Church of the Resurrection

This church, the oldest public building on the Upper East Side, and one of only six Episcopal Churches in New York in their original buildings, was built in 1868 by James Renwick, known as the architect of St Patrick's Cathedral, Grace Church Lower Broadway and the Smithsonian Institute. It was formed by The Rev. James Oatlands Tuttle-Smith a former chaplain of the New York 7th Regiment in the Civil War, who started it as a mission to this area, well outside the city limits and sparsely populated. From the beginning, all sittings were free (no pew rents) as the people were of small means. Though the original High Altar, pews, pulpit, and beams remain, the church has been much adorned and beautified over its 150 year existence. It was a foundation of the Tractarian Movement, and the Anglo-Catholic tradition of worship has been firmly established since 1920. It is well known for the excellence of its professional Choir and for the traditional Anglo-Catholic worship offered. The congregation is of all ages, races, national origin, both sexes; some have been here for twenty years or more, most have come since, and the average age is about 40. There are quite a few families with young children, some older members, and many younger and single members. All are welcome.