St. Mary's Church (Rochester, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church and Rectory
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The church building (the rectory is hidden behind)
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 15 St. Mary's Pl., Rochester, New York |
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| Built | 1855 |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival |
| MPS | Inner Loop MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000154 |
| Added to NRHP | March 12, 1992 |
St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church and Rectory are important historic buildings in downtown Rochester, New York. St. Mary's Parish was started in 1834. It was Rochester's second Roman Catholic church community, after St. Patrick's Parish.
Contents
Building a Historic Church
The first stone for St. Mary's Church was blessed on September 18, 1853. This special event was led by John Timon, who was the Bishop of Buffalo at the time. The Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester was not created until 1868. The church building was officially opened on October 24, 1858, with Bishop Timon leading the ceremony. We don't know who the exact architect was for the church. However, its design shows influences from famous church architects like Richard Upjohn.
A Place for Special Events
St. Mary's Church has been the site of many important moments. For example, a famous actress and ballerina named Giuseppina Morlacchi got married there. She married a well-known cowboy scout and actor, Texas Jack Omohundro, on August 31, 1873.
The Rectory Building
A rectory is a house where the priests of a church live. A new brick rectory was built next to St. Mary's Church in 1905. This new building replaced an older rectory that was there before.
Adding the Spire and Bells
Later, in 1939 and 1940, a tall spire and a belfry (bell tower) were added to the church. These new parts were designed by an architect named Richard B. Arnold. A special set of 10 musical chimes, called a Deagan tower chime, was put in place. These chimes were ready to be played for Christmas in 1939. It's thought that the church might have originally planned to have a spire on its north tower. However, money problems might have stopped them from adding it sooner.
The Church Cross
The original cross on top of the spire was made of copper. Over time, the copper turned green. In 2017, a strong windstorm blew the cross down. A new, shiny gold cross was put in its place in June 2018.
A Recognized Landmark
Both St. Mary's Church and its rectory are considered very important historic places. They were officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 12, 1992. This means they are recognized for their historical and architectural value.
