Among the instruments in use at Saint Peter’s with unique history and legacy is the Steinway baby grand piano of the jazz composer and performer, Billy Strayhorn. It was bequeathed to the congregation by the great pianist’s estate in 1967 and thanks to this important gift, Strayhorn’s legacy and inspiration continues in a particularly vibrant way at Saint Peter’s Church.

Though not visible from the street, the building’s lowest level is perhaps the most used—and the level that sustained the most damage from the 2021 water main break. Total devastation effectively gave restoration planners a clean slate, with the opportunity to reconceive the space based on nearly fifty years of use as well as a broad vision for the future.

This Center for Community, Arts and Culture will be a dynamic public space—a limited resource in Midtown—that will expand and enable a rich array of programs and resources including jazz rehearsals and performances.