What's in a name?
Why did we choose St. Bartholomew? A founding member of the parish was very impressed by the ministry of another church on Park Avenue, which shares our name. We do not have any direct connection to the island, but the rector will gladly take donations to initiate a relationship.
Bartholomew is one of the twelve apostles. He was with the other apostles after Jesus ascended into heaven. He may have been Nathaniel, who Philip brought to Jesus in John's Gospel. He was described as "an Israelite, in whom there is no guile."
Bartholomew preached in Asia Minor, northern India, and in Armenia. He was flayed alive and then beheaded- the basis for his patronage of tanners.
The emblem for St. Bartholomew is three flaying knives on a red background. We often have a picnic on August 24th. Sometimes we tell the story of the St. Barts day massacre. Generally, we are a pro-Huguenot church, if it matters.
Here is a site about Bartolome de las casas, who is our spiritual forebear for the House at St. Barts.