St. James Roman Catholic Church (Manhattan) facts for kids
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St. James' Roman Catholic Church
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(2007)
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 Location in Lower Manhattan
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| Location | 32 James Street Manhattan, New York City |
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| Built | 1835–1837 |
| Architect | attributed to Minard Lafever |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 72000884 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1972 |
St. James' Roman Catholic Church is a historic church located at 32 James Street in the Two Bridges neighborhood of Lower Manhattan, New York City. It is the second oldest Roman Catholic building in the city. The church was built between 1835 and 1837 using fieldstone. It features a classic Greek Revival style with two large Doric columns at its entrance. While some believe the famous architect Minard Lefever designed it, there is no strong proof. The building once had a dome-shaped tower on top.
Contents
History of the Church
How the Church Started
The St. James' parish was created by Bishop John Dubois. He wanted to help with the large number of people attending St. Peter's on Barclay Street. Bishop Dubois bought an old church building and asked Father Félix Varela to start a new group there. Father Varela also opened a free school for children.
In 1833, the original church building became unsafe because of nearby digging. While a new church was being built on James Street, the group met in a rented space. However, some members found this new location too far away. They decided to buy a different church building, which later became the Church of the Transfiguration. Father Varela became its first leader.
Early Days and Challenges
The very first Mass (a church service) at the new James Street church was held in its basement on September 18, 1836. The church was officially opened in January 1837 by Bishop Dubois. Andrew Byrne was chosen as the first rector, or head priest.
Later, in 1848, one of the priests, Father John N. Smith, became sick with "ship fever" and passed away. He had caught the illness while helping sick immigrants who had just arrived in the city.
Famous Connections and Saving the Church
A well-known politician named Alfred E. Smith used to be an altar boy at St. James' Church. He also attended its parochial school, the former St. James Elementary School, which was located right across the street.
In 1983, New York City officials ordered the church to close because its roof was in danger of falling down. The church was even scheduled to be torn down in 1986. But the community worked hard to save it! Groups like the Ancient Order of Hibernians helped a lot. The first branch of this organization was actually started at St. James' Church in 1836.
The church faced another challenge on January 11, 2011, when it was badly damaged in a fire. Over the years, St. James Parish has joined with other nearby churches. In 2007, it merged with the Parish of St. Joseph. Then, in 2015, the combined Parish of St. Joseph/St. James merged again with the Church of the Transfiguration.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santiago (Nueva York) para niños
