveying the lots at the corner of Beekman and Cliff Streets, as originally conveyed to said St. George's Church (ex- clusive of the additions afterwards made) with the building thereon, to said Trustees, or to such Religious Corporation, now existing, or hereafter to be created, as the Corporation of Trinity Church may direct, and upon such conditions and covenants as said Corporation may prescribe for the better securing the said church edifice and its
1 It may be of interest to note that the Rev. Dr. Berrian was the first clergyman invited to preach in the new church, which he did on the evening of Sunday, January 7, 1849.
"It has always been my purpose and desire that you should be the first clergy- man invited to preach in our new Church both from my personal regard for yourself and my high respect for that ancient mother of churches over which you preside and from which St. George's has received so much. I had intended to wait, however, until we were more completed. But I have been laid up all the week with sickness and must have some help to-morrow. Will you do me the great favor to preach for me to- morrow evening at 73 o'clock ?"-Extract from a letter from the Rev. Stephen H. Tyng, D.D., to the Rev. William Berrian, D.D., dated "56 East 16th St., Sat., Jan. 6,1849," No. 514, Berrian MSS.
Dr. Berrian's Diary shows that he accepted the invitation.
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grounds for the maintenance of the worship and doctrine of the P. E. Church in the vicinity thereof, and the parts of the city adjoining."
The Vestry of St. George's refused their assent to the proposals contained in these resolutions.
The next proposal was as follows: that the Vestry would release the condition or conditions of the old grant to St. George's Church, if the Vestry of that church would agree to transfer the said conditions to the tenure of the property on Stuyvesant Square, and would also pay to the Corporation of Trinity Church the sum of $25,000 as a valuable consideration therefor; the Corporation agreeing "to pay and apply interest upon the said sum at the rate of six per cent. per annum, half-yearly forever, for the maintenance of a separate church located or to be lo- cated within the bounds of the former Montgomerie's ward in the City of New York, as the Vestry of this Corporation shall from time to time elect." The object of the Vestry was, evidently, to save the old church in Beekman Street, or to compel the Vestry of St. George's to assist in maintaining divine services in the quarter of the city from which they had removed.
To this proposal the Vestry of St. George's made reply, agreeing,
Ist. To pay to Trinity Church the sum of $25,000 for the removal of all restrictions on their property received from that Corporation.
2d. To place the same restrictions on the property in 16th Street, as those existing on the church in Beekman Street.
3d. To sell to Trinity Church or to any Corporation which it may designate and whose obligation for payment it will guarantee, the church and ground on the corner of Cliff and Beekman Streets, for the sum of $25,000, pro- vided the Corporation of Trinity Church will release the VOL. IV .- 22.
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二
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property possessed by St. George's Church and received from Trinity Church, from all restrictions contained in the deed of gift.
4th. That the Corporation will not comply with the resolutions passed by the Vestry of Trinity Church re- quiring a payment of $25,000, and a transfer of the restrictions to the church in Stuyvesant Square, while the debts of the Corporation to any considerable amount remain unpaid.
This communication was received April 8, 1850.
Another conference followed.
To pass over the details of these tedious discussions, and to give the final result : it was at length agreed, that instead of making a payment of $25,000 to Trinity Church the Vestry of St. George's should convey the church in Beekman Street with the land on which it stood, " together with all its furniture, bell, clock, and organ to such person or persons or body corporate as Trinity Church shall appoint upon the execution and delivery to St. George's Church of a bond of Trinity Corporation for $25,000 payable in five years with interest at six per cent." The in- struments proposed for the purpose of carrying out the arrangements between the two Corporations were to be in the following form :
Ist. A General Mutual Agreement providing for all the particulars of the arrangement as settled and approved by the counsel of the two Corporations.
2d. An indenture of mortgage to be executed by the Corporation of St. George's Church to Trinity Corpora- tion, on the new edifice on Stuyvesant Square and the lot on which it stood, conditioned for the restricted use of the present edifice and any other building to be erected on it as a Protestant Episcopal Church, or on failure thereof the payment of $50,000 as damages liquidated in the mort-
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gage, and also containing a covenant for such restricted use of the buildings and the usual power of sale.
It was further agreed that " no release of the conditions mentioned in the General Mutual Agreement or of any part of the same shall be executed by the parties of the second part, their successors or assigns, except upon the request of the parties of the first part, their successors or assigns, and to such persons as they shall appoint, un- less otherwise required so to do by a judgment or order in an action or proceedings in such form as counsel may approve."
Thus, in the month of December, 1850, the long negotiation between the two Corporations was concluded.
The property in Beekman Street having thus been se- cured from loss by alienation or sale, the Corporation of Trinity Church made such appropriations as were needed to maintain religious services in Old St. George's, until such times as it could be transferred to some religious corporation for permanent occupation. An opportunity soon presented itself. It will be remembered that in the year 1847 the Church of the Holy Evangelists, in Vandewater Street, belonging to the City Mission Society, and subject to a mortgage which that Society was unable to pay, had been saved by a loan from Trinity Church. That church, of which the Rev. Benjamin Evans was the Rector, being still in embarrassed circumstances, a plan was formed for abandoning the site in Vandewater Street, and removing to the old church in Beekman Street. Consent was required for this purpose from Trinity Church and St. George's, and negotiations were commenced with these two Corporations, looking to the carrying out of the design. The negotiations were successful ; and in the spring of the year 1851, St. George's Church conveyed to the Rector, Church Wardens, and Vestrymen of the Church of the
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Holy Evangelists, the church on Beekman Street, with all the furniture, clock, bell, and organ, in pursuance of the conditions and stipulations contained in the General Mutual Agreement already mentioned ; and with the un- derstanding that a bond and mortgage to Trinity Church for $50,000, the purchase money, should be executed by the Corporation of the Holy Evangelists ; that the Vande- water Street property should be abandoned to pay the mort- gages upon it ; that no person should be called to officiate as Rector or Minister in St. George's Chapel without the approval of the Vestry of Trinity ; that the name, " St. George's Chapel," or "Old St. George's Chapel," should be maintained always, and that Trinity should be allowed to place a marble slab in front of the tower, inscribed with that name, and bearing the dates of its erection, destruc- tion by fire, and rebuilding. The Rev. Mr. Evans, in a letter addressed to Mr. William H. Harison, March 5, 1851, informed him that there would be a cheerful and ready compliance with all the proposals made by the Cor- poration of Trinity Church, and his statements were confirmed by the action of the Vestry of the Holy Evangel- ists at a meeting held April 28, 1851. For fourteen years therefore, until June, 1865, the work continued to be car- ried on by Mr. Evans and his successor, the Rev. J. H. Hobart Brown, under the oversight, and with the assis- tance of Trinity Church, given from time to time as the difficulty of maintaining the Parish increased.
The health of the Rev. Mr. Parks was seriously im- paired, causing anxiety in the Parish. Upon communica- tions made by the Rector and Dr. Hoffman, the Vestry granted him nine-months leave of absence, a continuance of his salary, and an arrangement for such advances of sal- ary as might be necessary.1
1 Records, liber iii., folio 498.
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The need of a larger staff of clergy was becoming ap- parent if the Parish was to fulfil her duty to all sorts and conditions of men. Pending the question about perma- nent appointments, at a meeting held November 12, 1849, the Rev. Dr. Haight and the Rev. Mr. Hobart were re- quested to continue their services in the Parish for another year " under the direction of the Rector." 1
Recurring to the necessity, now conceded, of making provision for the spiritual wants of parishioners who had removed to the upper part of the city and still desired to retain their connection with the Parish, the Committee on Church Extension were requested to enquire into the ex- pediency of erecting an additional chapel, or chapels, either on ground then owned by the Corporation, or on ground to be acquired for that purpose, and of applying, if necessary, to the Legislature of the State for an act authorizing the acquisition of land for that purpose. While this subject was under consideration, it happened that a vacancy occurred in Calvary Church, 4th Avenue and 21st Street, caused by the resignation of the Rev. Mr. Southard, the Rector. The Vestry of that Parish, by a formal vote, requested the clergy of Trinity Church to take it under their pastoral care, and "to sup- ply the ordinary duties thereof for such period as the Church may continue without a Rector." In a letter to the Vestry, Dr. Berrian and the Assistant Ministers say that " they have come to the conclusion that it would be desirable to accede to the request." 2
Under this arrangement the Rev. Dr. Wainwright officiated frequently in Calvary Church, the other Assis- tants taking their turns also in supplying the services. That Parish was then in an unquiet state ; it was also bur- dened with a great and increasing debt ; and there was a
." 1 Records, liber iii., folio 529.
2 Ibid., folio 529.
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lack of the peace and harmony essential to progress. The ministrations of the Trinity clergy were evidently accept- able to the people of Calvary, while the clergy found it a great pleasure to render them. It was not surprising that when it became known that the Corporation of Trinity were thinking of building a chapel up-town, that the Ward- ens and Vestrymen of Calvary should have addressed a memorial to them, April 4, 1850, praying them to take that Church into their system, as a chapel of Trinity Parish, and for that purpose, proposing to convey to them their church edifice, furniture, etc., with the ground on which it stood, upon certain terms and conditions specified in the memorial.
At first the proposition was received by members of the Parish, and some of the Vestry, with enthusiasm. It seemed to be a method for securing at once at a compara- tively small cost a new church building and a congrega- tion already gathered in the upper and fashionable part of the city, and thus avoiding the risk attending the collec- ting of an entirely new congregation. It was frankly stated that the chief object of the proposed union with Trinity Church was relief from pecuniary embarrassments of the Parish. The memorial was accompanied with a copy of the Act of March 30, 1850, and its amendments, amend- ing the general act for the Incorporation of Religious So- cieties which had been passed on April 5, 1813 ; and "a statement of the debts and obligations of Calvary Church." A Committee of Conference had been appointed by the Vestry of Calvary Church. After some earnest discussion the whole subject was committed to the Standing Com- mittee for report.1
Meanwhile the proposition from Calvary was warmly discussed by the clergy, the parishioners, and the Vestry-
1 Records, liber iii., folio 544.
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Calvary Church
1851]
men. Some were eager to welcome the Parish and extend to her all the rights and privileges enjoyed by themselves : the more thoughtful and conservative, however, were doubt- ful. As for the Rector who had watched with interest the growth of Calvary under its young and ardent head, he regarded the proposal with favor, at first, but afterwards changed his mind, perceiving many and grave objections to the plan. He addressed the Vestry in a statement of his views upon the subject. Alluding to his strong desire for an up-town chapel, he had finally concluded that it was better to build one, than to annex an existing church and congregation. He admits a change of mind upon the subject.
"When the scheme of incorporating Calvary Church into the Parish was first proposed, it so far fell within the scope of my general views, and seemed to hold out, in some respects, so easy and hasty a means of accomplishing them, that I looked upon it with a certain degree of favor. But it was never so hearty and confident as that which appeared to be entertained by others, nor was it ever so strong as to interfere with my preference for the original plan."
Dr. Berrian found himself in the embarrassing situation of
" having in appearance at least acted with fickleness. In matters of principle there is not a point in my character of which I am more jealous than the preservation of consistency. But the question con- cerning Calvary Church involves no principle but resolves itself merely into expediency."
Upon this subject
" I freely acknowledge that my mind has undergone a material change. I have thought much of it myself and conferred much with others and have come to the conclusion that it is neither safe or wise."
The reason for this conclusion he gives with great care. In answer to the question "what are the motives which · influenced Calvary Church to make this request ?" he says
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"was it purely and simply from their decided preference of the system of a collegiate Church ? Was it, with the exception of a few of our parishioners, from any peculiar attachment to the Parish of Trinity Church itself ? The supposition in either case can by no means be granted. Would they of their own heart and mind without regard to convenience and interest have been disposed themselves, or have urged their representatives to solicit this union with Trinity Church on mere abstract grounds ? I do not believe it myself nor do I think there are many others who would admit it. There is no shadow of doubt in my mind, then, that it is mainly if not entirely to get rid of an urgent pecuniary difficulty, and not with any such regard for the mere advantage of the Parish of Trinity Church as should dis- pose it with corresponding good feeling to step forward itself and cheerfully receive them."
If this is "the genuine and leading motive," there is no security for permanence in its union with Trinity and as soon as it is
"relieved from the pressure of its wants by the proposed connections and enabled to breathe freely and look around upon its new relations there is a strong probability that it would find occasion for new com- plaints. I do not call in question the sincerity and good faith of the proposition itself at the present moment."
The Rector then contrasts the present independence of the congregation of Calvary with its dependence in the collegiate system of Trinity and anticipates that at some day not far distant it will "desire again its freedom with an ample endowment." He urges the rapid growth of Calvary as a source of apprehension :
"Calvary Church after a feeble and protracted childhood has all at once had a sudden and unnatural growth which is but seldom accom- panied with healthiness and strength. This has been mainly owing to the rapid population of the waste places around it and the accidental circumstance of an almost unprecedented popularity on the part of the . clergyman who very lately had the charge of it."
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1851]
After a brief laudatory notice of the late Rector of Calvary, Dr. Berrian considers the question of the danger to the settled principles of Trinity by the addition of cor- porators who were not in sympathy with her soberness, soundness, and invariable attachment to high-church principles. He makes a careful estimate of the voters in the Parish church, St. Paul's and St. John's Chapels, and concludes that the new constituents from Calvary could outvote them in any contested election and "thus if it de- sired, change the whole character of the Parish." In con- clusion he says :
"For my own part with a fearful example at this very moment before me of the overshadowing influence of what was merely designed to be a chapel, which has deranged and inverted the relations of an ancient Parish and in fact by the mere force of numbers changing the Vestry, has completely paralyzed and very nearly destroyed it, I am disposed to pause, to consider, to weigh the probabilities and look well to the con- sequences of a measure before adopting it, which with whatever prospect it may hold out of present advantages may possibly lead to mischief and evil which can never be retrieved." '
The Standing Committee presented on the 12th of May, 1850, a special report upon the subject : it was signed by every member. During its discussion a communication was received, signed by Drs. Wainwright and Higbee and Mr. Parks. Those gentlemen were earnestly in favor of the annexation of Calvary to the Parish, and did all in their power to prevent the measure from falling through. But the counsels of the Rector and the judgment of his lay colleagues in the Corporation prevailed and the resolution brought in by the Standing Committee was adopted :
. " Resolved, that the application of Calvary Church in the City of New York to be allowed to unite with this Corporation as a Chapel be respectfully declined."
1 No. 563, Berrian MSS.
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The offer of Calvary Church having been declined, proceedings were hastened for the erection of a new - chapel in the Parish. The Rector and the Committee on Church Extension were busily occupied during the summer and fall in examining proposed sites. An amendment to the General Act of 1813 had been obtained from the Legis- lature, authorizing the purchase of land for that purpose, and thus removing the last obstacle that stood in the way.
The Committee reported verbally, November 2, 1850. After some discussion, it was resolved "that it is ex- pedient for this Corporation to purchase land in the upper part of the city of New York and erect a chapel thereon in connection with its Parish church." 1
Upon the further report of the committee that five lots of land belonging to Mr. Drake, four of which are situated on the north side of 25th Street and numbered 56, 57, 58, and 59 on the map of lands of the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company, and one on the south side of 26th Street number 14 on the same map lying between Broadway and the Sixth Avenue, could be purchased for about $3300 each, the committee were authorized to contract for the purchase thereof "and also of three other lots adjoin- ing same either in the rear of the lots on 25th Street, or lying on either side thereof."
The purchase of the lots having thus been completed, Mr. Richard Upjohn was appointed architect, and re- quested to make plans and designs for the new building and submit them, with specifications, to the Vestry.
During the summer of 1850 two young musicians be- came organists in the Parish who afterward attained emi- nence in their chosen professions ; Mr. William H. Walter was appointed to St. Paul's Chapel and Mr. George F. Bristow to St. John's.
1 Records, liber iv., folio 14.
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