40°42′56.42″N73°59′6.35″W / 40.7156722°N 73.9850972°W /40.7156722; -73.9850972
| St. Mary's Church | |
|---|---|
 (2013) | |
 Interactive map of St. Mary's Church | |
| General information | |
| Location | Manhattan,New York City,United States |
| Construction started | 1832 |
| Completed | 1833 (original church) 1864 (enlarged with new facade)[2] 1871 (additional changes)[3] |
| Client | Archdiocese of New York |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | Patrick C. Keely(facade)[1] |
| Website | |
| https://saintmarygrand.org | |
TheChurch of St. Mary is a parish church in theArchdiocese of New York, located at 438–440Grand Street between Pitt and Attorney Streets on theLower East Side ofManhattan,New York City.[4] Established in 1826 to serve Irish immigrants living in the neighborhood, it is the third oldest Catholic parish in New York.[3] St. Mary’s will celebrate its bicentennial as a parish in 2026.[5]
The church itself was built in 1832–33, and was then enlarged and had its facade replaced in 1871 by the prolific church architectPatrick Charles Keely. The original portion is the second-oldest Catholic structure in the city, afterSt. Patrick's Old Cathedral, which was built in 1815.[1]
Before their sanctuary was built, services were held in a formerPresbyterian church on Sheriff Street. Rev. Hatton Walsh was named pastor. In 1831, anti-Catholicnativists set fire to the church, but it was not completely destroyed and continued to operate. The first New York chapter of theAncient Order of Hibernians was established in 1836 at nearbySt. James Church partly in response.[3]
In 1832 the cornerstone was laid for the present building, which was dedicated in June 1833. Rev.William J. Quarter, curate atSt. Peter's on Barclay Street, was named pastor. Quarter would later become the first bishop of Chicago.[6]
Originally designed in theGreek Revival style, the new red brick facade designed by Patrick Charles Keely in 1864 was in theRomanesque style and featured twin spires. Other changes were made byLawrence O'Connor in 1871.[3]
The Irish-American prelate, Rev.Michael McKenna, who had ties to Irish nationalist movement, was assistant pastor here in 1868 before becoming the first pastor of the newly separated – from St. Mary's parish – parish ofSt. Rose of Lima.[7]Charles Edward McDonnell, futureBishop of Brooklyn, was assigned as curate here in the autumn of 1878.
Notes
Media related toSt. Mary's Church (Grand Street, Manhattan) at Wikimedia Commons
