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 its rectory are important buildings in downtown Rochester, New York. This church has a long history. It was started in 1834. It was the second Roman Catholic church in Rochester. The first one was St. Patrick's Parish.
Contents
History of St. Mary's Church
Building the Church
The first stone of the church was blessed on September 18, 1853. This was done by John Timon, who was the Bishop of Buffalo. The Diocese of Rochester was not created until 1868.
The church building was officially opened on October 24, 1858. Bishop Timon also led this ceremony. We do not know who designed the church. However, it looks like it was influenced by famous church designers. One of these was Richard Upjohn.
A Famous Wedding
St. Mary's Church was the place for a special wedding. On August 31, 1873, two famous people got married here. They were Giuseppina Morlacchi and Texas Jack Omohundro. Giuseppina was a well-known actress and ballerina. Texas Jack was a cowboy scout and actor.
The Rectory and Spire
A new brick rectory was built in 1905. A rectory is a house where the church's priests live. This new building replaced an older one.
Later, a tall spire and a belfry were added to the church. A belfry is the part of a tower where bells are kept. These additions were designed by Richard B. Arnold. They were built between 1939 and 1940.
In 1939, a special 10-note chime system was put in the tower. It was ready to play music for Christmas that year. The church might have wanted to add the spire earlier. But they may have faced money problems.
The original cross on top of the spire fell down in 2017. A strong windstorm caused it to fall. The copper on the cross had turned green over time. A new, shiny gold cross was put in its place in June 2018.
Historic Landmark Status
Both the church and the rectory are very important buildings. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 12, 1992. This means they are recognized for their historical value.
