<< Back
Landmarks
270 Fifth Avenue aka 1 West 29th Street and Fifth Avenue (Marble Collegiate Church), application to establish a master plan governing the future replacement of leaded glass windows with stained glass windows.
WHEREAS, The Marble Collegiate Church, designed by architect Samuel L. Warner, located at 270 Fifth Avenue aka 1 West 29th Street, was built in 1854, designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1967, is one of the four Collegiate Churches of New York City, and is America’s oldest Protestant church with a continuous ministry since 1628; and
WHEREAS, It has been described “as a distinguished example of early Romanesque revival church architecture with an impressive tower and spire,” and
WHEREAS, It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places; and
WHEREAS, When the church opened in 1854 the windows were clear unadorned glass, later changed to diamond panes of blue-green and amber colored glass and now there are 10 sanctuary stained glass windows; and
WHEREAS, There is now a master plan for the windows on the 5th Avenue façade; and
WHEREAS, They are now proposing to remove the center mullion from the center window above the entrance to the church so as to install one large stained glass window; and
WHEREAS, The removal of the mullion “will enable the artist to design a window without obstruction, with proper scale and without altering the overall appearance of the window when viewed outside of the church”; and
WHEREAS, This window is not visible from the interior of the church and will only be visible from Fifth Avenue and will be, according to the church, softly illuminated during the day until approximately 10p.m.; and
WHEREAS, Community Board Five would like to see the removed windows saved; therefore be it
RESOLVED, That Community Board Five recommends approval of the application for the removal of the center mullion from the window above the Fifth Avenue entrance to the Marble Collegiate Church.
The above resolution passed with a vote of 31 in favor, 1 opposed, 3 abstentions.