The Gate of Heaven: The Story of Saint Thomas Church Fifth Avenue

I loved my years as a student and a choir boy at Saint Thomas. The best four years of my life!

This combining of architectural austerity with occasional richness of detail was the high taste in architecture practice in those years, 1900-1930. You can also see that approach in the residential and governmental buildings of that era. It is a simple but noble style that has withstood the changing taste of a century.

This is the Church, along with Gerre Hancock, that won me to the Episcopal Church in the 1970s.

A wonderful survey of Saint Thomas Church. The video is sharp and respects the superb architectural texture of this landmark church.

Enjoyed my one visit several years ago. A Majestic edifice for the people to cherish. Andy Mead, now Rector Emeritus, looks oh so young…….

I've visited St Thomas countless times over the years and had many wonderful opportunities to listen to their beautiful choir. A walk along 5th Ave is complete for me without a stop at St. Patrick's and a short walk to St Thomas.

Amen 🙏

I've seen the full documentary of which this is a five minute piece. The documentary creator and the then rector were very diplomatic about some elements of this parish's history in NYC. It is located on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 53rd Street, once part of the Gilded Ages version of billionaires row (when you do the conversion of their millions into modern dollars it's billions). Vanderbilts, Astors and the whole society page crew some of whom were parishioners, before the rich fled the area as it changed to commercial buildings. After this beautiful church was built around the First World War era and with New York City then in the last gasp of Tammany machine politics (which the then Republican clergy and lay persons of the Episcopal church---hard to believe now--opposed over the years) the City Democrats took revenge. The architects built this in the traditional manner, stone upon stone, no steel frame. The Dem machine made sure a new city run subway line to Queens (called the Independent line meaning free of private control) was built on 53rd street directly under the church. This caused cracks to form in the impressive stonework. The story is the church was forced at their own expense to have a few steel beams inserted at key points in the church including the altar area. Today it is all an era of good feelings and comity but you still hear the subway rumbling during services.

Awesome.

Beautiful. I miss St. Thomas's so much. Does anyone know where I could see/get a copy of this complete documentary?

Beautiful. I miss St. Thomas' so much. Does anyone know where I could see/get a copy of this complete documentary?

@dougjensen They definitely have DVD's at the gift shop. I was there during the Christmas holiday. Try calling the shop directly when they are open.

hands down, my FAVORITE new york city house of worship (temple emanu-el is second, for whatever that comment is worth...). thanks for posting this, where can i get a copy of the entire special on dvd?

I can't find this DVD in the gift shop on the web site.

@SuzyBriseno Gate of Heaven DVD can be purchased at Saint Thomas gift shop

Please update corrected information regarding credits. Thank you

A beautiful altarpiece, but the rest of the church is indeed austere. That's not a bad thing.

Ahh huh ahh huh by so right I feel like I'm going to

The USA church organ scene has traditionally been mighty generous to acclaimed organists desiring something better that that which graces the church upon their arrival.For whatever reason it appears that the once-generous donors are somewhat in short supply.The St Thomas project as it stands will be an enormous undertaking spanning 3 years and more like 9 million instead of 8 million usd's.Maybe if long enough passes someone will write a check for the balance. Then again maybe not.

And...it's air-conditioned.