St. Joseph of the Holy Family Church (New York City) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St. Joseph of the Holy Family
(2013)
General information
Architectural style	Romanesque Revival
Town or city	New York City
Country	United States of America
Construction started	1859
Completed	1860 1871 (enlarged); 1889 (altered)
Client	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
Technical details
Structural system	Red brick masonry
Design and construction
Architect	Herter Brothers (1889 alteration)

The Church of St. Joseph of the Holy Family is a special church in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. It's known as a Black Catholic church and is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. This church is very old! It's the oldest church still standing in Harlem and also the oldest church north of 44th Street in Manhattan. Because of its history, it was named a New York City Landmark on June 28, 2016.

A Historic Church in Harlem

The Church of St. Joseph of the Holy Family is located at 401 West 125th Street at Morningside Avenue. It has been a part of the Harlem community for a very long time. It's an important landmark because it shows how the neighborhood has grown and changed over the years.

The Church's Beginnings

The church community, also called a parish, was started around 1859 or 1860. It was first created for German Catholic families living in the area. The first priest to serve these German-speaking Catholics was Rev. D. F. Hartmann in 1859. At first, services were held in a chapel at the Academy of the Sacred Heart.

Even though the church building has stayed in the same spot, its address has changed a few times because street names in Harlem were updated. For example, in 1892, its address was listed as 125th Street and 9th Avenue.

Helping the Community

Today, the church continues to serve the community in many ways. It runs a weekly food pantry, which provides food to people who need it. It also has a clothing bank, where people can get clothes. This shows how the church helps its neighbors and supports the community.

The Church's Unique Look

The Church of St. Joseph of the Holy Family was built before the American Civil War. It was finished and officially opened in 1860. The church is made of red brick and is built in a style called Romanesque Revival.

A Special Design

The city's Landmarks Preservation Commission describes the church as an example of Rundbogenstil design. This German style means "round arch style." It's not just a copy of old Romanesque buildings. Instead, it's a new design that takes simple ideas from Romanesque architecture. This style fit well with the German heritage of the first church members. It also matched the rural, countryside feel of the area when it was first built.

The church has a single bell tower and windows with rounded arches. It was made bigger in 1871. Later, in 1889, it was changed by the Herter Brothers. During these changes, a special space was added above the entrance for a statue of St. Joseph holding a baby.

A School Connected to the Church

The church used to have its own school and a convent, which is where nuns live. These buildings were located right behind the church, in what used to be the Manhattanville Presbyterian Church. That building was built in the Greek Revival style.

Unfortunately, the parish school was one of 27 schools in the Archdiocese of New York that closed on January 11, 2011.