Saint Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, New York

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St. Bartholomew's Church, an Episcopal church founded in January 1835, is located at Park Avenue and 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Designed by Bertram Goodhue and containing stained-glass windows and mosaics by Hildreth Meiere, it is considered as one of the city's landmarks and is known for its wide range of programs. It draws parishoners from all areas of New York City and its surroundings.

1 Center for Religious Inquiry
2 Clergy Blogs
3 Image Gallery
4 See also
5 External links

St. Bart's, as it is usually known today and at times St. B's, is noted for its pipe organ, the largest in New York and one of the ten largest in the world. One of the church's former organists was the famous conductor Leopold Stokowski who was followed by the organist choirmaster David McK Williams. The church's choir has achieved distinction under the direction of conductors such as William Trafka and James Litton. The Chorister Program has also had success in bringing children together ages 6–18 to sing in the church, and has been featured on shows such as The Today Show and Good Morning America.

[edit] Center for Religious Inquiry

The Center for Religious Inquiry (CRI) is an inter-religious program based at St. Bartholomew’s Church and directed by Rabbi Leonard A. Schoolman. It is based on the premise that there are few opportunities for religious seekers who can study their own and other religious traditions in a safe and non-judgmental environment. Rabbi Schoolman was previously the founding director of the Center for Theological Studies at Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, which served as a prototype for the program at St. Bart's. CRI offers a vast array of opportunities for religious seekers of any background or affiliation to learn in an open and welcoming environment. Instructors are distinguished academics, known for solid and engaging teaching skills. Classes are designed for anyone who is interested in religious and spiritual issues, those exploring their own or other faiths, and anyone else who loves to learn. Harvard Divinity School, Yale Divinity School, Columbia University, the University of Chicago, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, the General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church, and Union Theological Seminary are some of the institutions whose faculty have participated in CRI programs since its inception in the Fall of 1999.

[edit] Clergy Blogs

St. Bartholomew's Church, Park Avenue, New York City.

The Reverend William Tully has been rector of St. Bartholomew's since September 1994. Keeping with St. Bart's stated goal of outreach to the community and nation around it, the Reverend Tully accepted and participates in a "blogging mission" at the church. Their inception was 27 July 2006. St. Bart's is groundbreaking in the ministry of blogging for Episcopalian churches. Or, as Tully's blog states, "None of the seven of us who have—maybe with a little fear and trembling—agreed to begin these journals have done anything like this, so bear with us as we learn."

The seven clergy who participate in blogging are:

The Rev. Bill Tully;
The Rev. Kevin Bean;
The Rev. Mary Haddad;
The Rev. Mark Bozutti Jones;
The Rev. Elizabeth Garnsey;
The Rev. Gideon Pollach; and
The Rev. J.D. Clarke.

(It should be noted that there are only seven clergy on St. Bart's staff at the present time.)

[edit] Image Gallery

First stained glass window from the entrance on the northside of the church.	Stained glass rose window over balcony overlooking the pews.	Facing west, silhouette of the organ against stained glass panels in balcony.	The altar.
Facing south on Park Avenue	Angel praying towards relief of the Last Supper in the baptismal chamber north of the altar.