St. Cecilia Church and Convent (New York City) facts for kids
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St. Cecilia Church
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(2009)
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 Location in Manhattan
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| Location | 112-120 E. 106th St., Manhattan, New York City |
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| Built | 1883-1887 (for church); |
| Architect | Napoleon LeBrun & Sons (for church); Neville & Basse; Thomas J. Duff of 348 West 14th Street (for 1927 dwelling) |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84002796 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 2, 1984 |
St. Cecilia Church is a historic Roman Catholic church in New York City. It is located in Manhattan on East 106th Street. The church is an important landmark in the city.
The church started as a parish in 1873. A parish is a local church community. From 1939 to 2007, a group called the Redemptorist Fathers helped run the church. St. Cecilia Church became a New York City landmark in 1976. Later, in 1984, the church and its nearby convent were added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important historical places across the country.
Contents
Discovering St. Cecilia's History
How the Parish Began
St. Cecilia's parish grew from a part of St. Paul's. It was first created for people of Irish heritage. In the summer of 1873, Father Hugh Flattery started a small chapel. This chapel was in an old hotel called the Old Red House.
Soon after, a small wooden church was built. It was officially opened on August 20, 1873.
Building the Main Church
In 1881, Monsignor William P. Flannelly took over. He bought land on 106th Street. He then began building the larger church we see today. The first stone was laid on September 9, 1883.
Church services were held in the completed basement. The old wooden church was given to another parish. It was moved to East 119th Street. The new, main church was officially opened on November 27, 1887. Archbishop Michael Corrigan led the dedication.
Community and Education
Rev. Michael J. Phelan became the pastor in 1884. He finished building the church. He also built the parish school, called St. Cecilia's Institute. Nuns from the Sisters of Mercy taught at the school. They also ran a home for women who worked.
The home for working women closed in the late 1930s. The nuns then used the whole building. In 1956, another group of nuns, the Sisters of the Atonement, opened a kindergarten and day care there.
Reaching Out to the Community
In 2018, the church held a "Street Mass." This special outdoor service helped people who could not easily get to church. It also welcomed those who had stopped attending. This way, more people in the neighborhood could join.
Exploring St. Cecilia's Architecture
Church Design and Features
St. Cecilia Church was built using brick and terra cotta. Construction started in 1883. The church was designed by Napoleon LeBrun & Sons. It was completed in 1887. The style is called Romanesque Revival. This style looks back to old Roman buildings.
Father Phelan managed the building work himself. The front of the church has a porch. Ten red granite columns hold up this porch. Above the porch are seven beautiful stained glass windows.
A large terra cotta artwork is in the center of the building. It shows St. Cecilia playing an organ. Two octagon-shaped towers stand on each side of the front. Experts describe the church as a "special treasure" in East Harlem. They note its "exuberance," meaning it looks very lively and detailed.
Neighboring Buildings
Next to the church is a building called "Regina Angelorum." It was built in 1907. This building combines two older structures. One was a home for working women from 1883. The other was a convent from 1885.
By the late 1930s, the convent used the entire building. In 2004, the building changed again. It became the Cristo Rey New York High School.
In 1927, the church added a four-story brick house. This building was designed by Thomas J. Duff. It cost $60,000 to build.
The church was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
See also
- Saint Cecilia's Catholic Church (Brooklyn)
