St. Paul the Apostle Church (Manhattan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Paul the Apostle Church |
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October 2014
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 Saint Paul the Apostle Church
Location in New York City
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| 40°46′11″N 73°59′7″W / 40.76972°N 73.98528°W | |
| Location | 8-10 Columbus Avenue Manhattan, New York City), New York |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Religious order | Paulist Fathers |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church Mother church of the Paulist Fathers |
| Founded | 1858 (parish) 1859 (original church & rectory) 1876 (current church) |
| Dedicated | January 25, 1885 |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | NRHP NYC Landmark |
| Years built | 1876–1884 |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | New York |
The Church of St. Paul the Apostle is a Catholic church located in New York City. You can find it on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It is very important because it is the main church for the Paulist Fathers. This was the first group of Catholic priests founded in the United States.
Contents
History and Design of the Church
The church community started in 1858. Their first church was a simple brick building. However, it quickly became too small for everyone.
Building the New Church
A new, larger church was built between 1876 and 1884. It was designed in a style called Gothic Revival. The first architect was Jeremiah O'Rourke. Later, a Paulist priest named George Deshon took over. He was a military engineer and likely made the design simpler.
The church used special stones for its construction. These included gray granite from Tarrytown. Some stones were even reused from other buildings in Manhattan. For example, the steps at the entrance came from an old theater.
Dedication and Art
The new church officially opened on January 25, 1885. Even then, it was not fully finished. The tall towers were not at their final height. Many beautiful decorations inside were still being added.
The church is famous for its amazing art. Many artists helped create its interior. Stanford White designed parts of the inside between 1887 and 1890. There are also many large, decorated side chapels.
Later, John LaFarge added stunning stained glass windows. Other artists like Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Frederick MacMonnies also worked here. Bertram Goodhue created the beautiful floor mosaics.
One special piece is Angel of the Resurrection by Lumen Martin Winter. It is on the tomb of Isaac Hecker. He was the person who founded the Paulist Fathers. Other Paulist Fathers are buried in a special room below the church.
Recognition and Renovation
The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. This means it is a historically important building. It was also named a New York City Landmark in 2013. A big project to fix up and restore the church started around 2000. This work was still happening in 2013.
Life in the Parish Community
In 1858, the Paulist Fathers first lived in a house with a small chapel. This was at 14 West 60th Street. Their main building is next to the church on West 59th Street. The current building for the Paulist Fathers was built in the 1930s.
Changes Over Time
The church's story shows how the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood changed. In 1903, an elevated train ran right in front of the church. The Paulists even had their own radio station, WLWL, from 1925 to 1937.
The parish opened an elementary school in 1886. A high school section was added in 1922. When the schools closed due to money problems, St. Paul's helped. They started preschool centers with free lunches and health care. The last school closed in 1974.
Modern Parish Life
Today, the church is very active. It has five Masses every Sunday. Many young professionals are part of the community. There is also a large Spanish-speaking community.
"Apostolist" is a program for young adults. The Young Adult Choir sings at the Sunday 5 p.m. Mass. The Youth Ministry also helps by running a Food Bank Pantry. "Out at St Paul (OSP)" is a group for LGBTQ+ members of the parish. The "Mustard Seed Guild" helps orphanages in other countries. The parish also has a group called the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. They help people in need.
St. Paul's also has a bookstore and gift shop inside. The church serves as the parish for Catholic students. These students attend nearby schools like Fordham University and the Juilliard School.
The large basement of the church has been used for many things. It was a cafeteria for the school. It also served as a homeless shelter and a soup kitchen. It has even been a rehearsal space for The Rockettes. From 1996 to 2003, it hosted the "Big Apple Comic Convention."
The Big Pipe Organ
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The organ at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle is very special. It was built by the M.P. Möller Pipe Organ Company in 1965. It has 4,965 pipes! The organ has four keyboards and 78 stops.
Some of its pipes came from an older organ built in 1925. The organ sounds like two instruments in one. The main organ is at the front of the church. Another part, the nave organ, is on the south wall.
Both organs can be played at the same time. They are controlled from one movable console. Famous organist Virgil Fox recorded The Christmas Album on this organ in 1965. The organ needed repairs by 2020. In 2021, the church got another historic organ. This one was the Roosevelt Organ Works Opus 525.
See also
- List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets
- List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan from 59th to 110th Streets
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan from 14th to 59th Streets
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan from 59th to 110th Streets
