We needed to take care of dental and prescription tasks so walked up to the Midtown area on March 16th.

The history of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration on 29th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues is fascinating. “The rector of the nearby Church of the Atonement, which is no longer extant, refused to conduct funeral services for an actor named George Holland, suggesting, “I believe there is a little church around the corner where they do that sort of thing.” Joseph Jefferson, a fellow actor who was trying to arrange Holland’s burial, exclaimed, “If that be so, God bless the little church around the corner!” and the church began a longstanding association with the theater.” It is still known and the little church around the corner. The Neo-Gothic style church was built in 1849.

The second church is Calvary Church at 277 Park Avenue South between 21-22 Street. “The Calvary Church parish was founded in 1832, and initially used a wooden-frame church on what was then Fourth Avenue – which has since become Park Avenue – uptown of its current site. That building was moved to the current location in 1842, and the new Renwick-designed Gothic Revival sanctuary was completed in 1848. Renwick patterned Calvary after twin-towered French cathedrals, but, unlike Grace Church, Calvary was constructed of brownstone. The church’s two wooden spires were removed in September 1860 when they became unstable; the octagonal bases remained but eventually deteriorated and were removed in 1929.” I recommend following the link to see the pictures on Wikipedia.

• For Norm’s Thursday Doors