Church of St. Ignatius Loyola (New York City) facts for kids
|
Church of St. Ignatius Loyola
|
|
St. Ignatius Loyola complex, April 2021
|
|
 Location in New York City
Location in New York
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 980 Park Avenue, New York City, New York |
|---|---|
| Area | 3.5 acres (1.4 ha) |
| Built | 1895-1900 |
| Architect | Schickel & Ditmars |
| Architectural style | German Baroque; Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002679 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1980 |
The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola is a beautiful Catholic church in New York City. It is located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. This church is run by the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits.
The church started in 1851. Back then, it was called St. Lawrence O'Toole's Church. Later, in 1898, its name was changed to honor St. Ignatius of Loyola. He was the founder of the Jesuit order. The church is at 980 Park Avenue. It is part of a larger group of buildings. This group includes a hall, the rectory (where priests live), and two schools. These schools are St. Ignatius's School and Loyola School. Another Jesuit high school, Regis High School, is also nearby. The church became a special historic place in 1980. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History of St. Ignatius Church
The church parish began in 1851. It was built where the old St. Lawrence O'Toole Church stood. That first church was named after a bishop of Dublin. The first priest, Father Eugene O'Reilly, was from Ireland.
In 1886, the Jesuits took over the parish. This was their first big project in the Yorkville area of New York. The current grand church building shows how important the Catholic community was becoming. This was happening on New York's Upper East Side around 1900. Father Neil McKinnon, S.J., was the pastor from 1893 to 1907. He helped make the new church possible.
The church was named a New York City Landmark in 1969. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The church was also used for filming a scene in the TV show Succession in 2023.
Famous Funerals Held Here
Many well-known people have had their funerals at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola.
- Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, former First Lady – May 1994
- Aaliyah, singer and actress – August 2001
- Patricia Kennedy Lawford – September 2006
- Lena Horne, singer and actress – May 2010
- Philip Seymour Hoffman, actor – February 2014
- Oscar de la Renta, fashion designer – November 2014
- Mario Cuomo, former governor of New York – January 2015
- Ann Mara, co-owner of the N.Y. Giants Football Team – February 2015
- David Carr, N.Y. Times columnist – February 2015
Church Architecture and Design
Building the Church
The first church here was made of wood in 1852. It was replaced by a brick building in 1853. The current church's foundation was built between 1884 and 1886. It was originally for a different Gothic style design.
The Jesuits took charge of the parish in 1886. The church you see today was built from 1895 to 1900. It was designed by architect J. William Schickel. The church was officially opened on December 11, 1898.
Outside the Church
The church's outside has a classic, balanced look. It features a large arched window and three main sections. These sections suggest the main aisle and side aisles inside. The front of St. Ignatius is not flat. The middle part sticks out a little. This creates a subtle wavy look. It reminds people of Il Gesù, the main Jesuit church in Rome.
The original plans for the church front were grander. They included two tall towers, 210 feet high. But these towers were never built. You can still see the copper-capped bases where they would have stood.
Right below the main triangular part (called a pediment) is the Jesuit motto. It says "Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam". This means "To the Greater Glory of God". You can also see the Jesuit symbol. It has a cross, three nails, and the letters I H S. These letters are the first three letters of Jesus' name in Greek. Together, they show everyone that St. Ignatius is a Jesuit church.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church is made with many kinds of marble. These marbles come from America, Europe, and Africa. You can see pink, red, yellow, and white marbles. Much of this detailed marble work was done by James G. Batterson Jr. and John Eisele.
The beautiful Stations of the Cross are made of marble mosaic. They were designed by Professor Paoletti. They were even shown in Italy before being put in the church.
The large bronze doors at the front of the side aisles are also special. They were designed by Father Patrick O'Gorman, S.J. He was the pastor from 1924 to 1929. The Long Island Bronze Company made these doors.
Statues of Jesuit saints are also inside. These include St. Francis Xavier and St. John Francis Regis. They were carved from Carrara marble by the Joseph Sibbel Studio.
The church has a very famous organ. It was built in 1993 by Noel Mander from England. This organ is the largest of its kind in New York City. It is also the largest mechanical action pipe organ ever built in the British Isles.
The Baptistery
The Baptistery is a special area for baptisms. It has a curved iron screen with flaming swords. This screen was designed by J. William Schickel. The baptismal font is made of Carrara marble. The floor has a beautiful marble design. This design was made by Heaton, Butler & Bayne of London.
The altar and curved walls in the Baptistery are made of Pavonazzo marble. They have mosaics inlaid in them. These mosaics were designed by Caryl Coleman. They are made from special Favrile glass. This glass is known for its beautiful colors. Tiffany also created the curved ceiling of the Baptistery.
Leaders of the Church
The Church of St. Ignatius Loyola has had many leaders, called rectors, over the years.
- 1. Rev. Eugene O'Reilly, 1851-1852
- 2. Rev. Thomas Ouellet, S.J., 1852-
- 3. Rev. Walter J. Quarter, –1866
- ...
- 34. George M. Witt, S.J., 2008-2015
- 35. Thomas H. Feely, S.J., 2015–2016
- 36. Dennis J. Yesalonia, S.J., 2016–Present
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Ignacio de Loyola (Nueva York) para niños
