Former Church in America

• Former Church in America,

You will be surprised when you find out that there is now in this building in New York. And this is not a parish, as you might think, but it once was.

It is the construction of the middle of the 19th century, once belonged to the Episcopal Church. The building of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament is made in neo-Gothic style and resembles a small parish church in medieval England. Famous for building his disordered clutch of brown stone blocks. It was the first church building in America made in this technique.

This interior of the church in 1901.

I have photographed the building a few years ago, but then the doors were closed, and sat on the steps of the homeless, begging money from passers-by. I drew attention to this building today because of the loud music that sounded inside.

But when he came close, then my surprise there was no limit.

Inside was a fashion store. In Russia, called boutiques. At the site of the altar is conveniently located shoe department.

How did it happen?

The story is quite commonplace for New York. In the 70s, because of the crisis and the decline has engulfed the whole of New York City, once a fashionable district became semi-abandoned, the number of parishioners has significantly decreased, and the advent reduced by combining it with the neighboring. All parishioners began to go to another church, a vacant building for $ 495 thousand. Sold a non-profit organization. She tried to be engaged in rehabilitation of drug addicts there, but because of some financial problems, sold the building in 1982 for $ 1.65 million. Peter Gatien, owner of several nightclubs. He already had experience of a night club in a former church in London and decided to go here for exactly the same way. In 1983 there was opened the famous night club "The Limelight". Party for the opening of a new club organized by Andy Warhol. The club began with diskomuzyki, but eventually moved to the then new-fangled techno and raves organization.

Where raves, drugs and there, and the club countless times closed by the police. In the late 90's "The Limelight" was closely associated with the movement of the club called "Club kids", and murder in history, when one of the organizers of the movement of Michael Alig brutally murdered drug dealer Andre "Angel" Melendez. This story has been dramatized in the film "Party monster" with Macaulay Culkin in the title role.

In the 2000s, the club changed the sign to "Avalon", but in 2007 this stage in the history of the former church was completed. The building itself has once again re-sold for $ 3.2 million., And reconstructed for another $ 15 million. A shopping center, which opened its doors in May 2010. As such, I found him today.

As you can see, the shopping center is not the worst thing that happened within these walls.

But still, in some feel uncomfortable due to the inconsistency of form and content.

The space inside is completely redone.

Use the space under even the most arch.

A view of the hall from the second tier.

Inside make another adjustment, and all of Shopping occurs accompanied by rotary and demolition hammers.

All are trying to drown out incredibly loud 'singing modern music. Strange sensations arise.

Small Hall.

He is a bottom view.

Here in the former altar selling ice cream.

In the former outbuildings now the Interior Department.

I guess there was some kind of refectory.

And here's cell.

Or rector's office.

From the former church interior severity was gone.

The staircase leading to the offices.

And here they are. There probably used to be a residential part.

Tell me that you're in the church. Albeit in the former.

The trading floor still had artifacts.

In one of the wings of a pizzeria. This branch of the famous pizzeria Grimaldi, which is under the Brooklyn Bridge.

And in the yard there is cleaning. Soon there will be a working street cafes.

Here is a church there in Manhattan.