Grace Episcopal Church Complex is a historic Episcopal

church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship * Chris ...

complex at 155-15

Jamaica Avenue Jamaica Avenue is a major avenue in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and Queens, New York, in the United States. Jamaica Avenue's western end is at Broadway and Fulton Street, as a continuation of East New York Avenue, in Brooklyn's E ...

Jamaica, Queens Jamaica is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Queens. It is mainly composed of a large commercial and retail area, though part of the neighborhood is also residential. Jamaica is bordered by Hollis to the east; St. Albans, Springfi ...

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...

, in

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sover ...

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

. The complex includes the church, parish house, and

cemetery A cemetery, burial ground, gravesite or graveyard is a place where the remains of dead people are buried or otherwise interred. The word ''cemetery'' (from Greek , "sleeping place") implies that the land is specifically designated as a buri ...

. The church was built between 1861 and 1862. It is constructed of rough-cut

sandstone Sandstone is a clastic sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized (0.0625 to 2 mm) silicate grains. Sandstones comprise about 20–25% of all sedimentary rocks. Most sandstone is composed of quartz or feldspar (both silicates) ...

and features a steeply pitched roof and tall, sharp

spire A spire is a tall, slender, pointed structure on top of a roof of a building or tower, especially at the summit of church steeples. A spire may have a square, circular, or polygonal plan, with a roughly conical or pyramidal shape. Spires are ...

in the

Gothic Revival Gothic Revival (also referred to as Victorian Gothic, neo-Gothic, or Gothick) is an architectural movement that began in the late 1740s in England. The movement gained momentum and expanded in the first half of the 19th century, as increasingly ...

style. A

chancel In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may terminate in an apse. Ove ...

, designed by Cady, Berg & See, was added at the rear of the church in 1901-1902. The parish house, known as Grace Memorial House, was built in 1912. It is three-story brick building in the

Tudor Revival Tudor Revival architecture (also known as mock Tudor in the UK) first manifested itself in domestic architecture in the United Kingdom in the latter half of the 19th century. Based on revival of aspects that were perceived as Tudor architecture ...

style. The surrounding cemetery includes burials dating to 1734, when the church located at this site. Notable interments include

Rufus King Rufus King (March 24, 1755April 29, 1827) was an American Founding Father, lawyer, politician, and diplomat. He was a delegate for Massachusetts to the Continental Congress and the Philadelphia Convention and was one of the signers of the Unit ...

(1755–1827), Charles King (1789–1867) and William Duer (1743–1799). ''See also:''

History

This church is the oldest Episcopal Church on

Long Island Long Island is a densely populated island in the southeastern region of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, part of the New York metropolitan area. With over 8 million people, Long Island is the most populous island in the United Sta ...

, as well as the second-largest in New York State.Anonymous. Landmarks Preservation Commission. Grace Episcopal Church Designated a Landmark. Long Island Daily Press. June 15, 1967 Grace Episcopal Church was founded in 1702,Anonymous. Grace Episcopal Church and Graveyard. Landmarks Preservation Commission. 25, MAY 1967. Number 5.LP-0487 long before the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...

.Anonymous. Grace Episcopal, Jamaica, March 27, 1954. The parish's unofficial church life began in 1693.Anonymous. A Historical Church Located In Queens. New York Voice. January 6, 1979 During that time, an English organization called the “Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts” sent a missionary minister to respond to the request made by a group of Jamaica residents. It was founded by the Rev. Patrick Gordon, who was appointed by the

Bishop of London A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

to serve as “rector of Queens County with residence in Jamaica." The reason for this response was to provide spiritual help and religious teachings. Gordon died in Jamaica before performing his ministry in 1702, but his duties were succeeded by the Rev. John Bartow. Furthermore, a group of

Anglicans Anglicanism is a Western Christian tradition that has developed from the practices, liturgy, and identity of the Church of England following the English Reformation, in the context of the Protestant Reformation in Europe. It is one of the l ...

founded their own church in 1704. In 1733, around ½ acre of land was provided by many heirs to Thomas Colgan, where the members of the

Church of England The Church of England (C of E) is the established Christian church in England and the mother church of the international Anglican Communion. It traces its history to the Christian church recorded as existing in the Roman province of Britain ...

built their first church; it was christened/ titled the “Grace Church,” of which its first rector and bishop were the Rev. Thomas Colgan and Rev.

Samuel Seabury Samuel Seabury (November 30, 1729February 25, 1796) was the first American Episcopal bishop, the second Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and the first Bishop of Connecticut. He was a leading Loyalist ...

, respectively. The first church on the present site opened for worship in 1734.

Figures buried

Various people have been buried in the cemetery or burial grounds of Grace Episcopal Church.Anonymous. Tombstone Legends: Salty Sayings Throw a True Light on Their Periods. Long Island Daily Press. December 10, 1935. The tombstones of each person have been inscribed with a sacred and emotional message. One such person buried here was Edward Willet. Willett died at the age of 93 on December 8, 1794, and his tombstone contained the following verse: “Exact my soul in the joys that follow from God’s Almighty hand. While here my mould’ring body lies to rest at God’s Command." The burial grounds of Grace Episcopal Church are also the resting place of Robert McCormick, a New Yorker and war correspondent.Rabin, Bernard. Early Conservationist is recalled with Pride. Daily News. MAY 2. 1980. According to Felix T. Cuervo, president of the

Native New Yorkers Historical Association Native may refer to: People * Jus soli, citizenship by right of birth * Indigenous peoples, peoples with a set of specific rights based on their historical ties to a particular territory ** Native Americans (disambiguation) In arts and enterta ...

, McCormick was a man who sought to “expand the frontiers of the Old West and was also a conservationist, who did much to protect our native wild life." As a war correspondent, McCormick provided detailed accounts and descriptions of his experiences during both the

Crimean War The Crimean War, , was fought from October 1853 to February 1856 between Russia and an ultimately victorious alliance of the Ottoman Empire, France, the United Kingdom and Piedmont-Sardinia. Geopolitical causes of the war included the de ...

and the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states th ...

. Additionally, he was also a member of the new Republican Party and a friend of

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln ( ; February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was an American lawyer, politician, and statesman who served as the 16th president of the United States from 1861 until his assassination in 1865. Lincoln led the nation thro ...

Activities, services and recreation

Aside from holding weekly prayers and masses, Grace Episcopal Church has also hosted a number of special events for its community.Toscano, John. Church to Celebrate Its 262 Anniversary. Long Island Press. October 25, 1966. October 1966 marked the 262nd anniversary of the founding of Grace Episcopal Church. To celebrate the occasion, the rector (the Rev. Philip F. Lewis) conducted and held anniversary services, assisted by the Rev. Joseph H. Titus, who retired the previous year. The church's anniversary also provided a display featuring the royal charter granted by King George of Great Britain, and ancient silver chalice (one of eight remaining in the United States), a painted coat of arms of the church provided by Queen Anne of Great Britain, and a set of six collection plates (“alms bassins”). Grace Episcopal Church has been known for volunteering its services toward gun control and removals. In August 1980, five churches, Grace Episcopal Church included, were named as places where those possessing illegal firearms turned in their weapons: this was done under the city's amnesty program.Anonymous. “Jamaica Church Aiding in Gun Amnesty.” Newsday August 8, 1980.

Mayor Koch Edward Irving Koch ( ; December 12, 1924February 1, 2013) was an American politician, lawyer, political commentator, film critic, and television personality. He served in the United States House of Representatives from 1969 to 1977 and was mayo ...

and Dr. Robert Polk of the Council of Churches felt it best to use five houses of worship, where the weapons would be accepted with no issues or complications for the volunteers. Threats of arrest were dismissed as part of this service, as were questions and the provision of names. This amnesty program went into effect on July 10, 1980 and ended in August when a tougher gun law was enacted. Around 163 guns were surrendered. In August 1995, the church welcomed the Black Heritage Foundation and Cultural Collaborative Jamaica, which, in association with the New York Foundation on the Arts, presented several jazz musicians to perform for fans and residents of Queens.Chisholm, Wayne. “Jazz On The Avenue.” Program Honors South Queens Musicians. Queens Chronicle. September 7, 1995. The performers included the Bross Townsend Orchestra, composed of

Bross Townsend Bross Elvie Townsend, Jr. (October 18, 1933 – May 12, 2003) was an American jazz and blues pianist. Townsend was born in Princeton, Kentucky. His father was also a pianist, and started his son on the instrument at age seven. Townsend moved to ...

(on the piano), John Dooley (on bass), Walter Perkins (on drums), Bubber Brooks (on tenor saxophone), Fred Smith (trumpet), and 80-year-old Al Casey, a “pioneer of the amplified guitar.” This free jazz concert provided an in-depth, historical perspective on jazz and the contributions made by jazz pioneers.

Symbolism and significance of the church

Grace Episcopal Church is seen by many people as "a place of inspiration."Wilford, Sarah. Grace Church and Churchyard, Jamaica. L.I. Daily Press. September 4, 1935. Historians view this structure to be an ancient institution with an interesting and trouble past.

Vandalism

In 1957, the church was struck by vandalism, when a dozen tombstones within its burial grounds were smashed and another dozen toppled.Anonymous. “Historic Tombstones Smashed in Jamaica.” Press. June 6, 1957. Some of these tombstones were 100 years old. The tombstones belonging to Charles and Henrietta King, and those of the Cornell family, were among those smashed. Sergeant Paul Keane of the Jamaica Squad, ascertained that this was the result of “teenage hoodlums."

Landmark status

It was listed as a New York City Landmark in 1967 and added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1983. However, the church members fought to prevent or cease these actions in 2010.Trapasco, Clare. "Struggling Jamaica church shuns costly landmark status." Daily News. December 21, 2010. A campaign was launched in December 2010 by members of the Grace Episcopal Church; their intention was to meet with members of city council in order to overrule the

Landmarks Preservation Commission The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is the New York City agency charged with administering the city's Landmarks Preservation Law. The LPC is responsible for protecting New York City's architecturally, historically, and cu ...

's designation of the Church as a historical landmark when it voted the following year. According to the Rev. Darryl James, this designation "siphons off potential funding." The nearby Grace Episcopal Church Memorial Hall was listed separately as a New York City Landmark in 2010.

References

{{National Register of Historic Places in New York Properties of religious function on the National Register of Historic Places in Queens, New York Gothic Revival church buildings in New York City Tudor Revival architecture in New York City Churches completed in 1862 Episcopal church buildings in New York City New York City Designated Landmarks in Queens, New York Churches in Queens, New York Jamaica, Queens 19th-century Episcopal church buildings 1862 establishments in New York (state)