Artifacts From Soon-to-Be-Demolished Historic Boerum Hill Church Go up for Sale
The end is nigh for Boerum Hill’s mid-19th-century Church of the Redeemer, despite efforts to save it. Yesterday Demolition Depot sent out a notice that the 4th Avenue church’s historic artifacts and architectural details are for sale and that demolition will start “next month.” Included in the sale are stained glass windows, large amounts of…
The end is nigh for Boerum Hill’s mid-19th-century Church of the Redeemer, despite efforts to save it. Yesterday Demolition Depot sent out a notice that the 4th Avenue church’s historic artifacts and architectural details are for sale and that demolition will start “next month.”
Included in the sale are stained glass windows, large amounts of elaborate Victorian encaustic cement tile, neo-Gothic light fixtures, a crucifix, Gothic-style doors, statuary, pews, radiators, and exterior iron fencing. All the items for sale can be seen on Demolition Depot’s website.
No application for a demo permit has been filed for the property at 24 4th Avenue with the Building Department. The church, built in 1866, sold to real estate investment firm The Jackson Group in September for $20,000,000, which did not reveal its plans for the prime 4th Avenue site, except that they will not include a church, as we reported at the time.
Demolition Depot’s email blast, which has been circulating on private Boerum Hill message boards and email lists, lamented the loss of the historic church, which is not landmarked:
New York CIty is losing another important piece of its architectural history!
A perfectly intact 19th century church is being sacrificed for another residential development. Demolition Depot has been commissioned to sell the entire contents of this historic church before its demolition next month. Time is of the Essence.
We wish in a perfect world that someone that who has a need for an entire building will step up and re-assemble this structure or find a use for it. The structure was built out of hand cut granite with sandstone openings and handcrafted trusses.
No expense was spared when they built the building and the finest of materials available at that time were used.
The stained glass windows are of Tiffany quality some with drapery and multi-layered glazing. In this particular job we can save the doorways with the hand cut stone surrounds. Additional features are historic fencing, very nice tiled floors, a large quantity of pressed tin walls and ceilings, nice lighting, etc.
Please let us know what interests you; we will be showing this by appointment starting now.
Thanks to a tipster for forwarding Demolition Depot’s email. If you’d like to read more about the church’s history or see its interiors, scroll down and check out our Building of the Day post from 2012.
Church of the Redeemer Coverage [Brownstoner] GMAP
Photos of artifacts by Demolition Depot
Above, a historic photo of the church via Brooklyn Public Library.
Above, the altar in a historic photo from the Brooklyn Public library.
Above, the organ and interior walnut wood work in a photo via nycago.org.
MM, I agree its a shame when these beautiful places of worship (churches and temples) are razed for soul-less glass boxes. But as for the cost of the items, you seem to recognize their beauty and quality, and need to recognize SCARCITY. These arent mass produced and available items at Target, so of course they will command the price of a unique rare item. Price an alter at $20 and who gets it?