A BRIEF TOUR OF THE MARBLE COLLEGIATE CHURCH SANCTUARY
BASICS
The original name of the church can be seen outside and is The Collegiate Reformed Dutch Protestant Church of the City of New York- Church, Fifth Avenue and 29th Street. In 1906, although it had been called Marble Church for some time, the consistory elected to officially call the church Marble Collegiate Church.
The building was designed by architect Samual A. Warner. The style of the building is Romanesque
The cornerstone was laid in 1851 an the building was dedicated on October 11, 1854.
The pulpit chairs and communion table are original to the 1854 building. In 1891, the church was completely redecorated. The high pulpit was removed to allow Dr. David James Burrell to be “a man among men” rather than above the congregation/
The doors on the pews serviced to keep a draft from the congregation
In the early years, before the “every member canvass” or pledge drive as we refer to it day, members bought or rented pews as a means of fundraising for the church.
DECORATION OF THE SANCTUARY
The original sanctuary was white with embossed gold trim. In 1891 Dr. Burrell closed the sanctuary for three months and made major renovations. The white walls were painted the burgundy with gold trim, which you see today. The sanctuary was last refurbished in 1982 in a project that took two years and included having Scalamandre (of France) reproduce the fabric that is in our pews and on some of the walls. The original windows were clear glass diamond shape. Also in 1891, the clear windows were replaced with the earth and amber and blue diamond paned windows some of which are still visible today. The windows are American hand-rolled wispy and opalescent glass. In 1900 and 1901, Dr. Burrell began to replace the amber and blue windows.
The Third Window on the South Aisle was designed by Frederick Wilson for Louis Comfort Tiffany Studios and dedicated on December 9, 1900. It is called "Joshua Leads the Israelites."
The Second Window on the South Aisle was also designed by Frederick Wilson for Louis Comfort Tiffany Studios and dedicated on October 13, 1901. It is called "Moses and the Burning Bush'
No new windows were installed until 1998.
The first window on the south aisle is the Crucifixion and Pentecost. It was designed by Roy Coomber and dedicated in December 6, 1998.
The Nativity was installed in the fifth position on the south Aisle on December 17, 2000. It was designed by Canadian Artist Sarah Hall.
In 2001, The Peaceable Kingdom was installed in the fourth position on the south aisle. Sarah Hall also designed this window
On June 1, 2003, the Stilling of the Storm created by British artists Debora Coombs was installed in the third position on the north aisle. Debora Cooms also designed the Sermon on the Mount window which was installed on September 19, 2004.
The Ministry
Since 1854 - there have been seven senior ministers at Marble Church (during that that we have had 30 US Presidents). In some texts Dr. Thomas DeWitt is mentioned as a Sr. Minister because he gave the dedication sermon.
For the first 18 years of its existence Marble was served by the collegiate system of ministry - four ministers rotating on a regular basis. The first Sr. Minister specifically assigned to Marble was Dr. William Ormiston who began in 1871 followed by Dr. David James Burrell who began in 1891. Dr. Daniel Poling served from 1926-1930 followed by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale whose 52-year service began in 1932. Dr. Arthur Caliandro came to Marble in 1967 and took over as Sr. Minister when Dr. Peale retired in 1984. Dr. Michael Brown followed Arthur Caliandro after his retirement and now we are led by Rev. Dr. Michael S. Bos.
