The Church of St. Paul is a

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parish church in the

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, located in the

East Harlem East Harlem, also known as Spanish Harlem or and historically known as Italian Harlem, is a neighborhood of Upper Manhattan, New York City, roughly encompassing the area north of the Upper East Side and bounded by 96th Street to the south, F ...

neighborhood of

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. The sixth parish established in New York City, it was designated a

New York City Landmark The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (LPC) is the New York City agency charged with administering the city's Landmarks Preservation Law. The LPC is responsible for protecting New York City's architecturally, historically, and cu ...

on June 28, 2016.

History

Before 1834 the only Catholic north of Canal Street was

St. Patrick's Old Cathedral The Basilica of Saint Patrick's Old Cathedral, sometimes shortened to St. Patrick's Old Cathedral or simply Old St. Patrick's, is a Catholic parish church, basilica, and the former cathedral of the Archdiocese of New York, located in the Nolita ...

. Rev. James Walsh and others said Mass in houses and barns in the outlying areas when a congregation could be gathered. Bishop

John Dubois John Dubois (french: Jean Dubois) served as the third bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York from 1826 until his death in 1842. He was the first Bishop of New York who was not Irish-born and, as of 2021, remains the only Bishop or Archbi ...

decided to establish a parish on 117th Street and asked Rev. Michael Curran to take charge. Curran had been a missionary in the mountains of Pennsylvania and had come highly recommended by Father

Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin Demetrius Augustine Gallitzin (December 22, 1770 – May 6, 1840) was an emigre Russian nobility, Russian aristocrat and Catholic Church, Catholic priest known as The Apostle of the Alleghenies and also in the United States as Prince Galitzin. He ...

. His knowledge of Gaelic served him well among his widely scattered parishioners. The cornerstone of St. Paul's church was set June 29, 1835. In 1843, Curran resigned the pastorate in order to return to Ireland for a time.Lafort, Remigius. ''The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X.'', Catholic editing Company, 1914, p.362
/ref> During Fr. Maguire's tenure the church was substantially enlarged and rededicated by Archbishop John McCloskey on July 9, 1871. Dr. McQuirk had the old school demolished in 1905 and a new one built on the site. While a new church was being built, services were held in the school auditorium. A new rectory was also built. The demographics of the area, which had been predominantly Irish, gradually changed to reflect more Spanish speaking Catholics. Msgr. Drew initiated a Spanish program. It has been staffed by the

Institute of the Incarnate Word The Institute of the Incarnate Word (IVE) ( es, Instituto del Verbo Encarnado) is a Catholic religious institute founded in Argentina by Fr. Carlos Miguel Buela on March 25, 1984. It is a religious institute of diocesan right. The institute is t ...

Fathers since 1998. In 1892, the parish address was 121 E 117th St. In 2015 the parish of

Holy Rosary Holy Rosary may refer to: * Rosary, a set of prayer beads used in a traditional Roman Catholic devotion * The Holy Rosary, a prayer based on the rosary See also * Holy Rosary Academy (disambiguation), one of several Roman Catholic schools with ...

was merged with St. Paul's.

Pastors

* Fr. Michael Curran, 1834-1843 * Fr. John Walsh, 1843-1853 * Fr. George R. Brophy, 1853-1866 * Fr. Eugene Maguire, 1866-1883 * Fr. John McQuirk D.D., 1883-1924 * Fr. Thomas F. Kane, 1924-1940 * Msgr. Cornelius J. Drew, 1940-1943 * Msgr. John c. Mulcahy, 1943-1946 * Rev. James V. Hart, 1946- * Fr. Ray Burn 1964-

Building

The church is of brick over a steel frame, with a limestone façade. Completed in 1908, it was designed in the Romanesque Revival style by the firm of Neville & Bagge. During Fr. Kane's tenure a marble altar rail and a solid oak roredos were installed.

St. Paul's School

In 1870 Father Eugene Maguire established the parish school, which was under the care of the Sisters of Charity of New York. Since 1850 the Sisters, from the mother house at McGowan's Pass, had taught catechism at St. Paul's. The Carmel Hill Program, established by philanthropist Aiden Ruane provides tuition assistance to over 30 students."Our History", St. Paul's School
/ref>

References

External links

Parish of St. Paul and of Holy Rosary website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Saint Paul's Church, New York City New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan Religious organizations established in 1834 Roman Catholic churches in Manhattan East Harlem 1834 establishments in New York (state)