St. Augustine's Church (Manhattan)

St. Augustine's Church at 290 Henry Street between Montgomery and Jackson Streets on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City.

St. Augustine's Chapel
(2011)
Location290 Henry St.
Manhattan, New York City
Coordinates40°42′48″N 73°59′2″W
Built1827-29[1]
ArchitectJohn Heath
Architectural styleGeorgian, Gothic Revival
NRHP reference No.80002718[2]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMay 6, 1980
Designated NYCLAugust 16, 1966

The church was built in 1827-29 as the All Saints' Free Church – "Free" meaning free of pew rent.[3] – and was constructed out of Manhattan schist.[1] The design – a Georgian structure with Gothic windows[4] – is credited to John Heath, and includes a double pediment and a projecting tower.[1] The church was enlarged in 1848 with the addition of a sanctuary and a chancel.[5]

This 1934 drawing from the Historic American Buildings Survey shows approximately what the east elevation of the church looked like before it lost its tower.

Traditionally, it is thought that two rough galleries on either side of the organ loft might have been for the use of slaves, despite the church having been built after slaves were emancipated in New York.[6]

In 1949, the congregation merged with St. Augustine's Chapel of Trinity Church, then located at 107 East Houston Street, and the new combined congregation used the building on Henry Street.[6] The parish became independent of Trinity in 1976.[1][6]

The building became a New York City landmark in 1966,[1] and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

References
  1. New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission; Dolkart, Andrew S.; Postal, Matthew A. (2009). Postal, Matthew A. (ed.). Guide to New York City Landmarks (4th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-28963-1., p.48
  2. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  3. Nevius, Michelle & Nevius, James (2009), Inside the Apple: A Streetwise History of New York City, New York: Free Press, ISBN 141658997X, pp.62-63
  4. White, Norval & Willensky, Elliot (2000). AIA Guide to New York City (4th ed.). New York: Three Rivers Press. ISBN 978-0-8129-3107-5., p.92
  5. Historical marker on the church. Accessed: 2001-09-03
  6. Dunlap, David W. (2004). From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-12543-7., p.193



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