Generally Speaking: Will Bay Ridge’s historic Church of the Generals fade away?
City Councilmember Vinnie Gentile is quarterbacking a strong effort to try and get the New York City Landmarks Commission to designate the famous and historic Church of the Generals (St. John’s Episcopal Church) as a city landmark. The church, located on the corner of 99th Street (formerly Clark Street) and Fort Hamilton Parkway, has gained renown across the country due to the high-ranking military brass that over the past century and half have worshipped there.
In addition to General Robert E. Lee who was a vestryman, and General Thomas “Stonewall” Jacksonwho was baptized there, at least 15 generals have been parishioners. General Matthew Bunker Ridgway, who later served as supreme allied commander, Europe and was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan, was baptized there.
Other congregants have included General Walter Bedell Smith, chief of staff to General Dwight D. Eisenhower and later director of the Central Intelligence Agency, and Air Force General Hubert Harmon, who became the first superintendent of the US Air Force Academy.