Image credit: LPC

City’s second-oldest surviving religious structure designated an individual landmark. On September 19, 2017, the Landmarks Preservation Commission voted to designate the Old Saint James Episcopal Church at 86-02 Broadway in Elmhurst, Queens as an individual City landmark. Completed in 1736 for the Anglican community in the town then known a Newtown, the timber framed meeting hall featured a single tower and wood shingling. In 1848, the building was converted to a parish hall as the growing congregation moved to larger nearby church. The building was remodeled with Carpenter Gothic detailing in 1883 after the tower collapsed in a storm. (read more…)

Old Saint James Episcopal Church at 86-02 Broadway in the Elmhurst section of Queens. Image credit: LPC

No objections to designation raised at hearing; concerns about closeness of potential development on undesignated portion of lot to church building raised by Commissioners. On August 8, 2017, Landmarks held a hearing on the potential designation of the Old Saint James Episcopal Church at 86-02 Broadway in the Elmhurst section of Queens. Landmarks added the 1736 building to its calendar at its June 27, 2017, meeting. The building is the second oldest surviving religious structure in the City, predated only by the 1694 Friends Meeting House in Flushing, an individual City landmark.  The western portion of the lot on which the church sits is paved and used as a parking lot, and would not be included in the designation. (read more…)