3. Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church

The Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church dates back to 1808 when the congregation, then known as The Presbyterian Church in Cedar Street, began on Cedar Street. In 1875, the congregation which established one of the City’s first public schools, moved to its present location at Fifth Avenue and 55th Street. The church was designed by Carl Pfeiffer, who was chosen over more established architects including George B. Post.

The exterior of the church was designed in the Gothic style while the interior was designed in accordance with Reformed Protestant precepts and contains no right angles. Occasionally, including for OHNY, the 286-foot high steeple is open to the public. According to the church, it was the tallest building in Manhattan when it was dedicated in 1875. Visitors to the tower can see the its original clockworks, which are still wound by hand once a week. One interesting fact about the tower is that is has never possessed any bells or chimes because “when the church was built, St. Luke’s Hospital was housed in what is now the Hotel Peninsula, and there was a concern that church bells might disturb the patients.”