| During the 19th
century, it was customary for Episcopal churches in New York to
meet their expenses with a system of pew rentals, rather than
through what has now become traditional weekly tithes. Certain
pews were kept open for visitors and those who could not afford a
pew, but some churches went a step further and built mission
chapels where pews were either free or rented for very small
amounts.
In 1850, such a chapel was
established on Madison Avenue and 28th Street, as a mission of
Grace Church, a famous Greenwich Village house of worship, which
still stands on Broadway and 10th Street. Two years later, the
growing chapel became an independent chruch under the name of The
Church of the Incarnation. The Murray Hill area flourished, and
new space was soon required. However, the rector at that time, the
Rev. Dr. Henry Eglington Montgomery, refused to consider a larger
building until Incarnation had first founded a mission chapel of
its own. This was accomplished by 1863 on east 31st Street (today,
The Church of the Good Shepherd), and land was duly bought for the
new church on 35th Street and Madison Avenue.
Strong Bones, Healthy Body
The building, designed by Emlen T. Littell, laid its cornerstone
on March 8, 1864, and had its first services on December 11 of the
same year; it was consecrated on April 20, 1865.
Littell described the architecture
as "Early Decorated Church Gothic," with its opulent use
of gilding, color, stencilling and painted panels. Frequently
referred to as "Neo-Gothic," the architecture of the
church is historically based on the so-called English 19th century
Commissioners' style, named for the Commission of the Church
Building Society. This group built modest, attractive churches for
the many new communities in England created during the industrial
revolution. The churches feature a narthex, an open nave with side
aisles, and a short chancel; Gothic Revival style added steeply
pitched roofs, towers and a clerestory.
Builder Marc Eidlitz is also known
for the building of the former B. Altman department store, across
the street from Incarnation. Today, the building is called the
"B. Altman Office Superblock," and houses the graduate
school of the City University of New York, Oxford University
Press, and the Science, Industry and Business branch of the New
York Public Library.
Fire!
Our church was razed by a devastating fire in 1882, which
destroyed the entire east end of the church, and melted all the
stained glass. Left standing were only the western wall and the
tower.
David Jardine was commissioned to
oversee the rebuilding. Guided by Littell's original design, the
architect enlarged the building by increasing the length of the
nave and deepening the chancel. The building was reopened for
services at Christmas of 1882.
All the windows seen today were
completed and installed no more than a decade after the fire.
Depicting the religious narrative of cycles and events from
Christ's life in the New Testament, and with key figures and
events from the Old Testament, the windows are executed by
different artists from both sides of the Atlantic. Art scholars
and historians agree that this collection represents one of the
finest existing examples of glassmaking during one of the craft's
richest and most prolific periods.
Like a Phoenix, Reborn
After this point, there were few improvements made to the
building, among them a spire originally specified by Littel, but
added to the tower in 1896 by the architects Heins and LaFarge;
the Chapel of the Nativity, brought from England for installation
in the northeast corner of the nave, and dedicated in 1903; and
the small Chapel of the Resurrection, added to the base of the
tower in 1930. The original doorway into the tower was filled in
with a window depicting Christ's Ascension. There appears to have
been an additional otherwise unnoted renovation done on the
chancel some time after 1912, when a dated photograph of the
chancel featured a Latin cross between the LaFarge murals, the
walls painted blue and terracotta, and the dome gilded. Visitors
to Incarnation today will observe -- in addition to the LaFarge
mural and white marble altar -- a central mural depicting six
angels, an additional white reredos above the original altar, and
a whitened dome featuring three clerestory stained-glass windows.
Ripples from the Stone Drop of Incarnation
Incarnation's influence on American and religious culture is
widely felt. Arthur Brooks, third rector, was instrumental in the
founding of Barnard College; he fervently believed in the higher
education of women, and served on Barnard's Board of Directors for
many years. His brother, fifth Bishop of Massachusetts Phillips
Brooks, is best remembered as the author of the hymn O Little
Town of Bethlehem. Admiral David Glasgow Farragut is
memorialized at Incarnation; his oft-quoted battle cry, "Damn
the torpedos! Full speed ahead!" is an integral part of the
English language.
During the first half of the 20th
century, many prominent New York families, the Delanos and Morgans
among them, were members of Incarnation's parish. Incarnation's
name decorates many wedding and baptismal certificates of the
wealthy, famous, and powerful, though such events were normally
held in private homes. Funerals were, however, held at the Church.
When Franklin Delano Roosevelt's mother died, Incarnation built
access ramps to allow the son to attend her funeral.
Changes in Fortune -- and Growth
In the latter half of the century, Incarnation's fortunes changed;
just before mid-century, the rector recommended the church be
closed and the property sold. John Atherton Bell, who served the
parish for 32 years during this difficult time, managed to keep
Incarnation intact into the 1970s.
With the arrival of the current
rector, cost-cutting measures and concerted efforts at fundraising
were made, and Incarnation is currently enjoying a surge in
membership. In 1997, a record-number of baptisms were held on a
single day: on December 7, seven persons were baptised, including
infant triplets, two children, and two adults. In 1998, the
largest confirmation class in living memory -- eight adults -- was
presented to the Vicar Bishop, the Rev. Don Taylor, for
confirmation or reception to the Episcopal Church.
Today, Incarnation is subtitled
"the Landmark Church of Murray Hill," and is one of New
York's Historical Landmarks, with major restoration work completed
in 1992. A recent guidebook notes that Incarnation "contains
some of the finest ecclesiastical artwork in America." Any
member of the Incarnation parish will also tell you that it's one
of the friendliest, warmest places to be. The services are
beautiful, the art and light in the building inspiring. Most of
all, the clergy and the people of the parish are welcoming.
We hope you visit us soon.
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