Episcopal Church of the Mediator (Bronx)
Episcopal church in the Bronx, New York
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The Episcopal Church of the Mediator is an Episcopal parish church in the Kingsbridge section of The Bronx, New York, designed by Henry Vaughan (architect), architect of the Washington National Cathedral and chapels of the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, New York. It features Tiffany windows and George Tinworth's terracottas friezes, along with a notable window in the narthex over the entry featuring Jane Addams and Booker T. Washington.
Kingsbridge,
The Bronx, New York City
| Church of the Mediator | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Episcopal Church of the Mediator | |||||||||||||||||||||
View from Kingsbridge Avenue | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Church of the Mediator | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 40°52′47.15″N 73°54′26.29″W | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | 260 West 231st Street Kingsbridge, The Bronx, New York City | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Language(s) | American English; Spanish | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Denomination | Episcopal | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | churchofthemediator | ||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 15 August 1855[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Consecrated | 23 January 1927 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Architecture | |||||||||||||||||||||
Functional status | Active | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Architect | Henry Vaughan | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Style | Neo-Gothic | ||||||||||||||||||||
Years built | 1906-1913 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Administration | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Province | International Atlantic Province (Province 2) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Diocese | Episcopal Diocese of New York | ||||||||||||||||||||
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The church reported 314 members in 2015 and 91 members in 2023; no membership statistics were reported in 2024 parochial reports. Plate and pledge income reported for the congregation in 2024 was $0.00 with average Sunday attendance (ASA) of zero persons.[2]
The parish was formed on August 15, 1855, as The Church of the Mediator, Yonkers. Two years later, the first church for the parish was constructed at the cost of $5,000. The church was consecrated by Bishop Horatio Potter on November 6, 1864.[3]
In 1902, the parish opted to create a new church. Henry Vaughan, the architect who designed the Washington National Cathedral, designed the church in a neo-Gothic style. The cornerstone bears the date 1911. This church was consecrated in 1927 by Bishop William Thomas Manning,[4] who called it "the little cathedral of the Bronx" in reference to its size, design, and architectural details.
The church incorporates Tiffany favrile glass windows, including an unusual variant on the "Jesus Blessing the Little Children" Tiffany Studios design by artist Frederick Wilson, two large terra-cotta panels by George Tinworth, and a massive narthex window featuring figures of Jane Addams and Booker T. Washington. The church also features a Skinner organ.
The Episcopal Church of the Mediator is home to the Corlear Sycamore, also known as the Sister Tree, which is considered to be among the oldest and largest trees in The Bronx.[5] The property currently hosts the Kingsbridge community refrigerator and environmental ministry, and houses several community outreach programs.[6]
By 2025, the church had fallen into a state of disrepair and was threatened with demolition. It was included in the 2025 Preservation League of New York State's "Seven to Save" list.[7]
