History
We Lutherans were the first Christians to be called "Protestants." We are the largest of the Protestant Churches, with 60 million members throughout the world.
We were called "Lutheran" after Martin Luther, a German priest and professor, who in 1517 began to preach against the abuses of the medieval Church.
Most Lutherans in this country (including our congregation) are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which began in 1988 with the merger of three smaller Lutheran church bodies.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is officially in full communion with the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ and the Moravian Church.
Each year on the first Sunday in October we thank God for the gift of this holy house where God's Word is preached and the Sacraments are received. Our celebration this year marked the 117th anniversary of the dedication of this building as a house of worship of the Lutheran Church.
Our building was designed in 1880 originally for the New York City Church Extension and Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The architect, Stephen D. Hatch, provided the building with a charming facade, perhaps more Victorian than Gothic. Construction was completed in 1882, and the building was named St. Andrew's Chapel. In 1890 the church building was purchased by the congregation of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, which had incorporated in 1886. Festive dedication services marked the beginning of a new life for Grace Church.
The building underwent extensive renovations in 1910. The bills had scarcely been paid when, on 14 February 1924, a terrible fire gutted the building, requiring some $25,000 in repairs. On 1 October 1939, the congregation of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, which had incorporated in 1866, moved from West 123rd Street to Grace Church to continue its ministry in this building. The two congregations were united by a common heritage, both having been founded by German immigrants from the Kingdom of Hanover. On 28 September 1944, the two congregations officially became Grace & St. Paul's Church.
The recent extensive renovations of our church, begun in 1988, were made possible by generous bequests of over $1,000,000 from the late Duane and Helen Everson and Elsie and Aline Rauer. Architect for the project was Justin Lamb of New York City, and our artistic consultant was Frank Kacmarcik, late of St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota. Brother Frank also designed the chairs, altar and ambo (reading desk) of oak, and the granite font in the baptistery. These were dedicated to the glory of God and in memory of Stephen Arvanette (1951-1988) by Bishop William Lazareth on our 100th anniversary of dedication. The statue of the Virgin and Child adorning the sanctuary is a south German work of the 15th century, and the icon of St. Paul the Apostle that graces our baptistery was painted by New York iconographer Christopher Kosmas. Lamb Studios recently installed the second of eight stained glass windows.
The renovation, when completed as funds are received, will include a stone floor, a new mechanical-action organ, completion of the leaded hand-blown Bavarian glass windows, ornamental iron and wood work, raised altar and chancel area, an elevator and a complete kitchen.
We were called "Lutheran" after Martin Luther, a German priest and professor, who in 1517 began to preach against the abuses of the medieval Church.
Most Lutherans in this country (including our congregation) are part of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which began in 1988 with the merger of three smaller Lutheran church bodies.
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is officially in full communion with the Episcopal Church, the Presbyterian Church, the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ and the Moravian Church.
Each year on the first Sunday in October we thank God for the gift of this holy house where God's Word is preached and the Sacraments are received. Our celebration this year marked the 117th anniversary of the dedication of this building as a house of worship of the Lutheran Church.
Our building was designed in 1880 originally for the New York City Church Extension and Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The architect, Stephen D. Hatch, provided the building with a charming facade, perhaps more Victorian than Gothic. Construction was completed in 1882, and the building was named St. Andrew's Chapel. In 1890 the church building was purchased by the congregation of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, which had incorporated in 1886. Festive dedication services marked the beginning of a new life for Grace Church.
The building underwent extensive renovations in 1910. The bills had scarcely been paid when, on 14 February 1924, a terrible fire gutted the building, requiring some $25,000 in repairs. On 1 October 1939, the congregation of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, which had incorporated in 1866, moved from West 123rd Street to Grace Church to continue its ministry in this building. The two congregations were united by a common heritage, both having been founded by German immigrants from the Kingdom of Hanover. On 28 September 1944, the two congregations officially became Grace & St. Paul's Church.
The recent extensive renovations of our church, begun in 1988, were made possible by generous bequests of over $1,000,000 from the late Duane and Helen Everson and Elsie and Aline Rauer. Architect for the project was Justin Lamb of New York City, and our artistic consultant was Frank Kacmarcik, late of St. John's Abbey, Collegeville, Minnesota. Brother Frank also designed the chairs, altar and ambo (reading desk) of oak, and the granite font in the baptistery. These were dedicated to the glory of God and in memory of Stephen Arvanette (1951-1988) by Bishop William Lazareth on our 100th anniversary of dedication. The statue of the Virgin and Child adorning the sanctuary is a south German work of the 15th century, and the icon of St. Paul the Apostle that graces our baptistery was painted by New York iconographer Christopher Kosmas. Lamb Studios recently installed the second of eight stained glass windows.
The renovation, when completed as funds are received, will include a stone floor, a new mechanical-action organ, completion of the leaded hand-blown Bavarian glass windows, ornamental iron and wood work, raised altar and chancel area, an elevator and a complete kitchen.
Grace & St. Paul's Church has been a Reconciled in Christ congregation since 1987, a program of Lutherans Concerned North America in inclusive ministry with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. To see a list of all RIC synods, organizations and congregations in the United States and Canada, please visit Lutherans Concerned North America.
