Park Avenue Christian Church
Encyclopedia
The Park Avenue Christian Church is located at 1010 Park Avenue
at 85th Street
, on the Upper East Side
of Manhattan
. At present, the building houses the Park Avenue Christian Church (PACC) congregation of the Disciples of Christ
, which also routinely shares its facilities and cosponsors interfaith events with the Reform
Temple of Universal Judaism (TUJ), also known as Congregation Da'at Elohim.
in Paris
, which were translated into the stately proportions and the slender 70-foot spire (flèche
) of its New York counterpart. Buttress
es enabled the building to stand without any steel girding
. In a further aspect of architectural note, many of the stained glass windows
were designed by the leading artist Louis Comfort Tiffany
. After passing through the hands of the Park Avenue Presbyterian Church, the building was finally acquired in 1945 by the Christian Church. The original rectory was replaced in 1963 by a much larger five storey facility which in addition to church facilities also houses the church's day school. A 56-rank organ
, built by Holtkamp
, was installed in 1982. Major restoration of the sanctuary building was completed in 1993. The building is an architectural "landmark" of the City of New York.
in 1810, out of a "fervent desire to embrace a pure and simple understanding of church life as found in the New Testament
." Beginning with its participation in the movement to abolish slavery
during the 19th century, the Church has espoused an ethical commitment to pursue social justice. One of its current emphases is a commitment to diversity. This includes helping to increase the number of Open and Affirming congregations and to eliminate bias regarding sexual orientation in the selection of ministers within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The congregation continues to be committed to the ecumenical movement for Christian unity, community service, interfaith acceptance, peacemaking and a major involvement in the arts, especially music. A variety of concerts are offered to the community. Since 1989 the church has sponsored a Saturday Lunch Program for the hungry and/or homeless in its facilities. The congregation's Park Avenue Christian Church Day School is an outstanding and widely respected pre-school program for 175 three to five year old children.
. The congregation holds services once a month and on Jewish holiday
s. As an example of its efforts to follow the imperative of tikkun olam
("repairing the world") through social action and interfaith cooperation, TUJ holds various events together with PACC, such as the joint annual commemoration in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.
, and his friend in the Civil Rights movement
, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
.
Park Avenue (Manhattan)
Park Avenue is a wide boulevard that carries north and southbound traffic in New York City borough of Manhattan. Through most of its length, it runs parallel to Madison Avenue to the west and Lexington Avenue to the east....
at 85th Street
85th Street (Manhattan)
85th Street is a Westbound-running street between East End Avenue and Riverside Drive in the borough of Manhattan in New York City. 85th Street provides access to the 85th/86th Street Transverse which runs east-west through Central Park heading between the Upper East Side and Upper West Side...
, on the Upper East Side
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side lies within an area bounded by 59th Street to 96th Street, and the East River to Fifth Avenue-Central Park...
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...
. At present, the building houses the Park Avenue Christian Church (PACC) congregation of the Disciples of Christ
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
The Christian Church is a Mainline Protestant denomination in North America. It is often referred to as The Christian Church, The Disciples of Christ, or more simply as The Disciples...
, which also routinely shares its facilities and cosponsors interfaith events with the Reform
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
Temple of Universal Judaism (TUJ), also known as Congregation Da'at Elohim.
Architecture
In 1911, the original owners, the South Dutch Reformed Church, commissioned the firm of Cram, Goodhue & Ferguson, to design the Park Avenue sanctuary. The architects were clearly inspired by the features of La Sainte-ChapelleSainte-Chapelle
La Sainte-Chapelle is the only surviving building of the Capetian royal palace on the Île de la Cité in the heart of Paris, France. It was commissioned by King Louis IX of France to house his collection of Passion Relics, including the Crown of Thorns - one of the most important relics in medieval...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, which were translated into the stately proportions and the slender 70-foot spire (flèche
Flèche
A flèche is used in French architecture to refer to a spire and in English to refer to a lead-covered timber spire, or spirelet. These are placed on the ridges of church or cathedral roofs and are usually relatively small...
) of its New York counterpart. Buttress
Buttress
A buttress is an architectural structure built against or projecting from a wall which serves to support or reinforce the wall...
es enabled the building to stand without any steel girding
Girder
A girder is a support beam used in construction. Girders often have an I-beam cross section for strength, but may also have a box shape, Z shape or other forms. Girder is the term used to denote the main horizontal support of a structure which supports smaller beams...
. In a further aspect of architectural note, many of the stained glass windows
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
were designed by the leading artist Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements...
. After passing through the hands of the Park Avenue Presbyterian Church, the building was finally acquired in 1945 by the Christian Church. The original rectory was replaced in 1963 by a much larger five storey facility which in addition to church facilities also houses the church's day school. A 56-rank organ
Pipe organ
The pipe organ is a musical instrument that produces sound by driving pressurized air through pipes selected via a keyboard. Because each organ pipe produces a single pitch, the pipes are provided in sets called ranks, each of which has a common timbre and volume throughout the keyboard compass...
, built by Holtkamp
Holtkamp Organ Company
The Holtkamp Organ Company of Cleveland, Ohio is one of America's oldest builders of pipe organs. Founded in 1855 by G.F. Votteler, the company was passed on to the Holtkamps in 1931...
, was installed in 1982. Major restoration of the sanctuary building was completed in 1993. The building is an architectural "landmark" of the City of New York.
Christian Church
PACC traces its descent from a group called "the Disciples of Christ", formed by nine former members of the Ebenezer Church of 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...
in 1810, out of a "fervent desire to embrace a pure and simple understanding of church life as found in the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
." Beginning with its participation in the movement to abolish slavery
Abolitionism
Abolitionism is a movement to end slavery.In western Europe and the Americas abolitionism was a movement to end the slave trade and set slaves free. At the behest of Dominican priest Bartolomé de las Casas who was shocked at the treatment of natives in the New World, Spain enacted the first...
during the 19th century, the Church has espoused an ethical commitment to pursue social justice. One of its current emphases is a commitment to diversity. This includes helping to increase the number of Open and Affirming congregations and to eliminate bias regarding sexual orientation in the selection of ministers within the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The congregation continues to be committed to the ecumenical movement for Christian unity, community service, interfaith acceptance, peacemaking and a major involvement in the arts, especially music. A variety of concerts are offered to the community. Since 1989 the church has sponsored a Saturday Lunch Program for the hungry and/or homeless in its facilities. The congregation's Park Avenue Christian Church Day School is an outstanding and widely respected pre-school program for 175 three to five year old children.
Temple of Universal Judaism
TUJ was founded in 1974 by Rabbi Roy A. Rosenberg as a haven for interfaith couples and families, while also welcoming Jews from other backgrounds, as well as non-Jews interested in JudaismJudaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
. The congregation holds services once a month and on Jewish holiday
Jewish holiday
Jewish holidays are days observed by Jews as holy or secular commemorations of important events in Jewish history. In Hebrew, Jewish holidays and festivals, depending on their nature, may be called yom tov or chag or ta'anit...
s. As an example of its efforts to follow the imperative of tikkun olam
Tikkun olam
Tikkun olam is a Hebrew phrase that means "repairing the world." In Judaism, the concept of tikkun olam originated in the early rabbinic period...
("repairing the world") through social action and interfaith cooperation, TUJ holds various events together with PACC, such as the joint annual commemoration in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
, and his friend in the Civil Rights movement
African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955-1968)
The African-American Civil Rights Movement refers to the movements in the United States aimed at outlawing racial discrimination against African Americans and restoring voting rights to them. This article covers the phase of the movement between 1955 and 1968, particularly in the South...
, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel
Abraham Joshua Heschel
Abraham Joshua Heschel was a Polish-born American rabbi and one of the leading Jewish theologians and Jewish philosophers of the 20th century.-Biography:...
.