How Transfiguration became famous as a place to exchange vows remains something of a mystery, but it is generally attributed to the overall openness of the church to people from different Christian denominations, personal situations and backgrounds. Every Saturday in the 1930s and 40s—and often on weekdays—couples would gather in the garden, awaiting their turn to be married in the Holy Family Chapel. The Rector in that era would marry as many as seven couples a day. We hear from those couples to this day as part of our Little Family community, an annual mailing that goes out to all those married here on their anniversaries.
Tucked behind a lovely English garden with a fountain, fig trees and yellow and pink rose bushes, Transfiguration is a neo-Gothic church rich with architectural detail. There are two spaces in which you may choose to be married.
The Holy Family Chapel—a quaint room of dark wood and marble floors that seats up to fifty people—is appropriate for smaller weddings. The altar piece is a painted depiction of the betrothal of Mary and Joseph. It is in the Holy Family Chapel that thousands of couples in the post-war years became married, making the Little Church famous for weddings.
The Church is the larger, more opulent space that houses our magnificent Fisk organ and will seat up to 350 people, making it ideal for a traditional wedding. The church interior is composed of deep mahogany pews and ceiling beams and lined with colorful stained glass windows. Gilded paint decorates the walls at the altar, and the aisles are made of luminescent marble tile.
You are invited to come to the church for a visit and see which space best suits you. The chapel is open to the public seven days a week from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m., and the church is open on Sundays after church. If Sunday is unavailable, please phone the parish office and schedule a time during the week for the church to be unlocked for your viewing. The number is 212-684-6770.
GUIDELINES
The tradition of openness at Transfiguration continues to this day—there are just a few requirements for marriage at Transfiguration. The national canons of the Episcopal Church require that either the bride or groom be a baptized Christian, and that the couple partake in pre-marital meetings with the Rector. Divorced persons are welcome to remarry in the Episcopal Church. The Rector must obtain permission from the Episcopal Bishop of New York to perform the marriage, a simple process that involves a few sheets of paperwork and proof of divorce.
You do not need to be a member of Transfiguration to be married here, though you are most welcome to join us on any Sunday. You do not need to be a resident of New York City (or even of the United States).
Since we are an Episcopal Church, we use The Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage in the Book of Common Prayer as the liturgy.
MAKING ARRANGEMENTS
The first step to planning a wedding at Transfiguration is to phone the office (212-684-6770) and speak with the Rector of the church, Bishop Andrew St. John. He can answer your inquiries about the liturgy, guest clergy, scheduling, fees, obtaining a marriage license, music, flowers and other questions about the service. We look forward to hearing from you!
