Church of St. Vincent Ferrer (Manhattan) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Church of St. Vincent Ferrer
2009
Location	869 Lexington Avenue Manhattan, NY
Country	United States
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Religious order	Dominican Order
History
Status	Parish church
Founded	1867 (chapel)
Dedicated	May 5, 1918 (church)
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	J. William Schickel, Bertram Goodhue
Style	Late Gothic Revival (with Romanesque influences)
Years built	1914-18
Construction cost	$1.5 million
Specifications
Materials	Limestone
Administration
Parish	St. Vincent Ferrer and St. Catherine of Siena
Deanery	South Manhattan
Archdiocese	New York

The Church of St. Vincent Ferrer is a Catholic church located in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, New York City. It was built in 1918 by the Dominicans, a group of priests. The building next to it, called a priory, is the main office for the Dominicans in the Eastern United States.

This church has some special features. For example, above the main entrance, there is a statue of the Crucifixion. This is rare for a Catholic church in America. Inside, the Stations of the Cross are shown with oil paintings instead of statues. The church also has two large pipe organs. Many people call the church building "one of New York's greatest architectural adornments."

The church is named after Saint Vincent Ferrer, a Dominican preacher from Valencia, Spain. It became a special New York City designated landmark in 1967. Later, in 1984, the church and its priory were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.

St. Vincent Ferrer High School for girls is located on the church grounds. Dominican Sisters manage the school. Members of the church also help the community. They work at local shelters and food pantries. They also support efforts to create affordable housing in Manhattan.

Exploring the Church Grounds
A Look Back: Church History
Programs and Community Services
Famous Connections
Images for kids
See also

Exploring the Church Grounds

The Church of St. Vincent Ferrer is a group of four buildings. They are all on the same city block. This block is between East 65th and 66th Streets. The church, priory, Holy Name Society building, and the high school are all connected. They look similar in style. However, only the church and priory are considered historic.

Church Design and Details

The church building is shaped like a cross. It is made of limestone on three sides. The back of the church, which is hard to see, is made of brick. The front of the church faces Lexington Avenue. It has a tall tower with two smaller towers on the sides. There is a large rose window in the middle of the tower. Below the window is a big arched entrance. A carving of the Crucifixion sits above this entrance. The sides of the church have strong supports called buttresses. These help hold up the steep copper roof.

Inside, the main area, called the nave, is also made of limestone. All the side windows have beautiful stained glass. The seats and choir stalls are made of fancy carved wood. The altar is decorated with a carved stone screen called a reredos. At the back, there is an oak pulpit with medieval Gothic carvings. The Stations of the Cross are shown as oil paintings. Two large pipe organs fill the church with music. The church also has two special items called relics of St. Vincent Ferrer. It also has a rare hanging pyx, which is a container for the Eucharist.

The Priory Building

The priory is a five-story brick building. It has a brownstone base. The outside walls are decorated with alternating stone and brick patterns. It has arched windows and stone bands. The roof has stone and brick decorations. A tall brownstone staircase leads to the main entrance. The mix of brick, stone, and slate tiles gives the building many colors.

Other Buildings

The Holy Name Society building and the school are also made of brick and stone. Their designs match the church and priory. They have similar buttresses and decorative patterns. These buildings were built later, in 1930 and 1948. Because of this, they are not yet part of the National Register listing.

A Look Back: Church History

The Priory building on the south side

Early Years: 19th Century

In the 1860s, a Dominican priest named Father Thomas Martin came to New York. He and other Dominicans became very popular. The archbishop of New York asked them to start a church in the Upper East Side. Father Martin and the priests bought land and began building a small chapel. The first Mass was held there on July 2, 1867.

By 1879, the church was expanded. A second church building was dedicated on December 12. The first Mass in this new church was on September 8, 1879. At the same time, the Dominicans decided to build a priory next to the church. This priory would be their main office. They hired J. William Schickel, an architect from Germany. The priory's colorful design showed his training. In 1884, the first school building was also built.

Building the Current Church: 20th Century

The second church building was used until 1914. Then, it was taken down to build the church we see today. The new church was designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue. He thought St. Vincent Ferrer was his best Gothic work. He designed it in the style of 14th-century French Gothic churches.

The carving of the Cross above the entrance was special. It was one of the first times this was done on an American Catholic church. Inside, special tiles were used to make the sound clear. The stained glass windows were placed to make the colors look beautiful together. Also, because the Dominicans came from Spain, the Stations of the Cross were painted. These oil paintings show Christ in different styles from various countries and times.

The church was planned to have a very tall spire. However, this was not possible due to a stream under the site and nearby subway tunnels. The current church was finished on October 22, 1916. It cost $1.5 million. Over 50,000 people attended its dedication on May 5, 1918.

In 1930, the Holy Name Society building was added. A beautiful oak pulpit was also installed inside the church. In 1948, a new school building was built over the old one. Its design matched the older church buildings.

Recent Times: 20th and 21st Centuries

In the 1960s and 1970s, the famous artist Andy Warhol often attended Mass at St. Vincent Ferrer. He lived nearby and would sit quietly in the back.

Later in the 20th century, donations helped the church buy one of its new pipe organs. In the early 2000s, the church raised money to install new heating and cooling systems. They also restored the outside of the building. This restoration was finished in 2009.

In 2015, the Church of St. Vincent Ferrer merged with St. Catherine of Siena Church. Both churches remain open today.

Programs and Community Services

The church holds Mass three times a day and four times on Sundays. Special services are held on Saturday nights and before Holy Days. The Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) is offered every evening except Sunday. The Dominican friars also observe the Liturgy of the Hours daily, which is open to the public.

Outside the church, the Social Concerns Committee helps with charity work. Members host parties and bingo games at a local women's shelter. They also help at the Yorkville Common Pantry. They assist a nearby church in feeding people experiencing homelessness. The church also works with other groups to support affordable housing in Manhattan.

Famous Connections

The artist Andy Warhol regularly attended Mass at the church.
In 2000, Prince Maximilian of Liechtenstein and Angela Brown were married at the church.
Several important funeral masses have taken place here. These include:
- Dorothy Kilgallen's funeral in 1965.
- Politician Geraldine Ferraro's funeral in 2011. She and her husband were married at the church in 1960.
- Businesswoman Ivana Trump's funeral in 2022.