The Church of the Mediator is a conspicuous and distinguished building that rises to the top in any list of un-landmarked buildings of New York City.
When it was consecrated in 1927, Episcopal Bishop William Thomas Manning called it “the cathedral of the Bronx.” The church is now at imminent risk of demolition.
The building was designed by Henry Vaughn (1845-1917) in 1910, architect of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, and several chapels at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine – it is among his most significant buildings.
The church features Tiffany windows and George Tinworth terracottas friezes, along with a notable window in the narthex over the entry featuring Jane Addams and Booker T. Washington.
High costs of maintenance have made it difficult for the congregation to sustain their grand building. The deterioration of houses of worship is a nationwide problem.
But even within New York City, there are creative examples that could guide potential redevelopment for Church of the Mediator. Current plans would demolish the church and build new housing on its lot, with a smaller church included in that development.
It is the hope of local advocates that an alternative can be found to both preserve the church building and support the creation of housing at the same time.
“Church of the Mediator is the defining iconic building of Kingsbridge, an historic section of the Bronx,” said Stephen F. Byrns, President of the Untermyer Gardens Conservancy. “That such an important building was never landmarked speaks to the unfortunate lack of attention to underserved areas.”
The church has been added to the Preservation League of New York State’s Seven to Save list, which highlights New York’s most endangered historic sites. Inclusion on the list offers wider visibility, assistance with advocacy, and technical services.
Illustration: Church of the Mediator on Kingsbridge Avenue in The Bronx, 2009 (Jim Henderson, Wikimedia Commons).
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