St. Peter's Church (Manhattan): Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Historic church in Manhattan, New York}} |
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{{About|St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church in Lower Manhattan|text=It is not to be confused with St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church at [[Citigroup Center]] in Midtown Manhattan}} |
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{{for|the Episcopal church|St. Peter's Episcopal Church (Manhattan)}} |
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{{Infobox NRHP |
{{Infobox NRHP |
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| name = Saint Peter's Church, Our Lady of the Rosary |
| name = Saint Peter's Church, Our Lady of the Rosary |
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| caption = (2012) |
| caption = (2012) |
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| location = 22 Barclay Street,<br>[[Manhattan]], [[New York City]] |
| location = 22 Barclay Street,<br>[[Manhattan]], [[New York City]] |
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| website = [http://spcolr.org/ St |
| website = [http://spcolr.org/ St Peter's Church, Our Lady of the Rosary] |
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| area = |
| area = |
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| coordinates ={{coord|40.712488|-74.009501|region:US_type:landmark|display=title,inline}} |
| coordinates = {{coord|40.712488|-74.009501|region:US_type:landmark|display=title,inline}} |
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| locmapin = Lower Manhattan#New York City |
| locmapin = Lower Manhattan#New York City |
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| built = |
| built = 1785 (original)<br>1836–1840 (current structure)<ref>{{cite AIA4}}, p. 67</ref> |
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| architect =John R. Haggerty and [[T. Thomas and Son|Thomas Thomas]] |
| architect = John R. Haggerty and [[T. Thomas and Son|Thomas Thomas]] |
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| architecture = [[Greek Revival]] |
| architecture = [[Greek Revival]] |
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| added = April 23, 1980 |
| added = April 23, 1980 |
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| visitation_num = |
| visitation_num = |
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| visitation_year = |
| visitation_year = |
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| refnum = 80002721 |
| refnum = 80002721 |
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| mpsub = |
| mpsub = |
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| designated_other2_name = |
| designated_other2_name = New York City Landmark |
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| designated_other2_date = December 21, 1965 |
| designated_other2_date = December 21, 1965 |
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| designated_other2_abbr = NYCL |
| designated_other2_abbr = NYCL |
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| designated_other2_link = New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission |
| designated_other2_link = New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission |
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| designated_other2_number = |
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| designated_other2_color = #FFE978 |
| designated_other2_color = #FFE978 |
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| governing_body = |
| governing_body = |
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| designated_other1 = New York State Register of Historic Places |
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| designated_other1_num_position = bottom |
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| designated_other1_number = 06101.000084 |
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| designated_other1_abbr = NYSRHP |
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| designated_other1_date = June 23, 1980 |
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}} |
}} |
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''' |
'''Saint Peter's Church/Our Lady of the Rosary''' is a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] church in the [[Financial District, Manhattan|Financial District]] of [[Manhattan]], [[New York City]]. The current building was constructed from 1836 to 1840 and was designed by John R. Haggerty and [[T. Thomas and Son|Thomas Thomas]] in the [[Greek Revival architecture|Greek Revival style]], with six [[Ionic columns]].<ref>[http://daytoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/2010/07/st-peters-church-barclay-street.html "St. Peter's Church – Barclay Street"] on ''Daytonian in Manhattan'' (July 2, 2010)</ref> The church opened February 25, 1838 with Archbishop [[John Hughes (archbishop)|John Hughes]] officiating.<ref>{{Cite news|title=The Albion (New York February 24, 1838), p. 63.}}</ref> |
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The parish, part of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York]], is the oldest |
The parish, part of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York|Archdiocese of New York]], is the oldest Catholic parish in [[New York State]], and the building replaced an earlier one built in 1785–86.<ref name="fromatoz">{{cite fromatoz}}, p.242</ref> The original church was used for worship until 1834 when it was replaced by the present structure. |
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The church was designated a [[List of New York City Landmarks|New York City landmark]] in 1965<ref name=nycland>{{cite nycland}}, p.25</ref> and was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1980. The present church has been declared a landmark by federal, state and city agencies. |
The church was designated a [[List of New York City Landmarks|New York City landmark]] in 1965<ref name=nycland>{{cite nycland}}, p.25</ref> and was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1980. The present church has been declared a landmark by federal, state and city agencies. |
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===Early history=== |
===Early history=== |
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Shortly before, and during the Revolution, Father [[Ferdinand Steinmeyer]], a German Jesuit missionary from Philadelphia, would periodically visit the few scattered Catholics in New York City. Gathering them together, he said Mass in the house of a German fellow-countryman in Wall Street, in a loft in Water Street, and wherever else they could find accommodation.<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11020a.htm Mooney, Joseph. "Archdiocese of New York." The Catholic Encyclopedia] Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. June 11, 2020{{PD-notice}}</ref> |
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⚫ | A gift of 1,000 silver pieces from King [[Charles III of Spain]] topped off donations to start the construction of the church.<ref>[http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/9-11s-church/#ixzz1cckTh6it National Catholic Register: "9/11's Church: St. Peter Catholic Church Has Witnessed Pivotal Points of U.S. History"] September 2, 2011</ref> Catholics constructing the original church initially tried to locate it on [[Broad Street (Manhattan)|Broad Street]], then in the heart of New York City. Due to [[Anti-Catholicism in the United States|anti-Catholic]] sentiments, however, New York City officials implored them to change the location to a site at Barclay and Church Streets, then outside the city limits. The builders relented and accepted the present location. The cornerstone of the original church was laid in 1785 and the first Mass celebrated in 1786. |
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⚫ | The merchant and recent New York arrival [[Dominick Lynch (wine merchant)|Dominick Lynch]] was one of the chief fundraisers for the new church, donating his own money as well as raising funds from his native Galway.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clarke |first1=Richard H. |title=Dominick Lynch |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44373592?seq=3 |website=The American Catholic Historical Researches |access-date=August 15, 2023 |pages=73–78 |date=1888}}</ref> A gift of 1,000 silver pieces from King [[Charles III of Spain]] through the prominent figures of the Spanish [[Diego de Gardoqui]] and D. Francisco de Murillo i Martinez, Count of El Ojuelo, topped off donations to start the construction of the church.<ref>[http://www.ncregister.com/site/article/9-11s-church/#ixzz1cckTh6it National Catholic Register: "9/11's Church: St. Peter Catholic Church Has Witnessed Pivotal Points of U.S. History"] September 2, 2011</ref> Catholics constructing the original church initially tried to locate it on [[Broad Street (Manhattan)|Broad Street]], then in the heart of New York City. Due to [[Anti-Catholicism in the United States|anti-Catholic]] sentiments, however, New York City officials implored them to change the location to a site at Barclay and Church Streets, then outside the city limits. The builders relented and accepted the present location. The cornerstone of the original church was laid in 1785 and the first Mass celebrated in 1786. |
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[[File:Old Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Manhattan, New York.jpg|thumb|210px|right|The 1785 church]] |
[[File:Old Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Manhattan, New York.jpg|thumb|210px|right|The 1785 church]] |
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Mexican artist Jose Vallejo painted an icon of the Crucifixion<ref>[http://www.nuevayork-exhibition.org/galleries/1/american-revolution "Spain Supports the American Revolution & New York Welcomes the Spanish"]</ref> and [[Alonso Núñez de Haro y Peralta|Nunez de Haro]], archbishop of [[Mexico City]], gave it to St. Peter parish in 1789; it hung above the main altar.<ref>[http://www.kelmardesigns.com/projects/institutional/st_peters01.htm "St Peters Church"] on the Kel-Mar Designs website</ref> Father William O'Brien, the first pastor, is remembered for his tireless service to the citizens of New York during the [[yellow fever]] epidemics of 1795 and 1798. In 1800 the first free Catholic school in New York State was established at St. Peter's.<ref name=Stpetes>[http://www.spcolr.org/st-peters-church "History", St. Peter's Church]</ref> On March 14, 1805 at St. Peter's Church, [[Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton]] converted from the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]] to Catholicism. Thereafter, she often prayed before the painting of the Crucifixion above the main altar. The Catholic Church later [[canonized]] her, the first native-born United States citizen so honored. |
Mexican artist Jose Vallejo painted an icon of the Crucifixion<ref>[http://www.nuevayork-exhibition.org/galleries/1/american-revolution "Spain Supports the American Revolution & New York Welcomes the Spanish"]</ref> and [[Alonso Núñez de Haro y Peralta|Nunez de Haro]], archbishop of [[Mexico City]], gave it to St. Peter parish in 1789; it hung above the main altar.<ref>[http://www.kelmardesigns.com/projects/institutional/st_peters01.htm "St Peters Church"] on the Kel-Mar Designs website</ref> Father William O'Brien, the first pastor, is remembered for his tireless service to the citizens of New York during the [[yellow fever]] epidemics of 1795 and 1798. In 1800 the first free Catholic school in New York State was established at St. Peter's.<ref name=Stpetes>[http://www.spcolr.org/st-peters-church "History", St. Peter's Church]</ref> On March 14, 1805, at St. Peter's Church, [[Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton]] converted from the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]] to Catholicism. Thereafter, she often prayed before the painting of the Crucifixion above the main altar. The Catholic Church later [[canonized]] her, the first native-born United States citizen so honored. |
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On December 24, 1806, parishioners celebrated the [[Christmas Eve]] vigil inside the church building. This Catholic celebration still infuriated some Protestants who viewed it as an exercise in "popish superstition". Protesters tried to disrupt the Mass, and the ensuing melee injured dozens, with one policeman killed.<ref name="Opposition">Vitello |
On December 24, 1806, parishioners celebrated the [[Christmas Eve]] vigil inside the church building. This Catholic celebration still infuriated some Protestants who viewed it as an exercise in "popish superstition". Protesters tried to disrupt the Mass, and the ensuing melee injured dozens, with one policeman killed.<ref name="Opposition">{{cite news |last=Vitello |first=Paul |title=In Fierce Opposition to a Muslim Center, Echoes of an Old Fight: First Catholic Church in the City Stirred Fear and Suspicion, in 1785 |work=The New York Times |date=October 8, 2010 |page=A19 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/08/nyregion/08zero.html |accessdate=October 12, 2010}}</ref> |
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In October 1836, the cornerstone for a larger St. Peter's Church was laid, and by February 1838 the current structure was built. In addition to [[Roman Catholic]] services, |
In October 1836, the cornerstone for a larger St. Peter's Church was laid, and by February 1838 the current structure was built. In addition to [[Roman Catholic]] services, from 1899 to 1916 St. Peter's also hosted services in the lower church for Byzantine-rite Syrian and Lebanese Catholics, who during that period did not have their own church.<ref name=Stpetes/> St. Peter's Church is the first place [[Edward Sorin|Fr. Edward Frederick Sorin]], founder of the [[University of Notre Dame]], celebrated Mass upon his arrival in America in 1842. |
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===September 11=== |
===September 11, 2001, attacks=== |
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On September 10, 2001, Father [[Mychal Judge]] OFM, chaplain for the [[New York City Fire Department]], gave the following sermon at a Mass for New York City firefighters at Engine 73 Ladder 42, |
On September 10, 2001, Father [[Mychal Judge]] OFM, chaplain for the [[New York City Fire Department]], gave the following sermon at a Mass for New York City firefighters at Engine 73, Ladder 42, in [[the Bronx]]: |
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<blockquote>You do what God has called you to do. You get on that rig, you go out and do the job. No matter how big the call, no matter how small, you have no idea of what God is calling you to do, but God needs you. He needs me. He needs all of us. God needs us to keep supporting each other, to be kind to each other, to love each other... We love this job, we all do. What a blessing it is! It is a difficult, difficult job, but God calls you to do it, and indeed, He gives you a love for it so that a difficult job will be well done. Isn't God wonderful?! Isn't He good to you, to each one of you, and to me? Turn to God each |
<blockquote>You do what God has called you to do. You get on that rig, you go out and do the job. No matter how big the call, no matter how small, you have no idea of what God is calling you to do, but God needs you. He needs me. He needs all of us. God needs us to keep supporting each other, to be kind to each other, to love each other... We love this job, we all do. What a blessing it is! It is a difficult, difficult job, but God calls you to do it, and indeed, He gives you a love for it so that a difficult job will be well done. Isn't God wonderful?! Isn't He good to you, to each one of you, and to me? Turn to God each day—put your faith, your trust, your hope and your life in His hands. He'll take care of you, and you'll have a good life. And this firehouse will be a great blessing to his neighborhood and to this city. Amen.<ref>St. Peter's Church brochure</ref></blockquote> |
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The next day, a portion of |
The next day, a portion of an airplane's landing gear struck and damaged the roof of the St. Peter's Church building during the [[September 11 attacks]].<ref>[http://www.nyc-architecture.com/LM/LM074.htm NYC-Architecture.com]</ref><ref name=amcath>{{cite magazine |last=Wintz |first=Jack |date=September 2003 |url=http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Sep2003/feature2.asp |title=St. Peter's Parish: Death and Resurrection at Ground Zero |accessdate=September 2, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030822163620/http://www.americancatholic.org/Messenger/Sep2003/feature2.asp |archive-date=August 22, 2003 |magazine=[[AmericanCatholic.org|American Catholic]]}}</ref> When debris from the towers killed Fr. Mychal (the first publicly identified casualty of the attacks), surviving firemen brought him from the towers site to St. Peter's and laid his body before the altar.<ref name=amcath /> The parish also served as a staging ground for rescue and recovery operations. "We were the first place they were bringing all the emergency equipment. Everything was in disarray," pastor Father Kevin Madigan stated. "Stuff was piled six feet high all over the pews—-bandages, gas masks, boots, hoses and cans of food for the workers and the volunteers, many of whom were sleeping in the church on bedrolls."<ref name=amcath /> The same also occurred in the downstairs church.<ref name=amcath /> |
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[[File:Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Manhattan, New York Interior.jpg|thumb|right|325px|The interior of the church as it appeared in 1914]] |
[[File:Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Manhattan, New York Interior.jpg|thumb|right|325px|The interior of the church as it appeared in 1914]] |
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Authorities also blocked public access to the parish. The church celebrated Masses occasionally only for the rescue workers and those with credentials to enter. On October 28, 2001, authorities lifted [[martial law]] in the area. "That was when we officially celebrated our first Mass after September 11," says Father Madigan. The parish quickly cut the number of Masses from that before the attacks "because the number of people coming was way down. Many who had been coming to mass at St. Peter's or [[St. Joseph's Chapel (New York City)|St. Joseph's]] from the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]], of course, were not around anymore."<ref name=amcath /> |
Authorities also blocked public access to the parish. The church celebrated Masses occasionally only for the rescue workers and those with credentials to enter. On October 28, 2001, authorities lifted [[martial law]] in the area. "That was when we officially celebrated our first Mass after September 11," says Father Madigan. The parish quickly cut the number of Masses from that before the attacks "because the number of people coming was way down. Many who had been coming to mass at St. Peter's or [[St. Joseph's Chapel (New York City)|St. Joseph's]] from the [[World Trade Center (1973–2001)|World Trade Center]], of course, were not around anymore."<ref name=amcath /> |
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The [[World Trade Center cross]] temporarily sat on the Church Street side of St. Peter's until it was moved to the [[World Trade Center Memorial]].<ref>Konigsberg |
The [[World Trade Center cross]] temporarily sat on the Church Street side of St. Peter's until it was moved to the [[World Trade Center Memorial]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Konigsberg |first=Eric |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/06/nyregion/nyregionspecial3/06cross.html |title=Brief Journey for an Icon of the Attack on New York |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=October 6, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2011/07/22/world-trade-center-cross-moves-to-911-memorial-on-saturday/ |title=World Trade Center Cross Moves To 9/11 Memorial On Saturday |website= CBS New York |date=July 22, 2011 |accessdate=September 12, 2011}}</ref> A new custom cross was commissioned to stand in place, installed on August 11, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |last=Krawczyk |first=Jon |url=http://stpeter9-11cross.blogspot.com/2011/08/home.html#more |title=Home |website=Saint Peter 9-11 Cross official blog |date=August 11, 2011 |accessdate=September 12, 2011}}</ref> |
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===Current status=== |
===Current status=== |
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==Organ== |
==Organ== |
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St. Peter's houses a pipe organ built in 1927 by the George Kilgen & Sons company of St. Louis, Missouri. The instrument was enlarged from 37 to 41 ranks of pipes in 1931 by the Kilgen Company. In 2011, Meloni & Farrier Organbuilders completed a restoration, installing solid state combination action and relocating the console to its present location in the rear balcony.<ref>[http://www.nycago.org/Organs/NYC/html/StPeterRC.html "Church of St. Peter (Roman Catholic)"] New York Chapter American Guild of Organists</ref> As of January |
St. Peter's houses a pipe organ built in 1927 by the George Kilgen & Sons company of St. Louis, Missouri. The instrument was enlarged from 37 to 41 ranks of pipes in 1931 by the Kilgen Company. In 2011, Meloni & Farrier Organbuilders completed a restoration, installing solid state combination action and relocating the console to its present location in the rear balcony.<ref>[http://www.nycago.org/Organs/NYC/html/StPeterRC.html "Church of St. Peter (Roman Catholic)"] New York Chapter American Guild of Organists</ref> As of January 2018, the Director of Music and Organist at Saint Peter's is Marcus Perry Bundy III. |
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==Notable parishioners== |
==Notable parishioners== |
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*[[Pierre Toussaint]], a black [[Haiti]]an born into [[slavery]] |
* [[Pierre Toussaint]], a black [[Haiti]]an born into [[slavery]] who arrived in New York in 1787 and joined the parish. Later known for his piety and generosity to the poor, and currently under consideration for sainthood.<ref>{{ cite news |last=Sontag |first=Deborah |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/02/23/nyregion/canonizing-a-slave-saint-or-uncle-tom.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=Canonizing a Slave: Saint or Uncle Tom? |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 23, 1992}}</ref> |
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* |
* [[Elizabeth Ann Seton]], saint who converted to [[Catholic Church|Catholicism]] at St. Peter's.<ref name=fromatoz /> |
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*[[Billy The Kid]] |
* [[Billy The Kid]], a theory suggests that he was christened "Patrick Henry McCarthy" at the church on September 28, 1859.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Carson |first=William J. |date=May 1969 |title=What was Billy the Kid's real name?|magazine=Real West Magazine}}</ref><ref>Transcript of "Certificate of Baptism", Church of St. Peter, Barclay Street, New York. "This is to certify that Patrick Henry McCarthy, child of Patrick and Catherine Devine, born in NY on the 17 day of September 1859, was baptized on the 28 day of September 1859 according to the rite of the Roman Catholic Church, by the Rev. J. Conron. The sponsors being Thomas Cooney and Mary Clark, as appears from the Baptismal Register of this Church."</ref><ref>An image of the Certificate of Baptism was published in Real West magazine, May 1969 in an article entitled: "What was Billy the Kid's real name?", by William J. Carson. It indicates that the person's name was "Patrick Henry McCarthy", not Henry McCarty.</ref> His parents were married there on June 19, 1851.<ref name="rasch">{{cite magazine |last1 = Rasch |first1 = Philip J. |date = January 1965 |title = Old Problem – New Answers |journal = New Mexico Historical Review |issue = 40 |pages = 66 }}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Commons category|St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, New York City}} |
{{Commons category|St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, New York City}} |
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* {{Official website|https://spcolr.org/}} |
* {{Official website|https://spcolr.org/}} |
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*[http://www.spcolr.org.com Website of St. Peter's Church, Our Lady of the Rosary] |
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{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York}} |
{{Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York}} |
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{{National Register of Historic Places in New York}} |
{{National Register of Historic Places in New York}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church, New York}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Peter's Roman Catholic Church, New York}} |
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[[Category:19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United States]] |
[[Category:19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United States]] |
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[[Category:Financial District, Manhattan]] |
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[[Category:New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan]] |
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[[Category:New York State Register of Historic Places in New York County]] |
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[[Category:Properties of religious function on the National Register of Historic Places in Manhattan]] |
[[Category:Properties of religious function on the National Register of Historic Places in Manhattan]] |
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[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Manhattan]] |
[[Category:Roman Catholic churches in Manhattan]] |
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Latest revision as of 16:47, 16 May 2024
Saint Peter's Church, Our Lady of the Rosary | |
Location | 22 Barclay Street, Manhattan, New York City |
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Coordinates | 40°42′45″N 74°00′34″W / 40.712488°N 74.009501°W |
Built | 1785 (original) 1836–1840 (current structure)[1] |
Architect | John R. Haggerty and Thomas Thomas |
Architectural style | Greek Revival |
Website | St Peter's Church, Our Lady of the Rosary |
NRHP reference No. | 80002721 |
NYSRHP No. | 06101.000084 |
Significant dates | |
Added to NRHP | April 23, 1980 |
Designated NYSRHP | June 23, 1980 |
Designated NYCL | December 21, 1965 |
Saint Peter's Church/Our Lady of the Rosary is a Catholic church in the Financial District of Manhattan, New York City. The current building was constructed from 1836 to 1840 and was designed by John R. Haggerty and Thomas Thomas in the Greek Revival style, with six Ionic columns.[2] The church opened February 25, 1838 with Archbishop John Hughes officiating.[3]
The parish, part of the Archdiocese of New York, is the oldest Catholic parish in New York State, and the building replaced an earlier one built in 1785–86.[4] The original church was used for worship until 1834 when it was replaced by the present structure.
The church was designated a New York City landmark in 1965[5] and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The present church has been declared a landmark by federal, state and city agencies.
History
[edit]Early history
[edit]Shortly before, and during the Revolution, Father Ferdinand Steinmeyer, a German Jesuit missionary from Philadelphia, would periodically visit the few scattered Catholics in New York City. Gathering them together, he said Mass in the house of a German fellow-countryman in Wall Street, in a loft in Water Street, and wherever else they could find accommodation.[6]
The merchant and recent New York arrival Dominick Lynch was one of the chief fundraisers for the new church, donating his own money as well as raising funds from his native Galway.[7] A gift of 1,000 silver pieces from King Charles III of Spain through the prominent figures of the Spanish Diego de Gardoqui and D. Francisco de Murillo i Martinez, Count of El Ojuelo, topped off donations to start the construction of the church.[8] Catholics constructing the original church initially tried to locate it on Broad Street, then in the heart of New York City. Due to anti-Catholic sentiments, however, New York City officials implored them to change the location to a site at Barclay and Church Streets, then outside the city limits. The builders relented and accepted the present location. The cornerstone of the original church was laid in 1785 and the first Mass celebrated in 1786.
Mexican artist Jose Vallejo painted an icon of the Crucifixion[9] and Nunez de Haro, archbishop of Mexico City, gave it to St. Peter parish in 1789; it hung above the main altar.[10] Father William O'Brien, the first pastor, is remembered for his tireless service to the citizens of New York during the yellow fever epidemics of 1795 and 1798. In 1800 the first free Catholic school in New York State was established at St. Peter's.[11] On March 14, 1805, at St. Peter's Church, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton converted from the Episcopal Church to Catholicism. Thereafter, she often prayed before the painting of the Crucifixion above the main altar. The Catholic Church later canonized her, the first native-born United States citizen so honored.
On December 24, 1806, parishioners celebrated the Christmas Eve vigil inside the church building. This Catholic celebration still infuriated some Protestants who viewed it as an exercise in "popish superstition". Protesters tried to disrupt the Mass, and the ensuing melee injured dozens, with one policeman killed.[12]
In October 1836, the cornerstone for a larger St. Peter's Church was laid, and by February 1838 the current structure was built. In addition to Roman Catholic services, from 1899 to 1916 St. Peter's also hosted services in the lower church for Byzantine-rite Syrian and Lebanese Catholics, who during that period did not have their own church.[11] St. Peter's Church is the first place Fr. Edward Frederick Sorin, founder of the University of Notre Dame, celebrated Mass upon his arrival in America in 1842.
September 11, 2001, attacks
[edit]On September 10, 2001, Father Mychal Judge OFM, chaplain for the New York City Fire Department, gave the following sermon at a Mass for New York City firefighters at Engine 73, Ladder 42, in the Bronx:
You do what God has called you to do. You get on that rig, you go out and do the job. No matter how big the call, no matter how small, you have no idea of what God is calling you to do, but God needs you. He needs me. He needs all of us. God needs us to keep supporting each other, to be kind to each other, to love each other... We love this job, we all do. What a blessing it is! It is a difficult, difficult job, but God calls you to do it, and indeed, He gives you a love for it so that a difficult job will be well done. Isn't God wonderful?! Isn't He good to you, to each one of you, and to me? Turn to God each day—put your faith, your trust, your hope and your life in His hands. He'll take care of you, and you'll have a good life. And this firehouse will be a great blessing to his neighborhood and to this city. Amen.[13]
The next day, a portion of an airplane's landing gear struck and damaged the roof of the St. Peter's Church building during the September 11 attacks.[14][15] When debris from the towers killed Fr. Mychal (the first publicly identified casualty of the attacks), surviving firemen brought him from the towers site to St. Peter's and laid his body before the altar.[15] The parish also served as a staging ground for rescue and recovery operations. "We were the first place they were bringing all the emergency equipment. Everything was in disarray," pastor Father Kevin Madigan stated. "Stuff was piled six feet high all over the pews—-bandages, gas masks, boots, hoses and cans of food for the workers and the volunteers, many of whom were sleeping in the church on bedrolls."[15] The same also occurred in the downstairs church.[15]
Authorities also blocked public access to the parish. The church celebrated Masses occasionally only for the rescue workers and those with credentials to enter. On October 28, 2001, authorities lifted martial law in the area. "That was when we officially celebrated our first Mass after September 11," says Father Madigan. The parish quickly cut the number of Masses from that before the attacks "because the number of people coming was way down. Many who had been coming to mass at St. Peter's or St. Joseph's from the World Trade Center, of course, were not around anymore."[15]
The World Trade Center cross temporarily sat on the Church Street side of St. Peter's until it was moved to the World Trade Center Memorial.[16][17] A new custom cross was commissioned to stand in place, installed on August 11, 2011.[18]
Current status
[edit]In August 2015 the St. Peter's parish merged with Our Lady of the Rosary on State Street. St. Peter's is the designated parish church, although Mass and the Sacraments will continue to be celebrated at Our Lady of the Rosary.[19]
Organ
[edit]St. Peter's houses a pipe organ built in 1927 by the George Kilgen & Sons company of St. Louis, Missouri. The instrument was enlarged from 37 to 41 ranks of pipes in 1931 by the Kilgen Company. In 2011, Meloni & Farrier Organbuilders completed a restoration, installing solid state combination action and relocating the console to its present location in the rear balcony.[20] As of January 2018, the Director of Music and Organist at Saint Peter's is Marcus Perry Bundy III.
Notable parishioners
[edit]- Pierre Toussaint, a black Haitian born into slavery who arrived in New York in 1787 and joined the parish. Later known for his piety and generosity to the poor, and currently under consideration for sainthood.[21]
- Elizabeth Ann Seton, saint who converted to Catholicism at St. Peter's.[4]
- Billy The Kid, a theory suggests that he was christened "Patrick Henry McCarthy" at the church on September 28, 1859.[22][23][24] His parents were married there on June 19, 1851.[25]
References
[edit]Notes
- ^ White, Norval & Willensky, Elliot (2000). AIA Guide to New York City (4th ed.). New York: Three Rivers Press. ISBN 978-0-8129-3107-5., p. 67
- ^ "St. Peter's Church – Barclay Street" on Daytonian in Manhattan (July 2, 2010)
- ^ "The Albion (New York February 24, 1838), p. 63".
- ^ a b Dunlap, David W. (2004). From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-12543-7., p.242
- ^ New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission; Dolkart, Andrew S.; Postal, Matthew A. (2009). Postal, Matthew A. (ed.). Guide to New York City Landmarks (4th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-28963-1., p.25
- ^ Mooney, Joseph. "Archdiocese of New York." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 11. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. June 11, 2020 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ Clarke, Richard H. (1888). "Dominick Lynch". The American Catholic Historical Researches. pp. 73–78. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
- ^ National Catholic Register: "9/11's Church: St. Peter Catholic Church Has Witnessed Pivotal Points of U.S. History" September 2, 2011
- ^ "Spain Supports the American Revolution & New York Welcomes the Spanish"
- ^ "St Peters Church" on the Kel-Mar Designs website
- ^ a b "History", St. Peter's Church
- ^ Vitello, Paul (October 8, 2010). "In Fierce Opposition to a Muslim Center, Echoes of an Old Fight: First Catholic Church in the City Stirred Fear and Suspicion, in 1785". The New York Times. p. A19. Retrieved October 12, 2010.
- ^ St. Peter's Church brochure
- ^ NYC-Architecture.com
- ^ a b c d e Wintz, Jack (September 2003). "St. Peter's Parish: Death and Resurrection at Ground Zero". American Catholic. Archived from the original on August 22, 2003. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
- ^ Konigsberg, Eric (October 6, 2006). "Brief Journey for an Icon of the Attack on New York". The New York Times.
- ^ "World Trade Center Cross Moves To 9/11 Memorial On Saturday". CBS New York. July 22, 2011. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ^ Krawczyk, Jon (August 11, 2011). "Home". Saint Peter 9-11 Cross official blog. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
- ^ "Making all things new", November 2, 2014
- ^ "Church of St. Peter (Roman Catholic)" New York Chapter American Guild of Organists
- ^ Sontag, Deborah (February 23, 1992). "Canonizing a Slave: Saint or Uncle Tom?". The New York Times.
- ^ Carson, William J. (May 1969). "What was Billy the Kid's real name?". Real West Magazine.
- ^ Transcript of "Certificate of Baptism", Church of St. Peter, Barclay Street, New York. "This is to certify that Patrick Henry McCarthy, child of Patrick and Catherine Devine, born in NY on the 17 day of September 1859, was baptized on the 28 day of September 1859 according to the rite of the Roman Catholic Church, by the Rev. J. Conron. The sponsors being Thomas Cooney and Mary Clark, as appears from the Baptismal Register of this Church."
- ^ An image of the Certificate of Baptism was published in Real West magazine, May 1969 in an article entitled: "What was Billy the Kid's real name?", by William J. Carson. It indicates that the person's name was "Patrick Henry McCarthy", not Henry McCarty.
- ^ Rasch, Philip J. (January 1965). "Old Problem – New Answers". New Mexico Historical Review. No. 40. p. 66.
External links
[edit]- 19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United States
- Churches on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)
- Financial District, Manhattan
- New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan
- New York State Register of Historic Places in New York County
- Properties of religious function on the National Register of Historic Places in Manhattan
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
- Roman Catholic churches completed in 1840
- Roman Catholic churches in Manhattan