Officially known as the Church of the Transfiguration since its founding in 1848, the lilliputian Episcopal parish at 29th Street off Fifth Avenue got its nickname because it welcomed actors during a time when acting was considered a disreputable profession.
In 1870, when another church nearby at 28th and Madison refused to host an actor’s funeral, the Church of the Transfiguration stepped in. “God bless that little church ’round the corner,” a friend of the dead actor supposedly said. And the name stuck.
The Little Church also hosted the 1893 funeral of actor (and brother of a presidential assassin) Edwin Booth. It was and still is a popular places to get married in the city.
Set back from the street (which, needless to say, no longer looks as pristine as it does in the 1910 postcard above) with pretty gardens and an ornate entryway, it’s a captivating spot to break away from the rush of city life.
Tags: 29th Street, actor's church, Church of the Transfiguration, Edwin Booth, Edwin Booth funeral, Little Church Around the Corner, New York City churches, popular churches to get married in New York City
Ephemeral New York 
June 23, 2009 at 11:24 am |
If you miss the church a plaque on the corner will direct you back to it…but who reads plaques anymore? You have to know the church is there in the first place…
June 23, 2009 at 1:04 pm |
I was just there two weeks ago when a friend and I stumbled upon it. It’s a beautiful little place.
June 23, 2009 at 5:38 pm |
You mean 1870, not 1970, right?
June 23, 2009 at 5:44 pm |
Yikes, thanks for pointing that out! I’ll fix. 1870 of course.
June 23, 2009 at 6:09 pm |
Wow, it was so beautiful then. I walk past it everyday. They sold the air rights and now there is this gigantic apartment building looming over it to the east. Very easy to miss it.
June 23, 2009 at 7:46 pm |
i’m not a “believer” but this is my favorite church in the city
July 2, 2009 at 3:51 pm |
I just saw this exact postcard at a flea market in Medina, MN last weekend…
October 4, 2009 at 4:35 pm |
To those of you who have visited The Little Church Around the Corner – can you tell me if church marriage records are available to the public. My parents were married there, I believe sometime in 1927. My daughters will be visiting NY soon and would like to see the church and hopefully some record of their grandparents wedding. Does anyone know if this is possible?
October 25, 2009 at 5:07 pm |
Did you ever receive a response about marriage records being available to the public and if so how may they be obtained,I am looking for info about my Grandparent wedding
Thank you
Bob
October 25, 2009 at 6:05 pm |
Call the church and ask them…
November 3, 2009 at 5:17 am |
Marriage records are available ( for a fee) if you can provide the date of the marriage along with the names of the parties.
April 25, 2014 at 2:28 am |
have inquired and also sent 2nd and 3rd requests re: marriage records. I too am trying to obtain my parents marriage records. What steps and address have you inquired. Janice Says
November 23, 2009 at 1:58 pm |
I am looking for the following marriage record:
June 24, 1922
Albert Burnley Weaver m. Emma augusta Lincoln
How do I make my request and payment?
November 23, 2009 at 1:59 pm |
I am not sure what I am supposed to do now…
November 23, 2009 at 3:31 pm |
You can try this: MAKING ARRANGEMENTS
The first step to planning a wedding at Transfiguration is to phone the office (212-684-6770) and speak with the Rector of the church, Bishop Andrew St. John. He can answer your inquiries about the liturgy, guest clergy, scheduling, fees, obtaining a marriage license, music, flowers and other questions about the service. We look forward to hearing from you!
This from:
http://www.littlechurch.org/weddings.html
Unless someone got another way…
November 23, 2009 at 6:41 pm |
I didn’t notice this before,
We hear from those couples to this day as part of our Little Family community, an annual mailing that goes out to all those married here on their anniversaries.
http://www.littlechurch.org/weddings.html
That should ease your concern
July 12, 2012 at 5:10 pm |
I love all these comments about “The Little Church Around the Corner”. We are currently trying to raise money to restore the beautiful lychgate (the entrance to the garden) which was given by Mrs. Franklin Delano in 1849. If you could encourage friends to make donations – that would be fabulous. They should be sent to the Church of the Transfiguration Parish Office – 1 East 29th Street, NY, NY, 10016. For those who walk by, there are descriptive brochures by the gate!
August 27, 2012 at 1:20 am |
marriage record: abt 1937 . Howard Richards Meneely & Violet Pearl Jones
March 3, 2014 at 7:52 pm |
Call the Church office or send a letter with the details.
December 22, 2012 at 3:03 pm |
Lieutenant Commander Kenneth Fletcher and WRNS Georgina Hall 8th April 1944, How do we pay the fee to see the register of this marriage?
March 3, 2014 at 7:53 pm |
Please see the response above.
May 18, 2013 at 6:58 am |
I have a beautiful hand drawn picture (I believe it is in pencil) signed and dated 1939. I got the picture from an adopted friend of mine. A wealthy family-my friends father was a colonel in WW II. I was wondering if anyone has any information or knows if there are any famous artist who did pictures of “The Little Church Around the Corner”?
July 29, 2013 at 6:31 pm |
We are going to N.Y. in Sept. and looking forward to find the Little Church Around the Corner. Can we take a tour any day or just certain days?
March 3, 2014 at 7:51 pm |
There are tours every Sunday after the 11.am service so at about 12.45 pm. Every day the church is open but you can only go into the Bride’s Chapel, the rest is closed.
August 24, 2015 at 8:34 pm |
My mom and dad were married her in 1919 and I’m wondering how I can get a record of that marriage. Florence Avery and Joseph Patten. My name: Fran Patten Thanks so much.
February 15, 2017 at 4:40 pm |
My father, Howard R. Meneely married my step mother, Violet P, Jones , Sept. 4 , 1937 . I would love a record of their marriage. june m. jones, Thank you so much.
December 31, 2017 at 3:38 pm |
My mother-in-law recently passed away at the age of 103. In reading a meticulously kept date book for 1937, she made numerous entries referring to play rehearsals, costume fittings and makeup classes at the Little Church. She lived on the East Side in the Eighties with her parents and would have been about 24 y o at that time. Wish we knew about this facet of her life but have gleaned from Little Church notations and others that she a culturally rich life even as a 24 year old. Are there any references to a theatre group housed there in the 1930’s?
May 2, 2023 at 3:51 pm |
My grandparents were married in this church in September of 1919. I would love to know if you could tell me more about their wedding. Who officiated, time of day, anything. They both passed before I was able to know them.
In gratitude,
Michael Anne Wright
Grand Rapids, MI
Loyal grand daughter