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WHO WE ARE

The Parish of Calvary-St. George's is a historic Episcopal parish consisting of two churches, located in the Gramercy and Stuyvesant Square-area of Manhattan. We are a community of people in the Episcopal Diocese of New York, which is a constituent member of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Our worship is steeped in The Book of Common Prayer, intended first and foremost to glorify God in Jesus Christ, and we stand in that theological tradition that owes a debt of gratitude to the great reformers of the English Reformation.

We seek to rightly divide the word of truth between Law and Gospel so that the people in the city of New York and beyond might know and confess where they end and God begins. We proclaim the historic faith of Christ and Him crucified.

"When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come proclaiming the mystery of God to you in lofty words or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified." – 1 Corinthians 2:1-2

FAQ'S

What are services like here?

At St. George's Chapel, our 9AM Sunday service uses what’s called the “Rite I liturgy” of the Episcopal Church. This service reflects the language and piety of the Elizabethan era in England. The service is accompanied by piano and soloist, offers Holy Communion, and a great sermon from our clergy.

At St. George’s Church, our 11AM Sunday service is a Rite II liturgy, which uses contemporary language. This service has a larger choir and blends traditional hymns with contemporary worship music. We have Sunday School for all ages during the service, and we gather for coffee and fellowship afterwards. This service is also live-streamed here on our website, Vimeo, YouTube, and Facebook.

What do I wear to church?

We don’t have a dress code. Although most people feel comfortable in something business casual, plenty of people arrive in jeans and a t-shirt, too!

What is Holy Communion like? Am I allowed to receive it?

All baptized Christians are welcome to receive Communion, regardless of what denomination you were baptized in. If you aren’t baptized, you are still very welcome to come forward at Communion: simply cross your arms and the priest will offer you a blessing. We offer Communion in two kinds: the bread and the wine. You can opt to receive the wine by drinking directly from the cup. If you prefer to have your Communion wafer dipped in the wine, you can hand the wafer to the chalice bearer and they will dip it into the wine for you. 

What are the sermons like here?

Our sermons are grace-forward: always. That means that we aim to distinguish between the Law (what we ought to do) and the Gospel (what God has already done for you), delivering a message of grace and forgiveness to New York City and beyond. Our sermons last about 10-12 minutes. You can listen to them on our sermon podcast to see what they’re all about! 

Are there young adults at this church?

Yes, we have a large number of young adults in their 20s and 30s that are integrated into every part of the church. Group outings happen throughout the year! You can connect by reaching out to info@calstg.org

Are your services family-friendly?

Absolutely! We have a thriving Youth and Family ministry at Calvary-St. George’s for ages 0-18. At St. George’s 11am service, we offer Infant and Toddler Nursery, Sunday School (PK-5th grade), and Youth Corps (6th-12th grade). You can learn more by reaching out to calstgkids@calstg.org.

CLERGY + STAFF

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The Reverend
Jacob Smith

Rector

Jacob was born on the Navajo Reservation and was raised in Yuma, Arizona. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 2000 with a BA in History, with an emphasis in Near Eastern Studies. He received his M. Div from Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in May 2006. Jacob was ordained to the diaconate on June 3, 2006, in the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, and ordained a presbyter at Calvary Church on December 3, 2006, by the Rt. Rev. E. Don Taylor. Jacob is passionate about sharing the Gospel. Since 2006, Jacob has served the parish in various capacities and has been the rector since 2017. He has also served the Episcopal Church, Episcopal Diocese of New York, and New York City in various leadership roles including: Vice President of the Bible and Common Prayer Book Society, trustee of the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, Dean of the Lower Manhattan Clericus, and as a board member of the Stuyvesant Park Neighborhood Association. He is also a cohost on Same Old Song, the lectionary podcast of Mockingbird Ministries.

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The Reverend
Sarah Bonay

Associate Rector for Worship & Congregational Care

A devoted lifelong Anglican, the Reverend Bonay brings a rich and international background to her ministry. Born and raised in the United Kingdom, she continued her education in Paris before beginning a career in Marketing and Communications for luxury goods companies—first in France and later for six years in Hong Kong. These experiences formed in her a deep appreciation for global perspectives, cross-cultural connections, and the many ways people seek meaning and belonging. Prior to discerning a call to ordained ministry, Sarah completed a Master’s degree in Spiritual Direction and served as a Spiritual Director, offering guidance and accompaniment to individuals in a variety of pastoral settings. Most recently, Sarah served in Westchester County, where she held numerous lay ministry roles that further rooted her vocation in the life of the Church. She earned her Master of Divinity from The General Theological Seminary in May 2023 and was ordained a priest in the Diocese of New York by the Rt. Rev. Matthew Heyd shortly thereafter at St. George's Church.

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The Reverend
Dr. Meredith Hawkins

Clergy

Meredith was born in Toronto, Canada where she was raised in the Anglican tradition. She obtained her MD degree from the University of Toronto, where she was inspired by the story of Banting and Best to pursue specialty training in diabetes. This brought her to New York to pursue diabetes research, which has taken her to far corners of the world in her study of "Malnutrition-Related Diabetes". For many years Meredith was aware of a calling to ordained ministry, ultimately obtaining an MDiv degree from Wycliffe College in Toronto (where Rev. Jacob has strong connections). Meredith was ordained a priest in the Episcopal Diocese of New York in 2022, together with Molly Jane Layton. In the past three years she served several churches that were in transition between Rectors, and gained considerable experience in preaching and teaching as well as a variety of liturgical styles. Meredith is delighted to join Calvary-St. George's as Clergy and looks forward to becoming involved in various ministries.

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John Asirvatham

Director of Spiritual

Formation & Outreach

John’s ministry at Calvary-St. George’s centers on helping people encounter the grace of God in Christ through Scripture, Christian community, and service. He has a deep love of Scripture and especially enjoys reading the Bible closely with others, so that together they might encounter Jesus, to whom all of Scripture points. He believes that as Christ meets us and dwells in us by the Spirit, his love flows through us in service to our neighbors. Before joining the staff of Calvary-St. George’s, John spent five years serving as a chaplain in hospital and hospice settings, most recently as a Spiritual Care Preceptor at VNS Health Hospice Care in New York City. There, he cared for patients and families while also training and supporting other chaplains throughout the city. Those years continue to shape his ministry, particularly his desire to meet people with grace and honesty amid suffering, grief, uncertainty, and change. John holds a Master of Divinity from Westminster Seminary California and is discerning a call to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church. John and his wife, Kylee, have a special connection to Calvary-St. George’s: they met at a Mockingbird conference hosted by the parish and were later married in St. George’s Chapel. They live in Manhattan with their daughter, and love cooking and hosting dinners that are usually far more elaborate than necessary.

Scott Pavao Chief Operating Officer
Kamel Boutros Music Director
Chris & Janelle Domig Directors of Youth + Family
Mari Sparacino Facilities Manager
Kate Dell’Aiera Parish Administrator
Kateryna Czartorysky Director of Communications
Sam Fleischer 
Pastoral Resident

OUR HISTORY

The Parish of Calvary- St. George’s traces its roots to 1749 when Trinity Church established the Chapel of St. George’s on Beekman Street in lower Manhattan. Over the years, the congregation developed in strength, until in 1811 it became a self-supporting parish of the Episcopal Church. In 1846, St. George’s moved to Stuyvesant Square.  

 

Meanwhile the ministry of Calvary Church began in 1832 at an uptown site. The church moved to Gramercy Park in 1846. The writer Edith Wharton used Calvary, the church of the Roosevelt family, as the setting for her novel, The Age of Innocence.  

 

The Church of the Holy Communion was built in 1844 on what is now the Avenue of the Americas. The church's founder, Reverend William Muhlenberg, a leader of the evangelical Catholic movement within the Episcopal Church, was closely involved with the design. Muhlenberg established a parish infirmary that became St. Luke’s Hospital. The parishioners' Easter tradition of carrying flowers to the infirmary was the beginning of what is now the Easter parade.

 

The Reverend Dr. Samuel Moor Shoemaker served at Calvary for 28 years (1928-1952). Shoemaker’s role in the early days of Alcoholics Anonymous (A.A.) is still remembered. As Bill Wilson wrote in AA Comes of Age, “It is through Sam Shoemaker that most of A.A.’s spiritual principles have come. Sam is one of the great channels, one of the prime sources of influences that have gathered themselves into what is now A.A.” The parish is proud of its connection to this program, and continues to provide meeting space for A.A. groups each week.  

 

Artists, writers, and musicians are an important part of the parish history at all the churches. Few have had so long and rich an influence on the life of a parish as the beloved Harry T. Burleigh. Burleigh, called one of the saviors of spirituals, was born in 1866, grandson of former slaves. He sang in St. George’s choir for more than 50 years. “He literally sang his great heart out to the glory of God, and especially so in those haunting spirituals,” said the Rev. Elmore McKee, a rector at St. George’s. Burleigh’s “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” arrangement is said to have inspired Dvorak’s Symphony “From the New World.” The two composers worked together during Dvorak’s stay in New York.

 

During the 19th century, the three congregations sought to balance a commitment to the Lord with a deep desire to serve the community. Programs were developed, hospitals established, and efforts were made on a personal and corporate level to express the biblical and theological recognition of the deep worth of personhood. There was a concern for justice and the pursuit of truth, as well as giving value to aspects of life that were sometimes seen as peripheral to the religious experience. The parish operated health and dental clinics, fresh-air camps, and the first trade schools in the city. Soup kitchens were opened and fresh water was supplied at fountains for tenement dwellers who lacked running waters.

 

In 1975, the three congregations merged to form one, and later the Church of the Holy Communion was sold to meet the needs of an economic crunch. In that sense, the Parish of Calvary-St. George's is new. But there is strength to be found in the knowledge that generations of the parish family, in times equally trying, have been faithful in their efforts to be the church in New York City.  

THE PARISH OF CALVARY-ST. GEORGE'S

(646) 723-4178  |  info@calstg.org  |  Connect Card

 

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PARISH OFFICE

61 Gramercy Park N., 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10010

ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH

7 Rutherford Place, New York, NY

ST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL

4 Rutherford Place, New York, NY

CALVARY CHURCH

277 Park Ave South, New York, NY

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© 2026 The Parish of Calvary-St. George's Church

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