Richard Upjohn, a devout Episcopalian interested in…

Richard Upjohn, a devout Episcopalian interested in creating ecclesiastical architecture, had emigrated with his family from England to the United States in 1829, initially settling in New Bedford, Massachusetts, then moving on to Boston in 1833, where he had worked in architectural design.

His first major project had been for entrances to Boston Common and his first church is St. John's Church in Bangor, Maine.

He has relocated to New York by 1839 where he works on alterations to Trinity Church.

The alterations are soon abandoned and he is commissioned to design a new church. (Completed in 1846 and considered a classic example of Gothic Revival architecture, Upjohn's Trinity Church will be designated a National Historic Landmark in 1976 for its architectural significance and place within the history of New York City.)