St. James' Episcopal Church and Parish House

St. James' Episcopal Church and Parish House is a historic Episcopal church at 2500 Jerome Avenue and 190th Street, in the Fordham neighborhood of The Bronx in New York City. It was founded July 5, 1853, becoming the first Episcopal parish in Fordham. The parish at first met at the Manor Reformed Church on Kingsbridge Road, then on June 11, 1854 acquired an old schoolhouse for use. On October 1, 1854, the Rev. Joshua Weaver became its first rector.[4]

St. James' Episcopal Church
St. James' Episcopal Church
and Parish House
St. James' Church
South side
Map
40°51′50″N 73°54′0″W / 40.86389°N 73.90000°W / 40.86389; -73.90000
Location2500 Jerome Ave., Fordham,
The Bronx, New York City
CountryUnited States
Language(s)American English
DenominationEpiscopal
Websitestjamesfordham.org
History
StatusParish church
Founded5 July 1853 (1853-07-05)
Founder(s)Joshua Weaver
DedicationJames the Great
ConsecratedNovember 1, 1865
Architecture
Functional statusActive
Architectural typeGothic Revival
GroundbreakingMay 28, 1864
Construction cost$25,000
Specifications
MaterialsStone
Administration
ProvinceInternational Atlantic Province (Province 2)
DioceseNew York
Clergy
Bishop(s)Matthew Heyd
St. James' Episcopal Church
and Parish House
St. James' Episcopal Church and Parish House is located in New York City
St. James' Episcopal Church and Parish House
St. James' Episcopal Church and Parish House is located in New York
St. James' Episcopal Church and Parish House
St. James' Episcopal Church and Parish House is located in the United States
St. James' Episcopal Church and Parish House
Area1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built1863 (for church)[2]
1891-1892 (for parish house)[2]
ArchitectHenry C. Dudley (for 1863 church)[2]
Henry Franklin Kilburn (for 1891-1892 parish house)[3]
Architectural styleGothic Revival
NRHP reference No.82003347[1]
NYCL No.1081
Significant dates
Added to NRHPSeptember 30, 1982
Designated NYCLNovember 25, 1980

Buildings

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The church was designed in 1863 by architect Henry C. Dudley (1813-1894).[2] Bishop Horatio Potter laid the cornerstone of the present building on May 28, 1864, and the church was consecrated by the same on All Saints' Day, November 1, 1865.[4]

It is a "native stone" building with brownstone trim in the Gothic Revival style.[2] It was completed at a cost of $25,000.[4]

The stone parish house, located on Jerome Avenue, was built 1891-1892 to the designs by Henry Franklin Kilburn.[2][3] It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[1] It was designated a New York City Landmark in 1980.

The parish also operated an apartment building on its property, built to relieve the housing shortage after World War I and as a business venture to raise revenue for expanding the church and parish house. It opened in 1924; however, the debt proved onerous with the coming of the Great Depression. The property was finally sold in 1924.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Andrew Scott Dolkart and Anne B. Covell (August 1982). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: St. James' Episcopal Church and Parish House". New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. Retrieved 2011-01-12. See also: "Accompanying five photos".
  3. ^ a b New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission. "Designation List 425"
  4. ^ a b c d Saint James' Church, Fordham (1953), Saint James Fordham's First 100 Years, pp. 2–15
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