Midtown St. Bart's Church Now Offers Hourly Pool, Gym Rentals

MIDTOWN, NY — The landmark St. Bartholomew’s Church on Park Avenue might be better known for their work with the hungry, or their choir, or the church’s two 1918 Æolian-Skinner pipe organs — the largest in New York City.

But now it might be better known for as the place to make dunks and dips by the hour.

In August, St. Bart’s started to offer their basketball court and pool for hourly rentals via an app called CatchCorner by Sports Illustrated.

The app will allow New Yorkers to rent the entire 60-foot-long pool or a full basketball court (which can be configured as a volley ball court) inside the century-old church, near East 51st Street, at an hourly rate.

“During the pandemic, rental income ceased while the need for our community outreach programs exploded," said St. Bart’s COO Tara Marlovits. "Our partnership with CatchCorner comes at a perfect time as we look to amplify our rental offerings to reach a new audience, and generate revenue to sustain and expand the services we offer our congregation and the wider community."

Holy Ballers can rent the court for $280 an hour, while rates for the pool are $314 an hour and can accommodate 40 people.

The Episcopal church was once the scene a 1980's air-rights battle where the church fought against the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission decision to deny them the option develop the community house, part of the entire city block occupied by St. Bart's, into an office tower and give the congregation much needed funds.

Over a decade later, the Supreme Court declined to hear their case, and the fight left the church with only half of its congregation remaining and a decaying building, according to their website.

The church has since rebuilt and has become known for their continued work with the poor and refugees.