All Saints' Episcopal Church (Briarcliff Manor, New York)

History

The church's opening service was held on December 13, 1854, and Ogilby donated the church's current building and grounds in 1863. He gave the church its first name, "All Saints' Church, Brier Cliff, Sing Sing, N. Y.", naming his property Brier Cliff after his family home in Ireland. In 1910, the church building was enlarged to the present cruciform shape, and it was consecrated on November 1, 1911. In 1945, the church purchased property to the north and east of the building; a parish hall was built there in 1949 and dedicated on January 29, 1950.

In late 2006, the church was featured on Nightline and USA Today for hosting U2charists, Eucharists accompanying U2 songs; the church has held two such services. The church estimated that of the people to attend one of their U2charists, 70 percent were visitors.

Notable rectors include Thomas Hazzard and John Adams Howell. Hazzard was the founder of Hope Farm, and was a football player and coach, as well as a minister, dairy farmer, treasurer, and missionary in Liberia. John Adams Howell invented the Howell torpedo and other naval devices; he was also a rear admiral in the US Navy.

Design

The church building was designed by architect Richard Upjohn and built between 1848 and 1854. The church was modeled on Saint Andrew's in Bemerton, England, and it is an example of the modest English Gothic parish church popular in the region during the mid-19th century.

The building was originally designed with a simple rectangular nave with a high-pitched slate-covered gable roof and exterior walls of random-coursed granite ashlar in the Gothic Revival style. A transept and enlarged chancel were added in 1911. There is a metal steeple at the gable crossing. Memorial windows include one by John LaFarge (1889) and a rose window "Adoration of the Magi" (1911) by Frederick Wilson of Tiffany Studios. Also on the property is a Stick Style rectory dated to 1883 and an Arts and Crafts-style Old Parish Hall built in 1904.

All Saints' Preschool

All Saints ran a preschool program for children two to five years old. The program involved spiritual and ethical teaching, class trips, and activities including gym, music, playground, art, cooking, and drama.

References

References

1. "Historic Properties Listing". Westchester County Historical Society.
2. {{NRISref. 2009a
3. Peter D. Shaver. (October 2001). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: New York SP All Saints Episcopal Church". National Archives and Records Administration.
4. "National Register of Historic Places Inventory—Nomination form - All Saints' Episcopal Church". [[United States Department of the Interior]].
5. Cheever, Mary. (1990). "The Changing Landscape: A History of Briarcliff Manor-Scarborough". Phoenix Publishing.
6. "All Saints' Preschool". All Saints' Episcopal Church.
7. (1952). "Our Village: Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. 1902 to 1952". Historical Committee of the Semi–Centennial.
8. Pattison, Robert. (1939). "A History of Briarcliff Manor". William Rayburn.
9. Stern, Gary. (October 25, 2006). "Episcopal 'U2-charist' uses songs in service". USA Today.
10. (November 2006). "Sign of the Times: U2 Eucharist at All Saints Church in Briarcliff NY". [[ABC News (United States).
11. Encinias, Josh. (August 20, 2009). "Breaking through the Methodist "Horizon"". Pensacola Independent News.
12. (February 14, 1957). "Services Held for Rev. T. R. Hazzard". Millbrook Round Table.
13. (January 12, 1918). "Admiral J. A. Howell Dies". The New York Times.