Our Architecture - exterior
The Church
The church building was designed by Richard Upjohn, the distinguished architect of Trinity and St. Thomas’ churches, New York City. The foundation stone of the present Saint Peter’s was laid on St. Peter’s Day, the 29th of June, 1859. The dimensions are: length–136 feet, breadth–68 feet, height–64 feet. The style of architecture is the decorated Gothic, of the French rather than the English type. Its French characteristics appear in the height of the nave and aisles, the apsidal chancel, the moldings and curve of the arches, and especially the details of the completed tower.
The material employed in the construction of the walls is Schenectady blue stone, whose natural cleavage by exposure to the weather has taken a tint of green.The decorative features of the walls, the doorways and window openings with their double mullions and geometrical traceries, are cut from the brown sandstone of New Jersey. The combination of the two varieties of stone has resulted in fine harmonies and accents of color.
The Tower
The Memorial tower, completed in 1876, is one of the most elaborate and impressive examples of the decorated French Gothic on the continent. The total height from base to cross is one hundred and eighty feet. Its French character is strongly accentuated, and its decorative details are much richer and more striking. From the ground to the height of about seventy-five feet, the massive shaft is treated with extreme simplicity, the blue stone ashler being relieved by occasional bands and small windows encased in brown sandstone. At the height of seventy-five feet, a series of deeply recessed arches nine feet in height encircles the entire tower.
The tower was completed as a memorial to Mr. John Tweddle by his wife and children, Mrs. Joseph Wilbur Tillinghast and Miss Anna Eliza Tweddle. It was designed by Richard M. Upjohn and constructed by Messrs. Ellin & Company of New York. At the benediction of the tower, the vestry placed in the Tower-Room a tablet which says:
This Tower from the eave of the Nave was built in the year of Our Lord 1876.
To the Glory of God and in memory of his faithful servant John Tweddle; Sometime Warden of this Parish. He entered into Rest, March 9th, 1875 and, by the bounty of his Wife and Children, his Monument completes and adorns the Sanctuary he loved.
“And Jacob set up a pillar in
the place where He talked
with him; even a pillar of stone.”
Gen. xxxv. 14.
This Tablet was erected by the Rector and
Congregation of St. Peter’s Church, at the
Dedication of the Tower on the Festival of
St. Michael and All Angels, A. D. 1876
Gargoyles
Three gargoyles adorn the St. Peter's bell tower, stretching out their winged, griffin-like forms and tiger-like heads to the north, east and west, projecting about eight feet beyond the body of the tower. They constitute the largest stones used in its construction, the weight of each gargoyle being three tons. The bat-like wings are folded back and ingeniously conceal the massive butt of stone set in the walls to counterbalance the projecting body of the sculptured monster.