Until 2-3 years ago, this was the meetinghouse where everyone in Harlem went to church. The roll-up security doors led to regular doors, and a large, long meeting room. 7 years ago, the Harlem Branch had half a dozen priesthood and a lot of spirit.
Now, as a result of great missionary work, Harlem has a new building, a Spanish ward, and the Harlem 1st ward. At a recent priesthood meeting, I counted over 80 men and boys in attendance. This building has 5 floors, an elevator, parking for 13 cars underneath (ground level), folding chairs in the chapel, and more spirit than you can imagine. Pay no attention to those two missionaries blocking the view.
Five years ago the Church dedicated a new meetinghouse in downtown Manhattan. It is a former Catholic Convent that runs all the way through the block. This is the pretty side. The 4th and 5th floors contain the chapel (very normal-looking), and the floors below house ward offices, classrooms, CES, and the Stake Employment Center. 2 wards and the deaf branch live here.
We couldn't find any steeple, but looking up at certain angles, and with a great deal of imagination, ......... well, it's New York !!
From the roof of the still-existing convent side of the complex, you can see the Empire State Building on the left and the Chrysler Building on the right (the pointy ones). Inside the old structure is like a haunted house....crosses, statues of Mary, stained-glass windows, stairways to everywhere, bedrooms and dorm-type bathrooms at every turn, and all in decay. All, except for the rooms where the senior missionary couple lives. Up 39 stairs, down some spooky hallways, and voila...Elder and Sister Carpenter.
On the northern end of Manhattan is a new building in the Inwood community. Right across from a park you don't want to go through at night, this unique, new structure houses 2 wards.
This spectacular new 6 story meeting house recently appeared on the upper East side of Manhattan. It houses the stake offices, two wards and a branch. For those in the "know", a building lot in the upper East side of Manhattan will cost more than the entire state of North Dakota. Prior to all these new structures, everyone in Manhattan met in.......
....the Lincoln Center building, better known now as the Manhattan Temple. This is a multi-use building, housing 2 wards, NYC Public Affairs, a mini Distribution Center for temple clothing, and of course, the beautiful Temple. It sits at the intersection of Leonard Bernstein Way, Columbus Avenue and Broadway......this intersection is also home to the NY Metropolitan Opera Hall, NYC Opera Hall, NY Symphony Hall, and Julliard Music School. (And Elder & Sister Howell's apartment)
A few streets away is 11th Avenue....home to every auto dealership known to man. As we walked along, we couldn't resist stopping to look at some of the smallest places of worship in Manhattan.
There's room for a growing congregation.
And enough flair to catch the sports enthusiasts for Sunday School. We LOVE NEW YORK. The fascination of interesting places, people and activities never ends. And to be missionaries here is a blessing we will never forget.
