Church of St. Anselm and St. Roch (Bronx) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Church of St. Anselm |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Byzantine Revival style, Romanesque Revival |
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St. Anselm's Roman Catholic Church and School
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 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 683 Tinton Ave., Bronx, New York |
| Area | 1.51 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1892, 1908, 1917, 1956 |
| Architect | Steinback, Gustave E., Kirby, John E. |
| Architectural style | Byzantine Revival, Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 13001151 |
| Added to NRHP | February 5, 2014 |
| Town or city | Mott Haven, Bronx, New York City |
| Country | United States |
| Completed | 1918 |
| Client | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Anton Koster (according to the AIA Guide to NYC 2010) Gustave E. Steinback (according to the AIA Guide to NYC 1978 and Steinback himself) |
The Church of St. Anselm and St. Roch is a Catholic church in the Bronx, New York City. It is located in the Mott Haven neighborhood. The church was started in 1891. Today, it is run by the Order of Augustinian Recollects. Before them, Benedictine monks managed the church.
Contents
The Church Building
The current church building was finished in 1918. It was built in the Byzantine Revival style. This style looks like old buildings from the Byzantine Empire. The church's design was inspired by the famous Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey.
The church is a two-story brick building. It has a large dome on top. Many smaller domes surround the main one. The design is often credited to Gustave Steinback or Anton Kloster. It is possible that Kloster worked with Steinback.
Inside the church, you can see Romanesque-style marble columns. These columns support the ceiling. The walls are decorated with beautiful geometric mosaics. An art expert, Annie Labatt, thinks the apse (the rounded part at the end of the church) looks like the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran in Rome.
Next to the church is a four-story brick school building. It has special terra cotta decorations. The school is built in the Classical Revival style. Both the church and the school became part of the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. This means they are important historical buildings.
The Parish Community
The St. Anselm parish was started in July 1891. It was created to serve the German Catholic people in the area. Benedictine monks were first in charge of the parish. The first pastor was Abbot Alexius Edelbrock.
The original church building was opened in 1893. In 1908, a brick school was built. Classes started there in 1909. Dominican Sisters of Blauvelt taught at the school. A playground was added in 1912. This was likely the first playground at a Catholic school in New York.
The monks at St. Anselm's did more than just parish work. They also helped at other places. They served as chaplains for a monastery and a children's home. They also oversaw their order's mission in the Bahamas. In the early 1900s, the parish even had a Fife and Drum Corps.
Later, the Augustinian Recollects took over the parish. Over time, the community changed. Many people with Spanish and Latin American backgrounds joined the church.
Pastors of St. Anselm
- Alexius Edelbrock O.S.B., 1891 - 1907
- Bernard Kevenhorster O.S.B. (prior), 1907 -
- Fr Andres Alava, O.A.R., 1985 to 1992 (administrator)
- Fr. Antonio Palacios O.A.R, 2003-2016 (Pastor)
- Fr. Enrique Salvo, 2016-2021
- Fr. Micheal Eguino, 2022-Present
Church of St. Roch
The Church of St. Roch was founded in 1899. It was created for Italian Catholics. The first pastor was Rev. John Milo. The first church building was on 150th Street. A larger church was built later on Wales Avenue. This new church was designed by Anthony J. DePace. It was dedicated in 1932.
For many years, the parish performed a special play about the Passion of Christ. Over time, the community changed. Many immigrants from Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, and Mexico joined the church. In 1974, the Augustinian Recollects took over the church.
From 1985 to 1992, St. Roch's became a mission parish of St. Anselm's. This happened because fewer people were attending. Both churches were cared for by the Recollects.
In 2015, the parish of St. Roch joined with St. Anselm's. The St. Roch's church building was officially closed for worship in November 2017.
Pastors of St. Roch
- Fr John Milo, 1899
- Msgr. Ignatius Cirelli
- Fr George A. Giammarino, 1968-1974
- Fr Gregorio Garcia, O.A.R., 1974 to 1976
- Fr Angelsan Ufrasio, O.A.R., 1976 to 1979
- Fr Patrick O'Hagan, O.A.R., 1979 to 1985
- Fr Andres Alava, O.A.R., 1985 to 1992 (administrator)
- Fr Ignacio Basterra, O.A.R., 1992 to 1995
- Fr Francisco Oviedo, O.A.R., 1995
