A Brief History of the Little Church
Fides Opera, "Faith and Works," is the motto of our parish:
they laid the foundation of our commencement, they will rear and cement the coping stone
of our completion.
--The Rev. Dr. George Hendric Houghton, Founder
On the first Sunday in
October, 1848, the first service of the Church of the Transfiguration was held in a
private home at 48 East 24th Street. The church itself, erected the following year,
was built on what were then the outskirts of the city. To this day, there have been
but six rectors spanning the Church's 152 years. The first Rector, sometimes called
the first Saint of the American Church, the Rev'd George Hendric Houghton, served
for 49 years. Under his leadership the Church was built and expanded, as some said,
"like a holy cucumber vine." It was he who pioneered the Oxford Movement
to revive the full Catholic Faith among Episcopal Churches in the United States.
In his ministry to those in need, he sheltered escaped slaves during the draft riots
of the Civil War, maintained a bread line for the unemployed, and had a prominent
part in the founding of the Order of the Holy Cross, the oldest continuing monastic
Order in the Episcopal Church in this country.
It was in 1870 that Joseph
Jefferson was rebuffed in arranging for the funeral of his friend, George Holland, an
actor. Told that there was a little church around the corner where "they do that
sort of thing," Jefferson fervently exclaimed, "God Bless the Little Church
Around the Corner" and that famous benediction has echoed down through the years.
This brought about a close relationship with the people of the theater which has continued
to this day. It also brought about the founding, in 1923, of the Episcopal Actors' Guild,
which carries on an active program at its national headquarters in the Guild Hall. Because
of our work in the Church and Theater, the Church of the Transfiguration was designated a
United States Landmark in 1973.
This romantic history has brought
many people to have their marriage vows solemnized at the altars of the Church and today
members of the "Family of the Little Church Around the Corner," resulting from
such marriages, are to found in fifty states and numerous countries. Today, the Little
Church continues amidst this great tradition to worship God and to serve humankind.
We invite you to join your life to the prayer, praise and service which goes on in this
Church daily.
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On the first Sunday in
October, 1848, the first service of the Church of the Transfiguration was held in a
private home at 48 East 24th Street. The church itself, erected the following year,
was built on what were then the outskirts of the city. To this day, there have been
but six rectors spanning the Church's 152 years. The first Rector, sometimes called
the first Saint of the American Church, the Rev'd George Hendric Houghton, served
for 49 years. Under his leadership the Church was built and expanded, as some said,
"like a holy cucumber vine." It was he who pioneered the Oxford Movement
to revive the full Catholic Faith among Episcopal Churches in the United States.
In his ministry to those in need, he sheltered escaped slaves during the draft riots
of the Civil War, maintained a bread line for the unemployed, and had a prominent
part in the founding of the Order of the Holy Cross, the oldest continuing monastic
Order in the Episcopal Church in this country.
