Saint Marks-in-the-Bowery

History and architecture

As seen today, Saint Marks-in-the-Bowery is a church which represents construction over a considerable period of time. The main body of the church with its fieldstone walls and handsomely trimmed round arched windows, belongs to the late Georgian tradition. The steeple is pure Greek Revival and is beautifully although simply detailed. The handsome porch is of cast-iron and belongs to the Italianate tradition of the mid-Nineteenth Century. What is most remarkable, in the case of this church, is the fact that elements of such diverse periods should harmonize so well, achieving a singularly attractive whole.

Historically, this is one of the outstanding churches of New York City, being the oldest site of continuous warship in the City. It is built on the site of Governor Stuyvesant’s "Bouwerie" or farm and reputedly covers the exact spot of ground occupied by his "Bouwerie Chapel". Under this church lies the famed Stuyvesant Vault wherein are interred the remains of Peter Stuyvesant, his heirs, and of the English Governor, Sloughter.