St. Thomas the Apostle Church
Named to Seven to Save List

CONTACTS

Preservation League of New York State Colleen M. Ryan 518-462-5658

Harlem Preservation Foundation Eric V. Tait, Jr. 212-694-2218

ALBANY, January 12, 2005 – The Preservation League of New York State has named Saint Thomas the Apostle Church on 118^th Street in Harlem, New York County, one of New York State’s Seven to Save, the nonprofit group’s annual list of the Empire State’s most threatened historic places.

Designed by architect Thomas H. Poole, construction of this Late Victorian Gothic style church began in 1889 and was completed in 1907. It is notable for a high standard of materials and craftsmanship as shown by terra cotta ornamentation at the façade, rich stained glass windows, and elaborate marble and wood carvings. The religious complex, consisting of the church, rectory and school, has served Harlem for a century as both a religious and educational institution.

The church’s doors were padlocked in August of 2003, with the Archdiocese of New York citing dwindling attendance and looming repair costs as factors in the decision. The church, which has been found eligible for listing on the State and National Registers of Historic Places, was to be razed to provide a building site for low-income housing for the elderly.

        In a recent letter to Archbishop Edward Cardinal Egan, seven prominent preservation organizations noted that while some church closings were inevitable, the Archdiocese should remember that these closings would change the character of many neighborhoods and result in a loss to the City as a whole.

         “Too often, when churches are consolidated or closed in New York State, the very people whose history and heritage will be adversely affected are not involved in the decision-making process,” said Jay DiLorenzo, President of the Preservation League of New York State. “We urge the Archdiocese to adopt a more open process, and work with congregants and concerned citizens to determine the future of St. Thomas the Apostle and other churches. With so many possibilities for adaptive re-use, demolition should be the very last resort.”

Built by Irish immigrants, St. Thomas the Apostle Church has served as spiritual and social anchor to generations of immigrant populations: Germans, African-Americans, and Caribbean immigrants from Panama, the West Indies and Haiti.

“It’s the church where Edward ‘Duke’ Ellington and his wife were married; the parish that gave us a white Lieutenant Governor – Malcolm Wilson and the first black Borough President in the City of New York – Hulan E. Jack; as well as other noted public servants such as Basil Paterson and Percy Sutton,” said filmmaker and documentarian Eric V. Tait, Jr. “To deny future generations of south central Harlem residents this visible symbol of their unique pride, culture and history is unconscionable.”

Julienne Jack, President of Harlem Preservation Foundation (and daughter of former Borough President Hulan Jack) has fond memories of going to school and services at St. Thomas. “One September morning, my father walked me to school and went to 8:00 a.m. Mass before going to the polls. He was in a heated run for his Assembly seat and had voted at the public school on our way to St. Thomas. Little did we know that his opponent had covered the district with flyers saying that my father had died during the night. He found out about the rumor while on his knees at his daily devotion in St. Thomas. We said, ‘Someone needs to tell Father Blesh to start a Requiem Mass because the guest of honor is in his regular seat, the first pew.’ ”

            According to Tania Werbizky, director of technical and grant programs for the Preservation League, memories like these can help galvanize congregations faced with large-scale repair projects. “Around the state, people have succeeded by taking responsibility for the condition of their buildings, and by reaching out to the wider community – neighbors, school alumni, outside funders and the Preservation League – for technical and financial assistance,” said Werbizky. “The League stands ready to work with the supporters of St. Thomas the Apostle, with the Archdiocese of the City of New York, and with elected and appointed officials to help strengthen New York’s churches and the neighborhoods they serve.”

            In addition to St. Thomas the Apostle Church, the Seven to Save list for or 2005 includes:

• Hudson Area Library, Hudson, Columbia County
• The Herkimer County 1834 Jail, Herkimer County
• The Iron Block, Watertown, Jefferson County
• Todd Shipyards Graving Dock, Brooklyn, Kings County
• The Old Custom House, Niagara Falls, Niagara County
• The Guastavino Tile House, Bay Shore, Suffolk County

Since 1999, publicity surrounding the Seven to Save designation has led to the stabilization of St. Joseph’s Church in Albany; the rehabilitation of the Oswego City Public Library, the adaptive re-use of the former Niagara Falls High School as a cultural and arts center, and prevented the demolition of the Conger Goodyear House on Long Island.

The Preservation League of New York State, founded in 1974, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the protection of New York’s diverse and rich heritage of historic buildings, districts and landscapes. From its headquarters in Albany, it provides a unified voice for historic preservation. By leading a statewide movement and sharing information and expertise, the Preservation League of New York State promotes historic preservation as a tool to revitalize the Empire State’s neighborhoods and communities.

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