City Water Main Break Has Flooded Saint Peter's Church

Saint Peter’s Church In Manhattan Suffers Damage Resulting From NYC Water Main Break

(New York, NY, January 5, 2021) — A significant New York City water main break which occurred yesterday has damaged the building of Saint Peter's Church in Manhattan, a congregation of the Metropolitan New York Synod (MNYS) of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and New York City’s youngest landmark, designated in 2017.

A city water main located under the plaza shared by Saint Peter's Church, the Citigroup Center, and the subway entrance at the corner of 53rd Street and Lexington Avenue broke on the morning of January 4th, causing significant flooding in the church’s sanctuary and basement level rooms. Nevelson Chapel, a masterpiece created by late artist Louise Nevelson and located at the church’s upper level, was thankfully not impacted by this catastrophic event.

As crews continue to work to remove water from the affected areas, historical artifacts will be removed and preserved on ice to ensure no further damage, beginning this morning. These artifacts include artwork from Massimo Vignelli, historical and cutting edge musical equipment and priceless iconography that dates as far back as the 1800s. Musical archives from this ‘First Church of Jazz’ known for its rich Jazz Vespers program, include jazz archives from John Coltrane, Carline Ray, and Billy Strayhorn, Barry Harris, and Roswell Rudd.

This has been a year of challenges for this congregation that has lost more than 62 members due to the COVID-19 crisis and represents a tragedy for the communities that Saint Peter’s Church serves.

The Rev. Jared Stahler, Senior Pastor of Saint Peter’s Church states: “After not having left a single inch of this building unexamined, we still do not know the extent of the damage. New York history, cultural artifacts, architecture and design gems, this building’s infrastructure. We will do everything we can to save all of this and more, because this community — the rich array of religious and non-religious persons, individuals living on the margin of society and those at the center of power, artists and actors, immigrants and seniors, jazz and classical musicians, dancers and tourists — knows the gift of humanity fostered in this place.”

The Rev. Paul Egensteinger, Bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod, noted: “News of the damage caused by the water main break at Saint Peter’s Church in Manhattan is sad and devastating for a congregation already hard hit in these challenging times. Because we are Church together, it is a burden and sadness shared by all New York Lutherans and people of faith. Already, though, Lutherans throughout New York have offered prayers and support for the people and staff of Saint Peter’s in many ways. We are people of faith and hope who will not lose our presence nor our vital, life-giving, and innovative ministry on the corner of Lexington Avenue and 54th Street”.

Rosalie Genevro, Executive Director of the Architecture League of New York, adds: “Saint Peter’s Church, with interiors by Vignelli Associates, is one of the most beautiful and significant twentieth century sacred spaces in Manhattan. The sanctuary and its integral and innovative furniture serve the congregation and community as a space for worship and a wide variety of performances in music, theater, and dance. The church is a treasured and tranquil gem in a hectic part of the city.”

Saint Peter’s Church pastoral and lay staff is working with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, ConEdison, and the management of Boston Properties to assess the extent of the flood damage and determine next steps.

About Saint Peter’s Church

Saint Peter’s Church is a welcoming and progressive church, a Reconciling in Christ parish of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, publicly engaged with others in creatively shaping life in New York City. Prior to the pandemic, the iconic Saint Peter’s bold and angular sanctuary hosted worship and art exhibitions, in addition to Jazz Vespers, concerts and other performances.

About Metropolitan New York Synod

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has three expressions: over 10,000 congregations, 65 regional synods, and the church-wide organization. The Metropolitan New York Synod is the regional expression of the ELCA and encompasses 190 parishes in all five boroughs of New York City, Long Island, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester Counties. The 190 parishes are greatly diverse, from rural outposts to inner-city storefront churches, with a good dose of suburban mid-sized congregations as well. Worship is conducted in over a dozen languages, including Spanish, Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Norwegian, German, Swahili, and American Sign Language. Progressive and highly inclusive, the Synod champions diversity and tolerance, with strong multicultural and global missions, as well as unwavering advocacy for children, the LGBTQIA+ community and displaced immigrants. https://www.elca.org/