St. Mary's in Tuxedo shines as a gem

of religious art and history By Bill Lemanski Tuxedo Park n From noon to 2 p.m. this Saturday, April 18, the Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Park will host a benefit for the historic preservation of St. Mary’s in Tuxedo Episcopal Church. St. Mary’s has been serving this famous sequestered enclave and the surrounding Tuxedo community for more than 100 years. Completed in 1888, construction and furnishing of the church was financed by Henry I. Barbey, brother-in-law of tobacco magnate, and thoroughbred racehorse devotee, Pierre Lorillard, founder of Tuxedo Park. “Our ancestors believed in the value of such a place as St. Mary’s on so many different levels,” said the Rev. Elizabeth S. McWhorter, St. Mary’s rector. “They saw to it becoming reality through their investments of money, time and care. Over the years, subsequent generations have seen to it that this place was maintained and enhanced for future generations. “ McWhorter said various parts of the building are currently in need of repair. The award-winning stained-glass restoration and consulting company, Femenella & Associates of Branchburg, N.J., has been contracted for repair and restoration of the church’s numerous windows. Other areas of the church need maintenance and repair as well. Rich with history Originally developed as a seasonal retreat for New York society - on par with the exclusive yachting community of Newport R.I., the Park eventually became the residence with St. Mary’s being the place of worship for many notable Americans. William Waldorf Astor, Emily Post, Congresswoman Katharine St. George along with many Wall Street business titans of the 1920’s owned homes in the Park and worshiped at St. Mary’s. In 1896, 14-year-old Franklin Delano Roosevelt served as godfather at the baptismal ceremony in St. Mary’s for his little cousin, Sara Roosevelt Collier, whose family resided in the Park. His mother, Sara Delano Roosevelt, signed the parish register as godmother. On two Memorial Day services conducted on the church lawn in the early 1920’s, Douglas MacArthur, then superintendent of the United States Military Academy at West Point, was guest speaker. His cousin was the wife of the parish rector. In 1969, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor attended a private baptismal in St. Mary’s for the Duchess’ godchild whose family resided in the Park. Sensational art graces the interior Due to the benevolence of the wealthy and influential congregants down through the years, the church has been the recipient of many splendid works of art in the form of stained-glass windows, paintings and wall reliefs, some dating to the 15th and 16th centuries. Fine woodwork, marble and carved wood statuary adorn the altar and many areas of the church. Stained glass by the distinguished 19th century artists John La Farge, John Maitland Armstrong and the Tiffany Studios provide an ethereal display of graceful, multicolored artistic brilliance. “It is now our time, our turn, our responsibility to accept the generosity and dedicated work of our ancestors,” McWhorter said, “and do our part for future generations. Preserving St. Mary’s in Tuxedo On Saturday, April 18 from 12 noon to 2 p.m. the Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Park will hold a benefit for St. Mary’s in Tuxedo Episcopal Church. Proceeds will be used to establish a Building Foundation/Endowment Fund for the purpose of preserving the church, including its stained-glass windows. Invitations may be requested by calling St. Mary’s at 845-351-5122 or by contacting Sara Cassis at 646-285-6374. The church also maintains a Web site at www.stmarysintuxedo.org