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We love this old carte postale in our archives, wi

We love this old carte postale in our archives, with a back stamp dated 1908.

There doesn’t seem to be much information about the Sampeck store online. Does anyone know more about this moment in the history of our neighborhood?

In the north aisle of the church, directly below t

In the north aisle of the church, directly below the “Spirit of Enmity” clerestory window that we featured a couple of weeks ago, is the splendid Ruth and Naomi window designed by Henry Holiday and completed in 1885.

The window was given by Charles Griswold Landon and Susan Hunter Landon in memory of Mary Griswold and Annie Hunter Landon. It depicts a scene from the Book of Ruth, chapter 1, verses 1-22 — a passage which recounts the story of a family that wandered out of Judea during a time of famine in search of food. They wandered ten years, settling for a time in Moab. While there, all of the family died except for Naomi and her Moabite daughters-in-law. The story continues: “So [Naomi] said, “Look, your sister-in-law has gone back to her people and to her gods; return after your sister-in-law.” But Ruth said, “Do not press me to leave you, to turn back from following you! Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people and your God my God. Where you die, I will die, and there will I be buried. May the Lord do thus to me, and more as well, if even death parts me from you!” When Naomi saw that she was determined to go with her, she said no more to her. So the two of them went on until they came to Bethlehem. When they came to Bethlehem, the whole town was stirred because of them, and the women said, “Is this Naomi?” She said to them, “Call me no longer Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt bitterly with me. I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty; why call me Naomi when the Lord has dealt harshly with me and the Almighty has brought calamity upon me?” So Naomi returned together with Ruth the Moabite, her daughter-in-law, who came back with her from the country of Moab.”

Happy Thanksgiving from Saving Grace! This splen

Happy Thanksgiving from Saving Grace!

This splendid carte postale shows our high altar and reredos adorned for Thanksgiving circa 1950.

The back of this card, dated 1952, reads: “I visited Grace Church at Broadway & 10th Street. Also the Church of the Transfiguration, which has a beautiful painting of the Transfiguration by LaFarge. Both are beautiful outside, and Grace Church is noted for it’s fine architecture (Gothic). They treated me really nice when I visited there, and asked me to come back when I am in New York again.”

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to visit with ou

Yesterday, we had the opportunity to visit with our friends and neighbors across the street at 799 Broadway. They invited us to their upper terraces to enjoy this unparalleled view of our beautiful architecture.

We hope you enjoy the view as much as we did!

In the clerestory above the north aisle to the far

In the clerestory above the north aisle to the far left, just above the gallery, we see this striking window depicting the prophecy of enmity, by Charles Booth. Booth (1844-1893) was an English artist, born in 1844 in Liverpool — the son of John Gilbert Booth and Miriam Wynne Booth. He married Emma Smith in 1866, and in 1867, they had a daughter, Harriet. Emma died of peritonitis in 1868. Soon afterwards, Charles Booth emigrated to the United States and in 1869 is listed as living in Brooklyn, New York. In 1869, Charles married Sarah Roberts, also born in Liverpool. In 1871, he was in partnership with Stephen Slack as "Slack and Booth, Ecclesiastical Glass Stainers." He had offices in New York and New Jersey. He later continued independently in the glass staining business. In 1880, he returned to London, where he took over the studio of George Edward Cook. Simultaneously, he continued the operation of his American studio which continued a little over a decade after his death in 1893. Notably, Booth also designed the stained glass in nearby Jefferson Market (completed 1874-77).

The vestry of Grace Church commissioned Booth to design all of the clerestory windows west of the church’s crossing in 1883. In “Grace Church and Old New York” (E. P. Dutton & Co., 1924), William Rhinelander Stewart notes that the vestry was never satisfied with these windows and intended to replace them. Fortunately they never got around to it, and today they survive as important examples of Victorian art glass in America.

The prophecy of enmity depicted in the window is taken from Genesis Chapter 3, Verse 15: “And I will put enmity between Thee and the Woman, and between thy seed and her seed.” This passage is part of the biblical narrative of the exile of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. It is interesting to note that Booth’s imagery, especially the serpent coiled around the tree, bears a striking similarity to Michelangelo’s “Temptation and Expulsion from Paradise” scene in the ceiling frescoes of the Sistine Chapel (circa 1508-1512).

Diving into our Archive: An extremely glamorous me

Diving into our Archive: An extremely glamorous member of the Altar Guild polishes silver in our Renwick-designed sacristy (unattributed photographer, circa 1940)

The splendid Joseph and Benjamin window by Henry H

The splendid Joseph and Benjamin window by Henry Holiday (completed in 1884)

The window depicts Genesis 43: 29-34 and was given in memory of George Collins Sherman, Georgiana Sherman, and Catherine Amelia Sherman. It was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Sherman

The text of the Old Testament passage depicted in the window reads: “Then he looked up and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, ‘Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!’ With that, Joseph hurried out, because he was overcome with affection for his brother, and he was about to weep. So he went into a private room and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out; and controlling himself he said, ‘Serve the meal.’ They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. When they were seated before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth, the men looked at one another in amazement. Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. So they drank and were merry with him.”

As Edyth McKitrick, the historian and long-serving archivist of Grace Church, wrote in 1997: Joseph is made to look thoroughly Egyptian here, to emphasize the separation from his brother, wearing the headdress of the Pharaohs, also worn by the Pharaoh in the vignette below.

Summer at Grace

Summer at Grace

Grace Church painted by Ferdinand Richardt in 1858

Grace Church painted by Ferdinand Richardt in 1858

The steeple of Grace Church as seen facing southwa

The steeple of Grace Church as seen facing southward down 4th Avenue from Union Square, circa 1870

James Renwick’s design for Grace Church is a mas

James Renwick’s design for Grace Church is a masterpiece of New York City’s Gothic Revival architectural heritage. Many have seen the interior of the church and its other religious buildings, but relatively few have seen the interior of Renwick’s rectory (erected 1848-1849), which was built immediately after the church was initially erected (1846-1847).

These marvelous photographic prints, dating to the period of Dr. Pitt’s rectorate (1939-1959), offer a rare glimpse into Renwick’s dazzling adaptation of the Gothic Revival idiom to a domestic setting. Grace Church was Renwick’s first commission for a sacred building, and the Grace Church Rectory was his first commission for a domestic building. In light of his later work – religious, commercial, and residential – these images offer a fascinating insight into the great architect’s early formation as a designer.

TONIGHT: The Saving Grace Spring Architectural Tou

TONIGHT: The Saving Grace Spring Architectural Tour @ 6:00. Saving Grace NYC invites you to explore the churchyards and nave of our historic Gothic Church. Experts on the history of the campus will shed light on the storied and long history of the church and grounds. Link to RSVP in bio.

Saving Grace Invites you to our Spring Community T

Saving Grace Invites you to our Spring Community Tour. Experts on the history and architecture of Grace Church in New York will tell us more about her storied past and light refreshments will be served. Link to RSVP in bio.

The Construction of the Broadway Streetcar System

The Construction of the Broadway Streetcar System in 1891, featuring Grace Church!⁠
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#savinggrace #broadway #nychistory #greenwichvillage #eastvillage #transit #trains

Street scene outside the Grace Church Chantry, 190

Street scene outside the Grace Church Chantry, 1907.⁠
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#savinggracenyc #historicchurches #gothicarchitecture #nyc #nychistory #eastvillage #greenwichvillage #fashion #clothes

Grace Church and the Fleischmann’s Model Vienna

Grace Church and the Fleischmann’s Model Vienna Bakery in 1891.⁠
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#savinggracenyc #historicchurches #gothicarchitecture #nyc #nychistory #eastvillage #greenwichvillage

Grace Church in New York, photographed in 1913. ⁠
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#savinggracenyc #historicchurches #gothicchurches #nychistory #nyc #broadway #eastvillage #unionsquare

The refacing of the Grace Church Chantry in 1909.⁠
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As the neighborhood and community surrounding Grace Church have looked onto it's beautiful architecture, it's upkeep and restoration have remained a high priority. This 1909 photograph shows the restoration of the Chantry, or Chapel, on the south side of the Church.⁠
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#history #nychistory #greenwichvillage #broadway #preservation #savinggrace #historicchurches #historicchurchesofinstagram

Saving Grace NYC celebrated the 175th Anniversary

Saving Grace NYC celebrated the 175th Anniversary of Grace Church on Broadway and 10th street last night!

A great time was had by all with light refreshments and a fascinating tour of three historic sites on the church grounds. Stay tuned for more!

#historicchurchesofinstagram #historicchurches #nychistory #savinggrace #broadway #greenwichvillage #eastvillage

Join Saving Grace at 6:00 on Thursday, October 21s

Join Saving Grace at 6:00 on Thursday, October 21st for a Community Tour of our Neo-Gothic Church. Light refreshments will be available. Masks and Proof of Vaccination required.

Please RSVP: https://savinggracenyc.org/community-tour/

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Saving Grace NYC

802 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
212-254-2000
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