Patients, staff, and visitors at Mount Sinai St. Luke’s who stop by the historic chapel will find a refuge that, since its creation more than a century ago, has reflected the hospital’s commitment to caring for the community.
The history of the chapel leads back to the founder of St. Luke’s Hospital, William Augustus Muhlenberg, who established the organization to facilitate the delivery of care throughout Manhattan to poor and rich alike. As an Episcopal clergyman, his legacy was commemorated with the construction of a chapel at the new St. Luke’s Hospital on 114th Street.
A special feature of the chapel are the stained glass windows, created in 1896 by architect Henry Holiday. Over the altar presides the most prominent window featuring “Christ the Consoler.” Arched above this window are seven round windows illustrating the “Seven Acts of Mercy.” The unique windows commemorate the philosophy of dedication, compassion, and care espoused by Mr. Muhlenberg, who envisioned a world in which quality health care would be provided without charge to all who needed it.
“The chapel is an integral part of the history of St. Luke’s and a beautiful place for multi-denominational worship,” said Arthur Gianelli, MBA, MPH, President of St. Luke’s. “We are proud to continue this heritage by providing medical care to communities of Harlem, the Upper West Side, and beyond, putting patients at the center of everything we do by addressing unmet social needs.”
The chapel was recognized recently with Mount Sinai St. Luke’s selection as one of 173 sites throughout New York to participate in the New York Landmarks Conservancy’s annual Sacred Sites Open House. The Conservancy is dedicated to the preservation, revitalization, and rehabilitation of New York’s historical architecture.
The Sacred Sites Program, established in 1986, sponsors the annual Sacred Sites Open House, which asks neighborhood religious sites to host New Yorkers and tourists to build community support, develop cultural tourism, and publicize the historical sites. The theme of this year’s event, “Stained Glass: Windows on this World and the Next,” highlighted stained glass windows at 64 locations around New York City.
During the event, co-hosted by architect and historian George B. Bryant and St. Luke’s physician Norma M.T. Braun, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, dozens of visitors viewed the unique designs and workmanship of the chapel’s stained glass. One anonymous visitor left a cash donation to go toward the restoration of the beautiful windows. The event took place May 20.
Mr. Bryant has written an article about the windows and the chapel for The Journal of Stained Glass, published by the British Society of Master Glass Painters. The article describes the process and unique results from the creation of the windows.
The Mount Sinai St. Luke’s Restoration Fund, led by Dr. Braun, raises funds to preserve and restore this chapel. Anyone inspired by and able to help preserve this heritage is encouraged to make a donation by contacting the Office of Development at Mount Sinai Health.
To read more about the chapel, its stained glass, and its history, contact Dr. Braun at norma.braun@mountsinai.org for access to a limited edition print of the article in The Journal of Stained Glass.