Crown Heights' St. Bartholomew's, 'All in a Bosky Bower'

St. Bartholomew’s Church and rectory were commissioned in the 1880s by a growing, well-to-do Episcopal congregation in what is now Crown Heights. George Poole Chappell, a local resident and prominent architect, designed the buildings with inspiration from the British Arts and Crafts movement and Richardsonian Romanesque. Local materials were used, and the church was set in a park-like setting. The congregation’s origins trace to Trinity Episcopal Church, which owned multiple plots in Clinton Hill. Over time, a peaceful branch-off led to the founding of St. Bartholomew’s at 1227 Pacific Street. Although the church is landmarked, its grounds and other buildings in the complex are threatened by development.

"Commissioned by a growing and well-to-do Episcopal congregation in the 1880s in what is now Crown Heights, one of Brooklyn's finest architects and also a local resident, George Poole Chappell was inspired by the British Arts and Crafts movement and Richardsonian Romanesque when he designed St. Bartholomew's Church and rectory using local materials in a park-like setting."

"Now that church, although landmarked, its grounds, and other buildings in the complex are threatened by development. This is the story of how the church came to be, and its significance through the 20th century and up to the present day."

"The growth of organized religion, any faith or denomination, is a history of "begats." A congregation is established and somewhere down the road, that congregation splits and a new congregation forms in a different location. Sometimes, the reason is benign - too many people, not enough resources, or a successful congregation establishing smaller missions and outposts somewhere else to carry on their work."

"In this case, the branch-off that led to the founding of St. Bartholomew's Church at 1227 Pacific Street in Crown Heights North was a very positive and peaceful one. St. Bartholomew's Origins Trinity Episcopal Church is the grandfather of St. Bartholomew's. The Brooklyn Heights church owned eight plots of land in Clinton Hill."

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