Church Of The Guardian Angel (New York City)

The Church of the Guardian Angel is a Roman Catholic church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located at 193 Tenth Avenue, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, New York.

Buildings

The present Southern Sicilian Romanesque-style brick church at 193 Tenth Avenue was built 1930 to the designs of John Van Pelt of Van Pelt, Hardy & Goubert. Plan were filed in 1929, and it was likely begun that year. Stylistically, it is similar to Van Pelt's other churches in Manhattan and the Bronx. The church design "is reminiscent of the early Romanesque sculpture at the abbey of Moissac. Both churches have a scalloped profile that seems to incorporate a bit of Moorish influence. Both the human and animal forms are treated with the same incredible flexibility...." The ''AIA Guide to New York City'' (1988) writes "The church's simple brick and limestone Southern Sicilian Romanesque facade merges with the Tuscan village forms of auxiliary buildings to the north in a well- related group." ''AIA Guide to New York City'' (2010) describes the church as "lush brick and limestone, Italian Romanesque, backed up snug against the High Line. Despite the obvious difference in style and materials, the two were built around the same time."

Parish history

The parish was founded in 1888 by the Rev. William A. O'Neill, who remained pastor until 1895 when he was transferred to St. Ann's as rector. The first church was dedicated June 10, 1888 by Bishop Conroy. The address for the first church was located at 513 West 23rd Street, as recorded in 1892.

The parish was founded to minister to workers at the bustling waterfront piers on the nearby Hudson River. A new church was completed in 1910 to the designs of George H. Streeton also at 513 West 23rd Street, replacing the 1888 church building. "In 1911, a parochial school was opened." In 1914, the following was reported: "The Catholic population numbers 3,000, and the church property is valued at $60,000, all out of debt."

That area's redevelopment in the 1930s with the construction of the elevated freight railroad, the High Line, by the New York Central Railroad necessitated the church's removal. Similar to the story of nearby St. Michael, the church's demolition and removal for redevelopment in the interests of a railroad were allegedly paid for by that developing railroad, which in this case was the New York Central. The architecture of the new church (see Buildings section) both seemingly ignores and stands in stark contrast, almost antagonistically to that of the High Line, perhaps reflecting this early relationship.

Although threatened with closure, the Archdiocese announced on January 19, 2007 that Guardian Angel would retain its parish status.

Pastors

* 1888–1895: Rev. William A. O'Neill, transferred 1895 as rector of St. Ann's
* 1895–1909: Rev. John C. Henry, former pastor of St. Mary's Church.“DR. M'GLYNN TO GO TO NEWBURG; He Will be a Rector There Jan. 1, but May Soon Be Assigned to a Parish in This City,”
''The New York Times'', Dec 24, 1894, Retrieved 21 July 2011, Excerpt: “The Rev. Dr. Edward McGlynn, who has been restored by Archbishop Corrigan to full ecclesiastical standing in the Archdiocese of New-York, will take charge of St. Mary's Church, Newburg, Jan. 1. … John C. Henry, has been transferred to the Church of the Guardian Angel, ... As was stated in The New York Times of yesterday, Dr. McGlynn will celebrate….” He had been assisted until 1904 by the Rev. Anthony J. Morgan (transferred to the Mission of Our Lady of the Rosary), replaced by the Rev. Francis A. Kiniry.
* 1909–1930: Rev. James F. Raywood (Dec 7, 1854 – Apr 6, 1930), a former assistant at St. Columba, a pastor of St. Mary’s Church (Newburg, New York), and founding pastor at a Monticello, New York, parish. “Father Raywood, Formerly Here, Expires Sunday,”
Newburgh News, Apr 7, 1930, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Full article: “Rev. James R. Raywood who from 1907 to 1910 was pastor of St. Mary’s church in this city, died yesterday in St. Vincent's Hospital, New York City, of pneumonia. He was 75 years old. Father Raywood has been the pastor of the Church of the Guardian Angel, 517 West Twenty-third street for the past 20 years. He was born In New York city and educated in the schools there, completing his studies for the priesthood in the American College in Rome. After his ordination, he was assigned to St. Columbia’s Church ic New York City and later sent to Monticello, where he organized a church and remained its pastor until assigned to the New York church, where he remained until his death. The funeral service will be held in the Church of the Guardian Angel on Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock.” In 1914, Fr. Raywood was assisted by the Revs. Timothy J. O'Brien and Daniel J. Fant.
* 1930–1934: Rev. Grogan (d.1934)
* 1934–1967: Rev. John J. O'Donnell, former assistant at Holy Trinity Church"FOUR PASTORATES FILLED.; Appointments by Cardinal Hayes..."
''The New York Times'', Oct 20, 1934, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Excerpt: "John J. O'Donnell, formerly assistant at Holy Trinity Church, Manhattan, to the pastorship of the Church of the Guardian Angel...."
''The New York Times'', Oct 29, 1934, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Excerpt: "The Rev. John J. O'Donnell, who has been an assistant at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Broadway and Eighty-second Street, for the last sixteen years, addressed the congregation of the Guardian Angel Church, Tenth Avenue and Twenty-first Street, yesterday morning as newly appointed pastor.... addressed the congregation of the Guardian Angel Church, Tenth Avenue and ... Father O'Donnell, who is director of the Manhattan Division of the New ... ."
* Rev. Francis X. Quinn, assistant pastor in 1939 and 1940 who was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal for bravery"PRIEST PERSUADES BESIEGED GUNMAN TO YIELD TO POLICE; Hold-Up Man, Using Methodist Official as Shield in House, Keeps Scores at Bay THREATENS HIS HOSTAGE Catholic Clergyman Enters West 22d Street Flat With Arms Raised Over Head Hold-up in Restaurant One Thug Captured on Roof Shout Halts Policemen BESIEGED GUNMAN YIELDS TO PRIEST Uses Victim as Shield Appeals to Thug's Heart,"
'' Times Wide World,'' April 03, 1939, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Excerpt: "A Catholic priest and a Methodist missionary official joined yesterday in subduing, with measured words, an armed desperado who had successfully defied scores of policemen equipped with machine guns and tear-gas bombs....Francis X. Quinn was finishing the first Palm Sunday mass at the Roman Catholic Church of the Guardian Angel, Tenth Avenue and Twenty-first Street....""Priest, Called From Services, Persuades Gunman To Give Up: New York Cleric Goes Into Gas-Filled Apartment Where Bandit Is Holding Hostages,"
''The Baltimore Sun'', Apr 3, 1939, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Abstract: "A priest called from his Palm Sunday devotions stepped bravely into a tear-gas-filled apartment today to persuade surrender of a gunman who had seized a fear-stricken elderly couple as hostages after his escape from a street gun battle with police.""Gunman Gives Up After Daring Priest's Plea: Cleric Leaves Palm Sunday Devotion to Enter Gas-Filled Room at Risk of Life,"
''Los Angeles Times'' Apr 3, 1939, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Abstract: "A priest called from his Palm Sunday devotions stepped bravely into a tear gas-filled apartment today to persuade surrender of a gunman who had seized a fear-stricken elderly couple as hostages after...""Gunman Defies Officers But Gives Self After Battle"
'' Lewiston Morning Tribune'' Apr 3, 1939, Retrieved 21 July 2011. “Priest Going to White House to Get Medal Voted for Inducing Gunman to Surrender,”
''The New York Times'', Sep 2, 1940, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Excerpt: “WASHINGTON, Sept. 1--A New York City priest has been invited to the White House to receive a rare Congressional tribute, a medal in recognition of his valor in helping to capture a gunman barricaded in a midtown apartment….Francis X. Quinn of the Church of the Guardian Angel, New York City, by the Seventy-sixth Congress of the United States in recognition of his valor in ....”
/ref>
* 1971–1983: Msgr. Thomas J. McGovern, pastor of Guardian Angel Church and chaplain for the Port of New York. Ordained 1950. Ref: New York Times Obituaries 6-20-1986.
* 2009–2014: Msgr. Michael F. Hull, S.T.D. (also a Professor of Sacred Scripture at St. Joseph’s Seminary (Dunwoodie) in Yonkers, New York, and a Censor Librorum of the Archdiocese of New York, assisted by the Rev. Philip S. Phan (also Director of the Archdiocese's Vietnamese Apostolate).
, Guardian Angel Church-NYC Website (Retrieved 21 July 2011)

Parish School

The school was founded in 1911 and has always been run by a professional lay staff and the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh.Guardian Angel School Home
(Retrieved 21 July 2011) "In 1911, a parochial school was opened; its school roll in 1914 shows an attendance of 132 boys and 130 girls." Five Sisters of St. Dominic ran the school, as reported in 1914. Along with the church's relocation in 1930, the school relocated to its current location at 193 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY 10011. The style of the schoolhouse is the same as the church, indicating that the complex was built by Van Pelt concurrently with the church building in 1930, or thereabouts. The current principal is Miss Maureen McElduff.

In 2016, Guardian Angel School was featured in the HBO Documentary Class Divide. This documentary showcases what it means to grow up in Chelsea and the power of education.

In 2018, the Manhattan Region released a video called "We are One" featuring different Guardian Angel staff and families.

The current principal of Guardian Angel School is Christie Acosta-Perez.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Guardian Angel Church (New York City)
Roman Catholic churches in Manhattan
Roman Catholic churches completed in 1930
Romanesque Revival church buildings in New York City
Demolished churches in New York City
Demolished buildings and structures in Manhattan
1888 establishments in New York City
Private middle schools in Manhattan
Roman Catholic elementary schools in Manhattan
Chelsea, Manhattan
20th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United States