Fort Washington Presbyterian Church - 21 Wadsworth Avenue

photo by Beyond My Ken

In 1883, two years after Reverend Thomas Samuel Hastings stepped down as its pastor, the West Presbyterian Church moved from 42nd Street to West End Avenue and 84th Street.  Now known as West-Park Presbyterian, in April 1912 the trustees purchased the vacant lot at the northeast corner of 174th Street and Wadsworth Avenue as the site of a "daughter church."

Given that his father had been the congregation's pastor for nearly a quarter of a century, it was perhaps not surprising that on August 24, 1912 the Record & Guide announced that Thomas S. Hastings had been selected to design the church.  It would be one of Hastings's first solo commissions.  His partner in Carrère & Hastings, John Merven Carrère, had died in a car crash the previous year.

Interestingly, while the trustees had the process of constructing a church building well in hand, they had no congregation to fill it.  On November 4, 1912, the New-York Tribune reported, "Many signatures were obtained at the services yesterday to a petition to be sent to the New York Presbytery asking that a congregation be organized for the new church."  The article said the projected building "will cost $200,000, the money being furnished by the West-Park Presbyterian Church...which is one of the richest in the city."

Just over a year later, construction was completed.  On December 15, 1913, the New-York Tribune reported, "The new Fort Washington Presbyterian Church, at 174th street and Wadsworth avenue, was formally opened yesterday morning with a congregation that filled every available seat in the edifice."

The cost had surpassed the initial budget.  "The edifice cost $321,000," said the article.  (The figure would translate to about $10.5 million in 2025.)  The journalist added, "The architecture is a combination of the English Georgian Renaissance and the American Colonial periods.  White and gray is the interior color scheme."

Hasting's plans vividly reflect the Georgian detailing he lavished on the design.  The American Architect, June 13, 1917 (copyright expired)

Hastings harkened to 18th century prototypes, particularly the churches designed by British architect James Gibbs.  Four monumental Doric columns upheld a classic entrance portico.  Rising above was a striking bell tower, the center section of which included free-standing Corinthian columns and matching pilasters that flanked Georgian-style arches. 

When this photo was taken, the clock had not yet been installed in the belfry.  The Brickbuilder, December 1913 (copyright expired)

Hastings carried the Georgian motif inside.  The barrel-vaulted ceiling was decorated with large coffers and plaster rosettes.  The dignified details included Corinthian pilasters and a half-domed sanctuary.

 The Brickbuilder, December 1913, (copyright expired)

Dr. Daniel Hoffman Martin took the pulpit.  Born in 1859, he was a graduate of the College of the City of New York and the Union Theological Seminary.  Outspoken and opinionated, he quickly increased the congregation.  In reporting on his second anniversary as pastor here, on October 9, 1915, The Evening Post reported, "It has been a continuous revival at the Fort Washington Presbyterian Church...Starting with sixty-nine members, the roll now numbers six hundred."

Martin strongly espoused his views from the pulpit.  And there seems to have been no lack of issues upon which he did not have an opinion.  In his sermon on August 4, 1914, he called liquor "the most sinister influence in American politics;" and on March 26, 1916, he railed against prize fights.  Referring to the recent Willard-Moran bout, he said, "It was not an exhibition of manhood at its best, but it was a good exhibition of doghood, because to fight is the best a dog can do."  And when Europe became embroiled in World War I, on February 18, 1917, Martin declared, "if it was necessary for the United States to make a sacrifice, it should make a sacrifice of its pride by avoiding war, and not lives in a war in which nothing would be gained."

When America did join the conflict two months later, the Fort Washington Presbyterian Church declared its patriotism and helped in relief.  On May 13, 1917, a large American flag, donated by Dr. Charles V. Paterno, was unfurled on the 35-foot flag pole in front of the church.  The New York Times reported that about 1,200 persons were there to see the ceremony.

On September 30, 1918, The New York Times announced that contributions of clothing "for the destitute French and Belgians" were being accepted on behalf of the American Red Cross at the church.

photograph by Beyond My Ken

On October 2, 1919, Rev. Daniel H. Martin was crossing 168th Street and Broadway when he was struck by an automobile.  The Evening Post reported, "His hip was dislocated and he received lacerations of the jaw."  Martin's injuries were much more serious than the initial reports.  The 61-year-old was taken to St. Lawrence Hospital, then to the Radium Sanitarium.  He remained there until mid-December when he was sent home.  Martin died three weeks later from internal injuries.  

The funeral was held in the church on January 4, 1920 with seven clergymen officiating.  Later that year, on December 19, a bronze and marble memorial tablet was unveiled in Martin's honor.

Martin was succeeded by the Rev. Dr. John McNeill, "known as the 'Scottish Spurgeon," according to The New York Times. (The term referred to English Particular Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon.)  Born in Scotland in 1854, the newspaper said he "has preached in practically every part of the world" and was "best known as an evangelist."  Martin's salary had been $6,000, but some trustees, said the article, "wish to raise it to $7,000."  (The increased figure would equal about $110,000 today.)

McNeill's pastorage was short.  He was replaced in 1925 by Rev. Dr. Wesley MeGaw, a native of Belfast, Ireland.  "Dr. MeGaw will receive a salary of $7,500," reported The Times.  "He has a wife and two children," said the article, adding, "He is between 40 and 45 years old."

By 1941, MeGaw's sons, Ellison and Robert, were of college age.  Ellison was studying divinity at Princeton University and Robert Neill E. MeGaw (who was called by the family as Neill), was at Duke University.  On November 2, 1941, the 20-year-old Robert walked out of his dorm room and disappeared.  Rev. MeGaw received a letter from his son that said he was going to end his life because he "had an incurable form of cancer."  Similar letters were left for Robert's roommate, a girl at the university, and for Ellison.

The family's desperation climaxed with Rev. MeGaw's appearing on the Columbia Broadcasting System's nationwide weekly radio show, We the People.  He gave a "dramatic appeal" for Robert to come home.  During the broadcast, MeGaw said, "The most terrible part of it all is, I know Neill hasn't cancer."  He said that an earlier physical required by the university had showed no sign of cancer.

After a nation-wide search, on December 28 FBI agents found Robert working as a book salesman in Jacksonville, Florida.  The next day Rev. MeGaw and his wife flew to Florida and brought the wayward young man back to New York.  On January 3, The New York Times reported that he "is confined to his bed at home."

With his son found, MeGaw turned to global issues.  In his sermon on August 30, 1942, he declared that all Christians throughout the world want the "utter destruction of Hitlerism."  He stressed that if Hitler wins, Christianity "will be wiped from the face of the earth."

Forty years after taking the pulpit of Fort Washington Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Dr. Wesley MeGaw retired.

In 1982, the congregation of the Fort Washington Presbyterian Church transferred the property to the Primera Iglesia Espaňola de Washington Heights.  The Hispanic congregation was formed in 1948.  The name of the church was changed to Iglesia Presbitereriana Fort Washington Heights (Fort Washington Heights Presbyterian Church).

photograph by Beyond My Ken

The church continues in Hasting's dignified neo-Georgian-style structure today, ministering to its Spanish-speaking congregation.

many thanks to reader Doug Wheeler for prompting this post