Church of Saint Mary the Virgin (Times Square, New York)

Church of Saint Mary the Virgin (Times Square, New York)
St. Mary the Virgin Episcopal Church

View of the church

Denomination Episcopal Church
Churchmanship Anglo-Catholic
Website St. Mary the Virgin
History
Dedication Blessed Virgin Mary
Administration
Deanery Manhattan
Diocese New York
Province II
Clergy
Rector The Rev. Stephen Gerth
Church of St. Mary the Virgin Complex
Church of Saint Mary the Virgin (Times Square, New York) is located in New York City
Location: 145 W. 46th St., New York, New York
Coordinates: 40°45′30″N 73°59′2″W / 40.75833°N 73.98389°W / 40.75833; -73.98389Coordinates: 40°45′30″N 73°59′2″W / 40.75833°N 73.98389°W / 40.75833; -73.98389
Built: 1894
Architect: Napoleon LeBrun & Sons; et al.
Architectural style: French Gothic Revival architecture
Governing body: Private
NRHP Reference#:

90000606

[1]
Added to NRHP: April 16, 1990

The Church of Saint Mary the Virgin (fondly called "Smokey Mary's") is an Episcopal Anglo-Catholic church within the Episcopal Diocese of New York and the Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The church complex is located in the heart of Times Square on West 46th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. In 1990 the Church of St. Mary the Virgin Complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places.[1]

Contents

History

The Society of the Free Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in the New York City was incorporated on December 3, 1868. The Rev. Thomas McKee Brown wanted to build a church in New York City dedicated to expressing the full witness of Catholic thought in ritual and teaching within the Episcopal Church. A year after his ordination, Father Brown brought his plan to Bishop Potter, who suggested that a church was needed near Longacre Square (Times Square in 1905) on the west side of what is now Midtown. John Jacob Astor gave three lots on West 45th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, "stipulating that the Church should be free, and positively orthodox in management and working."

On April 6, 1868, the cornerstone was laid for the first church, located at 228 West 45th Street (today the site of the Booth Theatre). The rector and trustees named the church for the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ. The first church was designed by William Hallet, and was dedicated on December 8, 1870 (the Feast of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary). Bishop Potter was unable to officiate at the service, but his place was taken by the Rt. Rev. Horatio Southgate, the Episcopal Church's former missionary bishop to the Ottoman Empire.

New church

By 1890, the congregation had outgrown the church on West 45th Street. In 1892 the late Miss Sara L. Cooke, a member of the parish, left the church a legacy which eventually amounted to $700,000, in addition to real estate. Father Brown and the other trustees decided to use this legacy to fund a new church on an eight-lot parcel running through from 46th to 47th Streets. The new complex was to include a rectory at the 47th Street end of the lot, a clergy house (for curates and assistants) and a mission house (for the sisters). The style would be French Gothic, with a church seating 800 people.

Erecting this building was a big challenge to French architect Napoleon Le Brun. Nothing of this size and scale was ever attempted around the late 19th century. Le Brun was one of very few architects who first worked with iron framing, which is buried within the walls.

The cornerstone for the new church was laid on December 8, 1894. The completed church was 60 feet (18 m) wide and 180 feet (55 m) long, and the nave was 80 feet (24 m) from floor to ceiling and 46 feet (14 m) wide. The chancel, at the north end of the building, was 48 feet (15 m) deep, terminating with the marble high altar moved from the former church.

Today

Today, Saint Mary's is widely known for its solemn liturgies and choral and organ music. Solemn High Mass and Solemn Evensong and Benediction are celebrated on Sundays, and Mass is offered daily. Because of the copious use of incense, the church is sometimes fondly referred to as "Smokey Mary's". In 1996 and 1997, the interior of the church was redecorated with vivid colors, including cobalt blue vaulting with gold stars.

Music

Run by Cambridge educated British music director James Kennerley, the choir of the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin is a professional ensemble that sings music for the liturgy. At each Solemn Mass, the plainchant is sung in the original Latin. The choir's repertoire of Masses and motets stretches from the Middle Ages to works by living composers.

See also

References

External links


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем решить контрольную работу

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Times Square — For the subway station, see Times Square – 42nd Street (New York City Subway). For other uses, see Times Square (disambiguation). Coordinates: 40°45′28″N 73°59′09″W / 40.75773°N 73.985708°W …   Wikipedia

  • St. Mary's Church — Contents 1 Albania 2 Azerbaijan 3 Belarus 4 Bosnia and …   Wikipedia

  • New York Law School — Not to be confused with New York University School of Law. New York Law School Motto Juris praecepta sunt haec: honeste vivere, autem non laedere, suum cuique tribuere. The precepts of the law are these: to live justly, not to injure anyone, and… …   Wikipedia

  • Community of St John Baptist — The Community of St. John Baptist (CSJB), also known as the Sisters of Mercy, or formerly Clewer Sisters, is an Anglican religious order of Augustinian nuns. Contents 1 History 2 CSJB in the United Kingdom 3 CSJB in the United States …   Wikipedia

  • List of Anglo-Catholic Churches — This is a list of Anglo Catholic, or High Church, parishes and missions within the Anglican Communion that are especially notable on architectural or other grounds. [Only churches meeting Wikipedia article standards of notability are listed here …   Wikipedia

  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints — Classification Latter Day Saint movement Theology Nontrinitarian, Mormonism Governance …   Wikipedia

  • The United States of America —     The United States of America     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► The United States of America     BOUNDARIES AND AREA     On the east the boundary is formed by the St. Croix River and an arbitrary line to the St. John, and on the north by the… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • New Zealand — This article is about the country. For other uses, see New Zealand (disambiguation). NZ redirects here. For other uses, see NZ (disambiguation). New Zealand Aotearoa …   Wikipedia

  • Mary Rose — For later ships with the same name, see HMS Mary Rose. For the play by J.M. Barrie, see Mary Rose (play). The remnants of the Mary Rose undergoing conservation in Portsmouth …   Wikipedia

  • New Brunswick, New Jersey — New Brunswick   City   City of New Brunswick …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”