St. Elizabeth's Memorial Chapel, Tuxedo

St. Elizabeth's Memorial Chapel is an Anglican chapel located in the hamlet of Eagle Valley in Tuxedo, New York. Originally built as a chapel and final resting place for members of the Hamilton family, the chapel and the associated parish is notable for being at one time the only privately owned and administered Episcopal church in the New York Diocese.[1]

St. Elizabeth's Memorial Chapel
41°9′18″N 74°13′39″W
Location38 Chapel Turn Rd, Tuxedo Park, New York
CountryUnited States
DenominationAnglican Church in America
TraditionContinuing Anglican
Websitehttp://www.stelizabethstuxedo.org/
History
DedicationElizabeth Schuyler Hamilton
Architecture
Architect(s)Trowbridge & Livingston
Years built1921
Specifications
MaterialsGranite, slate
Administration
DioceseDiocese of the Northeast
Clergy
Pastor(s)The Right Reverend George D. Langberg

The parish is currently affiliated with the Diocese of the Northeast of the Anglican Church in America (ACA), itself a member of the Traditional Anglican Communion. St. Elizabeth's has been the home parish of The Right Reverend George D. Langberg since 1986;[2][3] Langberg is also a retired Bishop Ordinary for the Diocese of the Northeast and the Tuxedo town historian.[4][5] Reverend Langberg's consecration as suffragan bishop took place at St. Elizabeth's in 1998.[6]

History

The chapel was constructed in 1921 in Eagle Valley, a hamlet in the Town of Tuxedo once owned almost in its entirety by the Hamilton family.[7] The Hamilton's 2,000 acre estate included the main house "Table Rock" and the smaller "Cotswold";[8][9] the former is presently owned by the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in the Immaculate Conception Province in the U.S.[10]

St. Elizabeth's was dedicated to the memory of Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton, who died during the Spanish influenza pandemic. Elizabeth was the daughter of William Pierson Hamilton—great-grandson of founding father Alexander Hamilton[11]—and Juliet Pierpont Morgan Hamilton—daughter of financier J.P. Morgan. The chapel was consecrated by Bishop Philip Rhinelander sometime before 1923.[1] The architects Trowbridge & Livingston designed St. Elizabeth's to evoke an English country chapel,[2][6] combining elements of 16th and 17th century church design in their granite and slate edifice.[12] Scottish artist Henry Wynd Young providing the chapel's stained glass.[13]

St. Elizabeth's was initially an autonomous church employing the Episcopal liturgy prior to joining the ACA.[14] A regional diocesan officer for the Episcopal Diocese stated that the diocese had "no official position on the chapel," and that St. Elizabeth's was "simply considered a 'preaching station'" as opposed to an official congregation.[1] During the tenure of nearby St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo Episcopal Church rector Leon Cartmell, a group of St. Mary's parishioners began attending St. Elizabeth's after growing dissatisfied with Father Cartmell's high church services.[15]

A service in commemoration of Alexander Hamilton and in observance of the Bicentennial was held at St. Elizabeth's in January, 1975.[16] Hamilton and Morgan family weddings are known to have taken place at St. Elizabeth's.[17]

Burials

Notable burials at St. Elizabeth's Memorial Chapel Cemetery include:

References
  1. Green, Al (March 19, 1972). "Chapel built by Hamiltons serves Eagle Valley worshippers". Times Herald-Record.
  2. "St. Elizabeth's Chapel". Tuxedo Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  3. Richardson, Dave (December 15, 2001). "Anglican bishop spreads his wings". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  4. "The Right Reverend James Randall Hiles consecrated Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of the Northeast of the Anglican Church in America". Saint Paul’s Parish. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  5. "George Langberg, Town Historian". Town of Tuxedo, NY. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  6. Schoenberg, Peter (July 11, 1998). "New bishop has untraditional resume". Times Herald-Record. p. 5.
  7. "The Hamilton-Tuxedo connection". The Photo News. July 4, 2019. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  8. "Miss A. De Bottari Married in Chapel: Becomes Bride of Samuel S. Walker Jr, in Sloatsburg on Hamilton Estate". The New York Times. June 27, 1948. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  9. Henderson, Tim (August 31, 1988). "Anglican chapel a living memorial". The Journal News.
  10. "The History of the Sloatsburg Estate". Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  11. "Price reduced on 1904 estate long owned by Sloatsburg nuns". The Journal News. August 10, 2020. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  12. Harman, Eleanor (January 24, 1996). "St. Elizabeth's Chapel: A living memorial to a long-dead child". The Home and Store News. Ramsey, NJ.
  13. "Pictures in Glass by Gray's School of Art alumnus Henry Wynd Young". RGU Art & Heritage. January 15, 2021. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
  14. Cromey, Edwin Harry (1997). St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo: Bringing people in the community together. Drew University. p. 7. OCLC 38038940.
  15. Crofut, Doris (1975). St. Mary's-in-Tuxedo, 1888-1975. Tuxedo Park, NY: Library Research Associates Inc. 2006112. p. 35.
  16. Copy of service program – via Tuxedo Park Library Local History Room.
  17. "Katherine Comly Weds A. Hamilton: Her Marriage to Nephew of J. Pierpont Morgan a Surprise to Society. In Chapel Near Tuxedo Bride Attended by Her Sister and Bridegroom by His Brother – Only Relatives Present". The New York Times. June 13, 1930. Retrieved July 27, 2021.
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