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Church of Saint Mary the Virgin (Times Square, New York)
Encyclopedia
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
.
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
.
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 (18.3 m) wide and 180 feet (54.9 m) long, and the nave was 80 feet (24.4 m) from floor to ceiling and 46 feet (14 m) wide. The chancel, at the north end of the building, was 48 feet (14.6 m) deep, terminating with the marble high altar moved from the former church.
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.
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.
Anglicanism
Anglicanism is a tradition within Christianity comprising churches with historical connections to the Church of England or similar beliefs, worship and church structures. The word Anglican originates in ecclesia anglicana, a medieval Latin phrase dating to at least 1246 that means the English...
Anglo-Catholic church within the Episcopal Diocese of New York
Episcopal Diocese of New York
The Episcopal Diocese of New York is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, encompassing the boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx, and Staten Island in New York City, and the New York state counties of Westchester, Rockland, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, and...
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
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. In 1990 the Church of St. Mary the Virgin Complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
The Society of the Free Church of Saint Mary the Virgin in the New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
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
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
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
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
in 1905) on the west side of what is now Midtown
Midtown
-In cities:Nepal*Midtown, Kathmandu, NepalUnited States*Midtown, Agoura Hills, California*Midtown Atlanta, Georgia**Midtown , passenger rail station near this area*Midtown Columbus, Georgia*Midtown, Detroit, Michigan...
. John Jacob Astor
John Jacob Astor
John Jacob Astor , born Johann Jakob Astor, was a German-American business magnate and investor who was the first prominent member of the Astor family and the first multi-millionaire in the United States...
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
Booth Theatre
The Booth Theatre is a Broadway theatre located at 222 West 45th Street in midtown-Manhattan, New York City.Architect Henry B. Herts designed the Booth and its companion Shubert Theatre as a back-to-back pair sharing a Venetian Renaissance-style façade...
). 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
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
). Bishop Potter was unable to officiate at the service, but his place was taken by the Rt. Rev. Horatio Southgate
Horatio Southgate
Horatio Southgate was born in Portland, Maine and studied for the ordained ministry at Andover Theological Seminary as a Congregationalist. In 1834 he became a member of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and was subsequently ordained to the diaconate in 1835...
, the Episcopal Church's former missionary bishop to the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
.
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 (18.3 m) wide and 180 feet (54.9 m) long, and the nave was 80 feet (24.4 m) from floor to ceiling and 46 feet (14 m) wide. The chancel, at the north end of the building, was 48 feet (14.6 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 EvensongEvening Prayer (Anglican)
Evening Prayer is a liturgy in use in the Anglican Communion and celebrated in the late afternoon or evening...
and Benediction
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament is a devotional ceremony celebrated within the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church, as well as in some Anglican and Lutheran Churches, Liberal Catholic churches, Western Rite Orthodox churches, and Latinised Eastern Catholic Churches.Benediction of the...
are celebrated on Sundays, and Mass is offered daily. Because of the copious use of incense
Incense
Incense is composed of aromatic biotic materials, which release fragrant smoke when burned. The term "incense" refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces. It is used in religious ceremonies, ritual purification, aromatherapy, meditation, for creating a mood, and for...
, 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 ensembleMusical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
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
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
to works by living composers.
External links
- St. Mary The Virgin Website
- New York Architecture Images- Midtown - St Mary the Virgin - 12 images plus a short history
- Current Liturgical Calendar
- Complete Music Schedule
- Historical documents on the parish from Project CanterburyProject CanterburyProject Canterbury is an online archive of material related to the history of Anglicanism. It was founded by Richard Mammana, Jr. in 1999, and is hosted by the non-profit Society of Archbishop Justus...