Detail of Grace Church on Broadway in the East Village, Sept. 2007

Grace Church, at 802 Broadway in New York City, is a historic full-service parish church in the Episcopal Diocese of New York. Grace Church is located on Broadway near 10th Street as the avenue bends into the heart of New York University and the East Village.

Grace Church is a Gothic Revival masterpiece designed by James Renwick, Jr., his first major commission. In 1843, the land on which the church was built was purchased from Henry Brevoort. The 23-year-old architect James Renwick, Jr.—a nephew of Henry Brevoort—whose sole completed work at the time was the Bowling Green Fountain, was commissioned as the architect. Grace Church is a National Historic Landmark designated for its architectural significance and place within the history of New York City.

The cornerstone for the new church was laid in 1843 and Grace Church was consecrated in 1846. Vestry minutes from January of that year break down some of the expenses for building a new church—including items ranging from the cost of the workers from Sing Sing state prison who cut the stone to the cost of the embroidery for the altar cloth. Like Trinity Church (also consecrated in 1846), Grace Church was designed in the Gothic Revival style, and despite the wood, plaster (scored to look like stone) and lathe construction—as opposed to the stone construction of medieval Gothic cathedrals.

The east window over the high altar created by the English stained glass manufacturer Clayton and Bell in 1878, dominates the chancel, and the whole church. A "Te Deum" window, its theme is praise. The figures with their faces raised toward Christ, who is seated at the top center, represent prophets, apostles, martyrs and all the world.

The reredos, with mosaic figures of the evangelists, is made of French and Italian Marble and Caen Stone, and shows the four Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, flanking the Risen Christ as he gives the great commission, "Go into all the world and make disciples..." This piece, along with the altar, was designed by James Renwick Jr. and executed by Ellin & Kitson in 1878. The Choir furniture was installed in 1903 after the chancel was lengthened an additional fifteen feet in a renovation designed by Heins and La Farge.

Text from: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Church,_New_York