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Church of Sweden in New York

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Coordinates:40°45′26″N73°58′39″W/ 40.757142124°N 73.9774614°W/40.757142124; -73.9774614
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Church of Sweden, New York
Swedish Seamen's Church
Svenska kyrkan i New York
The chapel in 2009
Map
40°45′26″N73°58′39″W/ 40.757142124°N 73.9774614°W/40.757142124; -73.9774614
Location5 East48th Street,
Midtown Manhattan,
New York City
CountryUnited States
DenominationChurch of Sweden
Architecture
Completed1921(103 years ago)(1921)
Henrietta E. Francis Talcott's name above a window on the church

Church of Sweden in New York(Swedish:Svenska kyrkan i New York;also known as theSwedish Seamen's Church) is aChurch of Swedenchurch at 5 East48th StreetinMidtown Manhattan,New York City.It is a parish of theChurch of Sweden Abroad.Dating to 1921, it was placed on theNational Register of Historic Placesin 2014.[1]

The church is currently open Wednesday to Sunday. As of 2022, its café is located in the church's basement while work is undertaken on the building's upper floors.[2]A library and reading room (featuring a memorial plaque toRaoul Wallenberg) is located on the first floor, while the chapel,sacristyand children's room is on the second floor. The chapel's organ dates to 1986, the work ofTorshälla'sWalter Thür.[3][4][5]The uppermost floors are private residences and a rooftop terrace.

Its founding came after around 1.4 millionSwedesarrived on American shores between 1820 and 1900.[6]They found solace in these churches, where they could keep up with news from their homeland, collect and send mail and enjoy refreshments.[3]

In 1921, a year after a donation of around $250,000 from Henrietta E. Francis Talcott, the church was rebuilt in aGothicstyle. The donor was the wife of farmer-turned-millionaireJames Talcott,who died in 1916 at the age of 86. The new building was the work of architectWilfred E. Anthony(1878–1948).[3][7]Henrietta died in December 1921, aged 79; it is not known whether she got to see the finished building.

On March 31, 1978, the Church of Sweden Abroad bought the property from theNew York Bible Societyfor $570,000.[3]Theair rightswere sold in 1981 for $1 million and paid off the debt.[7]

The song "Christmas in New York"was written by Billy Butt on the church's piano in 1979.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^New York Bible Society– NPGallery Digital Asset Management System,National Park Service
  2. ^"Café & Bibliotek".svenskakyrkan.se(in Swedish).RetrievedDecember 7,2022.
  3. ^abcd"THE HIDDEN COFFEE SHOP IN THE SWEDISH SEAMENS CHURCH IN MIDTOWN"– Untapped New York
  4. ^Walter Thür Orgelbyggen (1986)– Pipe Organ Database
  5. ^Svenska Kyrkan (Swedish Seamen's Church)– The New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists
  6. ^History– Church of Sweden in New York official website
  7. ^abThe House at 5 East 48th Street– Church of Sweden in New York official website
  8. ^"Julen är här"(PDF)(in Swedish). Svenska sång- och talpedagogförbundet. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on October 24, 2013.RetrievedJanuary 8,2013.
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