St. Thomas More's Church (New York City)
Encyclopedia
The Church of St. Thomas More is part of a Roman Catholic church complex located on East 89th Street, off Madison Avenue the Upper East Side
in Manhattan
, New York City
. The parish
is under the authority of the Archdiocese of New York
. Attached to the complex is the church (1870), a single-cell chapel (1879), a rectory (1880), and a parish house (1893). The church building was built in 1870 for the Protestant Episcopal Church
as the Chapel of the Beloved Disciple in the Gothic Revival
architectural style. Under various names, the church building has been used by three Christian denominations, including Episcopalians, Dutch Reformed, and Catholics. It is the second-oldest church on the Upper East Side.
from Nova Scotia
in 1870 to a design by the architectural firm of Hubert & Pirsson. Architectural historian and New York Times journalist Christopher Gray
wrote that “The Gothic-style building has the air of a picturesque English country church, with a plot of green in front and a square tower rising in front of the sanctuary. According to Andrew S. Dolkart
, an architectural historian specializing in church design, the building is closely modeled after Edward Buckton Lamb
's Church of St. Martin's, Gospel Oak, London (see Gospel Oak
), built in 1865. ‘It has almost every little quirky detail of the London church,’ says Mr. Dolkart. ‘The chamfer
ed corners, the varying planes of the façade, the asymmetrical pinnacle at the top of the tower. It really captures your attention.’”
Attached to the complex are a single-cell chapel (1879), and a rectory and a parish house (1880 and 1893). The larger Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, on Fifth Avenue and 45th Street, relocated to 2 East 90th Street forcing Beloved Disciple to merge with it (its name retained in a chapel). “The old church was sold in 1929 to a Dutch Reformed congregation, and then in 1950 to the Roman Catholic Church, [and rededicated to] St. Thomas More.”
The church was renovated in the later half of the 20th century by architect Paul Cornelius Reilly
was a parishioner here until her death, however, her funeral was held at the nearby St. Ignatius of Loyola
because of the number of attendees.
On July 30th 1999, after the death and cremation of John Kennedy Jr., the Kennedy family held a private memorial service for him here which President Clinton attended and Senator Ted Kennedy gave the eulogy.
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...
in 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...
, 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...
. The parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
is under the authority of the Archdiocese of New York
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes...
. Attached to the complex is the church (1870), a single-cell chapel (1879), a rectory (1880), and a parish house (1893). The church building was built in 1870 for the Protestant Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
as the Chapel of the Beloved Disciple in the Gothic Revival
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
architectural style. Under various names, the church building has been used by three Christian denominations, including Episcopalians, Dutch Reformed, and Catholics. It is the second-oldest church on the Upper East Side.
History and Design
The church was built from sandstoneSandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
from Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
in 1870 to a design by the architectural firm of Hubert & Pirsson. Architectural historian and New York Times journalist Christopher Gray
Christopher Gray
Christopher Gray is an American journalist and architectural historian noted for his weekly New York Times column "Streetscapes", about the history of New York architecture, real estate and public improvements...
wrote that “The Gothic-style building has the air of a picturesque English country church, with a plot of green in front and a square tower rising in front of the sanctuary. According to Andrew S. Dolkart
Andrew Dolkart
Andrew Scott Dolkart is the James Marston Fitch Associate Professor of Historic Preservation at the Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation and Director of the school's Historic Preservation Program...
, an architectural historian specializing in church design, the building is closely modeled after Edward Buckton Lamb
Edward Buckton Lamb
Edward Buckton Lamb was a British architect who exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1824. Lamb was labelled a 'Rogue Gothic Revivalist', and for breaking with convention, his designs were roundly criticised, especially by The Ecclesiologist....
's Church of St. Martin's, Gospel Oak, London (see Gospel Oak
Gospel Oak
Gospel Oak is an inner urban area of north London in the London Borough of Camden below Hampstead Heath. It is bordered by the more affluent areas of Belsize Park to the west, Kentish Town to the south, Eastern Hampstead to the North and Dartmouth Park and Tufnell Park to the east...
), built in 1865. ‘It has almost every little quirky detail of the London church,’ says Mr. Dolkart. ‘The chamfer
Chamfer
A chamfer is a beveled edge connecting two surfaces. If the surfaces are at right angles, the chamfer will typically be symmetrical at 45 degrees. A fillet is the rounding off of an interior corner. A rounding of an exterior corner is called a "round" or a "radius"."Chamfer" is a term commonly...
ed corners, the varying planes of the façade, the asymmetrical pinnacle at the top of the tower. It really captures your attention.’”
Attached to the complex are a single-cell chapel (1879), and a rectory and a parish house (1880 and 1893). The larger Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest, on Fifth Avenue and 45th Street, relocated to 2 East 90th Street forcing Beloved Disciple to merge with it (its name retained in a chapel). “The old church was sold in 1929 to a Dutch Reformed congregation, and then in 1950 to the Roman Catholic Church, [and rededicated to] St. Thomas More.”
The church was renovated in the later half of the 20th century by architect Paul Cornelius Reilly
Notable parishioners
Jacqueline Kennedy OnassisJacqueline Kennedy Onassis
Jacqueline Lee Bouvier "Jackie" Kennedy Onassis was the wife of the 35th President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, and served as First Lady of the United States during his presidency from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. Five years later she married Greek shipping magnate Aristotle...
was a parishioner here until her death, however, her funeral was held at the nearby St. Ignatius of Loyola
Church of St. Ignatius Loyola (New York City)
The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola is a Roman Catholic parish located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City, administered by the Society of Jesus . The parish is under the authority of the Archdiocese of New York and was established in 1851 as St. Lawrence O’Toole’s Church....
because of the number of attendees.
On July 30th 1999, after the death and cremation of John Kennedy Jr., the Kennedy family held a private memorial service for him here which President Clinton attended and Senator Ted Kennedy gave the eulogy.