REPORT ON THE HISTORICAL & ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE FORMER CHURCH OF THE HOLY INNOCENTS 275 NORTH PEARL STREET ALBANY, NEW YORK Compiled by Paula S. Lemire www.gardenalley.net [email protected] November 2015 Updated May 2016 “The Holy Innocents Church, on Pearl st., a gem, pure in conception, should be seen by tourists and lovers of art.” – Henry P. Phelps, The Albany Hand-book: A Stranger's Guide and a Resident's Manual, 1884. By 1850, Albany lumber baron William H. DeWitt had lost all four of his young children. Their dates of death were not recorded in the burial registry at the Albany Rural Cemetery. Only their names, causes of death, and ages were listed: William Henry DeWitt - Disease of Lungs - aged 6 years, 4 months Frances Ann DeWitt - Scarlet fever - aged four months, 25 days Edward Clark DeWitt - Croup - aged 1 year, 9 months Catharine Clark DeWitt - scarlet fever - 4 years, 7 months, 15 days Catherine Clark DeWitt's death was reported in the Albany Argus as occurring on July 19, 1837. At the time, she was referred to as an only child. These children were originally laid to rest in the municipal State Street Burying Grounds, but were moved to the Rural Cemetery where DeWitt erected a spectacular white marble monument. The intricately carved pedestal is topped by an marble angel (or, according to Henry P. Phelps. a winged figure representing Faith) bearing a bronze processional cross. Small, matching headstones mark the graves of the children. William DeWitt was among the first Trustees of the new Rural Cemetery and, as a memorial to his children, imported four white swans from Europe to grave the Cemetery's now-drained Consecration Lake. One swan, unfortunately, did not survive the trip, but the remaining three were said to be a popular attraction along the Cemetery's original Tour road. In addition to the monument and the swans at the Rural Cemetery, DeWitt also erected a little stone church in their memory; the Church of the Holy Innocents. Built at the corner of North Pearl and Colonie Streets, it was a short walk from the DeWitt mansion on Broadway to the new church. It was designed by English-born Frank Wills and, in 1866 a matching chapel was added to the south side. This addition designed by Edward Ogden and William L. Woolett. The building was included in the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 which described the church and attached chapel construction as a two T-shaped two-and-a-half-story structures of coursed bluestone rubble masonry trimmed with Portland stone. The church and chapel are connected and both topped by steeply pitched gable roofs covered with slate. The stained glass windows were produced by John Jay Bolton, a glass firm that Wills often used. A carved marble plaque, originally on the south wall of the chancel, also commemorated the DeWitt children. Dedicated on July 20, 1873, it was later moved to the nave and it is not immediately clear if it still exists. Apparently, a second and different plaque in honor of DeWitt himself was also placed in the church, but again the location and condition of this plaque is also unknown at the moment. In 1872, De Witt also gave the church an organ (Albany Morning Express, May 11, 1872). Holy Innocents served as an Episcopal church until the late 1940s. In the early 1950s, the parish merged with Grace Church. Until 1980, Holy Innocents was home to a Russian Orthodox congregation which erected the distinctive blue "onion dome" in place of the original bell-cote around 1960. (See enclosed newspaper clipping). The fifth parish is the Holy Innocents, organized February 15, 1850. The corner stone was laid in 1850 and the church consecrated September 3, 1850, by Bishop Whittingham. The Church was built by William H. Dewitt as a memorial to his children. The Rev. Sylvanus Reed was the first Rector from 1850 to 1861. He was succeeded by the Rev. Wm. Ross Johnson, who served the Parish in 1862-3. The Rev. Wm. S. Boardman became Rector in 1865 and resigned his charge in 1865. The Rev. Royal Marshall became Rector in 1869, and resigned in 1874. He was succeeded by the Rev. Samuel Smith in 1875, who served the Parish successfully until his death in 1882, when the Rev. Ralph Kenyon became Rector in 1883, serving the Parish until 1887. He was succeeded by the present Rector, the Rev. Richmond Shreve, in 1888. The Parish property consists not only of the beautiful Church, but of a very beautiful Sunday-school building, the whole making a most picturesque group. – from Historical and architectural guide to the Cathedral of All Saints, Albany, with short sketches of the church history in the state and diocese, Albany, Published by the Women's Diocesan League, Riggs Printing & Publishing, 1891? The Holy Innocents' Church society was organized February 15, 1850, and the handsome church, corner of North Pearl and Colonie streets, the gift of the late William H. De Witt, was consecrated in September of the same year. During the rectorship of Rev. Richmond Shreve, which began in 1888, the parish added to its property by the purchase of a rectory on Ten Broeck street*. Rev. Mr. Shreve resigned July 31, 1896, and was succeeded by Rev. A. Randolph B. Hagerman. the present rector. – from Landmarks of Albany County, New York. Edited by Amasa J. Parker. Syracuse, N.Y., D. Mason, 1897 * This refers to the distinctive five-sided house at the corner southeast corner of Ten Broeck Street and Livingston Avenue (formerly Lumber Street). Built in 1873. The northern part of Albany was uncared for until 1850. Then Mr. De Witt, a member of St. Paul's church, built the Church of the Holy Innocents, as a memorial to his four children, whom the Lord had given and taken away. To the gift of the church building, he added by will a partial endowment; and in 1885, after the death of Mrs. De Witt, the Sunday school chapel was deeded to the corporation. It has since been enlarged and improved, and so made better able to do the hard and important work of caring for the large, changing and varying population of North Albany. – from Albany bi-centennial. Historical memoirs. A. Bleecker Banks, chairman printing committee. Albany and New York, Banks & Brothers, 1886 MR. DE WITT'S OBSEQUIES Albany Evening Times Wednesday, July 24, 1872 (Second Edition) Funeral Services this Afternoon - Resolutions of Respect This afternoon all that was mortal of the late William H. De Witt was deposited in its last resting place in the beautiful home of the dead, the Rural cemetery, beside the remains of his four children, who preceded him a number of years ago. It is not saying too much to assert that it falls to the lot of but few mortals in these days to be so sincerely and generally mourned as was Mr. De Witt. Few there are in Albany but have heard of his many deeds of charity and of love, and in other cities he had large circles of friends who loved him for his quiet, unobtrusive manners and Christian virtues. Therefore it is not to be wondered at that upon this occasion, when those who had known him, were to take a last look at the face of the benefactor or friend, that a general sadness should prevail. This morning the body was prepared for burial, attired in customary dress suit. The remains were place in an elegant but plain rosewood casket, lined with white satin. Upon the coffin was a very large solid silver plate in the form of a Greek cross. The cross was one foot long, and the staff 2 1/2 inches wide. The inscription was: Entered into Rest, WILLIAM HENRY DE WITT Aged 73 years, July 21, 1872 The casket was placed upon a dais in the centre of the front parlor. At the head of the bier upon a draped stand was an immense crown of natural flowers, while upon the casket were a beautiful cross of immortelles and one of autumn leaves. The features of the deceased presented a very natural appearance, and as many who had known the deceased in life looked upon them, they were much affected. Shortly after 8 o'clock, the funeral cortege consisting of a closed hearse and some twenty-five carriages drew up in front of the mansion of the deceased, on North Broadway**, and after a prayer by Rev. Mr. Marshall, the lid was closed, and the coffin was borne to the hearse. The pall-bearers were governors of the Albany hospital, as follows: Thomas W. Oclott, A. McClure, Robert H. Pruyn, I.W. Vosburgh, S.H. Ransom, W.G. Thomas, J.J. Austin, J.M. Crapo. The cortege moved to the Church of the Holy Innocents, which had been draped for the occasion, and the coffin placed in the outer chancel. The edifice was filled with the Sunday school scholars (Mr. De Witt) was superintendent of the school), members of the church and congregation, clergymen, vestrymen of the church, and friends of the deceased. The beautiful funeral service of the Episcopal church was read by Rev. Mr. Marshall, and Rt. Rev. Bishop Williams of Connecticut, made a brief and touching address, eulogistic of the good man whose remains were about to be consigned to the tomb. The services at the church being over, the sad cortege re-formed and proceeded to the Rural cemetery, where the body of William H. De Witt was forever hidden from sigh.