St. Peter's Church (Manhattan) facts for kids
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Saint Peter's Church, Our Lady of the Rosary
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(2012)
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 Location in Lower Manhattan
Location in New York City
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| Location | 22 Barclay Street, Manhattan, New York City |
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| Built | 1785 (original) 1836–1840 (current structure) |
| Architect | John R. Haggerty and Thomas Thomas |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Website | St Peter's Church, Our Lady of the Rosary |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002721 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | April 23, 1980 |
Saint Peter's Church/Our Lady of the Rosary is a Catholic church located in the Financial District of Manhattan, New York City. It is a very old and important church. The building you see today was built between 1836 and 1840.
It was designed by architects John R. Haggerty and Thomas Thomas. They used a style called Greek Revival, which means it looks like ancient Greek temples. It has six tall Ionic columns at the front. The church officially opened on February 25, 1838. Archbishop John Hughes led the first service.
This church is part of the Archdiocese of New York. It is the oldest Catholic parish in New York State. The current building replaced an even older church that was built in 1785–86. That first church was used until 1834.
Saint Peter's Church is recognized as a special historical place. It was named a New York City landmark in 1965. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it is protected by federal, state, and city governments.
Contents
History of Saint Peter's Church
Building the First Church
Before and during the American Revolution, a German Jesuit priest named Father Ferdinand Steinmeyer visited New York City. He held Mass for the few Catholics living there. They met in different places, like a house on Wall Street or a loft on Water Street.
A merchant named Dominick Lynch helped raise money for a new church. He gave his own money and got donations from his home in Galway, Ireland. King Charles III of Spain also sent a generous gift of 1,000 silver pieces. These donations helped start the church's construction.
The Catholics first wanted to build the church on Broad Street. This was in the center of New York City at the time. However, some people in New York City did not like Catholics. City officials asked them to build the church somewhere else. They suggested a spot at Barclay and Church Streets, which was outside the city limits then. The builders agreed to this new location. The first stone for the original church was laid in 1785. The very first Mass was held there in 1786.
Important Moments and People
In 1789, a Mexican artist named Jose Vallejo painted a special picture of the Crucifixion. Nunez de Haro, the archbishop of Mexico City, gave this painting to St. Peter's Church. It hung above the main altar.
Father William O'Brien was the first pastor of the church. He is remembered for helping the people of New York during the yellow fever sickness in 1795 and 1798. In 1800, the first free Catholic school in New York State opened at St. Peter's.
On March 14, 1805, a very important event happened at St. Peter's Church. Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton became Catholic there. She often prayed in front of the Crucifixion painting. The Catholic Church later made her a saint. She was the first person born in the United States to become a saint.
On Christmas Eve in 1806, people were celebrating Mass inside the church. Some Protestants did not like this Catholic celebration. Protesters tried to stop the Mass. A fight broke out, and many people were hurt.
Building the Current Church
In October 1836, work began on a larger St. Peter's Church. This is the building that stands today. By February 1838, the new church was finished.
From 1899 to 1916, St. Peter's also hosted services for Syrian and Lebanese Catholics. They did not have their own church at that time. Father Edward Frederick Sorin, who founded the University of Notre Dame, celebrated his first Mass in America at St. Peter's in 1842.
Saint Peter's Church and September 11, 2001
On September 10, 2001, Father Mychal Judge, a chaplain for the New York City Fire Department, gave a sermon. He told firefighters to do what God called them to do. He said God needed them to support and love each other. He also said that God helps them do their difficult job well.
The very next day, during the September 11 attacks, a part of an airplane hit and damaged the roof of St. Peter's Church. When Father Mychal Judge died in the attacks, firefighters brought his body to St. Peter's. They laid him before the altar.
The church also became a place for rescue workers to gather. "We were the first place they were bringing all the emergency equipment," said Father Kevin Madigan, the pastor at the time. "Everything was in disarray." The church was filled with supplies like bandages, gas masks, and food for the workers. Many volunteers even slept there.
The public could not enter the church for a while. Masses were held only for rescue workers. On October 28, 2001, the area was reopened. "That was when we officially celebrated our first Mass after September 11," Father Madigan said. The church had fewer Masses because many people who used to come from the World Trade Center area were no longer there.
The World Trade Center cross, a cross found in the rubble, was temporarily placed outside St. Peter's. It was later moved to the World Trade Center Memorial. A new custom cross was put in its place on August 11, 2011.
Current Status of the Church
In August 2015, the St. Peter's parish joined with Our Lady of the Rosary church. St. Peter's is now the main parish church. However, Masses and other services still happen at Our Lady of the Rosary too.
Church Organ
St. Peter's has a large pipe organ. It was built in 1927 by the George Kilgen & Sons company. In 1931, the organ was made even bigger. In 2011, it was restored and improved. The organ is now located in the back balcony of the church. As of August 2025, Marcus Perry Bundy III is the Director of Music and Organist at Saint Peter's.
Notable People Connected to Saint Peter's
- Pierre Toussaint: He was born into slavery in Haiti and came to New York in 1787. He joined St. Peter's parish. He was known for his strong faith and for being very kind to the poor. He is currently being considered for sainthood.
- Elizabeth Ann Seton: She is a saint who became Catholic at St. Peter's Church.
- Billy The Kid: Some believe he was christened "Patrick Henry McCarthy" at the church on September 28, 1859. His parents were married there on June 19, 1851.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Pedro (Nueva York) para niños
