St. George's Episcopal Church (Hempstead)
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St. George's Episcopal Church is a church in Hempstead, New York at 319 Front Street.
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[edit] History
Founded in 1702, the church was re-erected in 1734 to replace the original. However, it's current edifice was built in 1822 following the second church's destruction.
In 1735, it received a charter from King George II.
During the American Revolution, Hempstead was a hotbed of British sympathizers or Tories, as they were known. The British attempted to occupy Hempstead after the Battle of Long Island and used St. George's as a headquarters as well as a place to worship. Local folklore has it that the rooster weather vane atop the steeple has sixteen bullet marks placed there by Hessian mercenaries who used it for target practice.
Both the church and its rectory are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
[edit] Erection (1734)
On April 2, 1734, John Mott and Thomas Gildersleeve, by order of the town, set apart half an acre for a new church, west of the old one. At first, the church was only half pewed; there were eighteen pews, presumably square; The first pew was given to George Clarke, Secretary to the Governor, who lived in Hyde Park and was a benefactor to the church.
On November 1, 1734, at a town meeting, the majority voted to move the seats out of the old church into the new.
[edit] Petition to Charter the Church
June 27, 1735, names of petitioners for this charter of the church: [1]
- Rev. Robert Jenney, Rector.
- James Albertus
- Robert Marvin
- George Balden
- Jacamiah Mitchell
- Gerhardus Clowes, clerk of Vestry
- Joseph Mott
- Charles Peters
- William Cornell, Sr.& Jr.
- James Pine, Sr.
- John Cornell, Jr.
- John Roe
- John Cornell
- Micah Smith
- Richard Cornell, Jr.
- Peter Smith, Jr.
- William Cornell
- Timothy Smith
- Thomas Cornell, Jr.
- Peter Smith
- Isaac Germon
- Jacob Smith
- Thomas Gildersleeve
- Joseph Smith
- George Gildersleeve
- Silas Smith
- Daniel Hewlett
- Robert Sutton
- James Hugins
- Richard Thorne, Esq.
- Joseph Langdon
- Joseph Thorne, Esq.
- William Langdon
- Thomas Williams
- Thomas Lee
[edit] Consecration
On Tuesday, April 22, 1735, the Governor, with his wife and family, set out for Hempstead to be present at the consecration of the church. Along with him came: his son-in-law and daughter, the then-Secretary George Clarke, the Chief Justice Delancey, Reverand Vesey, some of the clergy, and a great many of the principal merchants and gentlemen and ladies of the City of New York. About six miles west of Jamaica, the Governor was met by the troops of horse, who escorted him to Jamaica, where dinner was provided for him and all of his company. In the afternoon, he proceeded to Hempstead, (escorted as before), where he arrived in the evening and was entertained by the Reverand Robert Jenney, St. George's minister.
The next day, being St. George's Day, the regiment of militia and troops were drawn up on both sides, from Reverand Jenney's house to the church. The Governor, attended by some of the most prominent men in the county, walked to the church. There, a sermon was preached on the occasion, for an extremely crowded audience, by Reverand Jenney, from Psalms 115, verses 1 and 2.
After the service, the Governor reviewed the regiment of militia and troops standing under arms and expressed his satisfaction on the appearance both of the officers and men. The Governor was afterwards entertained by Colonel Tredwell, commander of the regiment. In the evening, he was entertained by Colonel Cornwell, of Rockaway, in the same manner.
- "The next day the Governor returned to Hempstead, pleased with the reception he everywhere met with from all ranks, with the extraordinary concourse of people from all parts on the occasion, and with the handsome appearance of the militia, both horse and foot." --- New York Gazette[2]
A generous collection was made for the church on this occasion: The Governor gave the King's arms, painted and gilded; Secretary George Clarke gave a crimson damask set of furniture for the communion table, pulpit and desk; John Marsh gave a silver basin for baptism.
The Rev. Mr. Vessey and his people had already contributed about £50.
[edit] The Current St. George's
The current building contains oak interior columns that were dragged across the Hempstead Plains by horse, then hewn and installed in the sanctuary. They span from ground to roof and show little sign of their great age. More than one of the beautiful stained glass windows was designed by Tiffany Studio's, and the padded pew boxes harken to days of olde on Long Island when the well-to-do would arrive at church in park drag coaches to take their place in the front pew boxes.
