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St. Aloysius Catholic Church (New York City)

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Coordinates: 40°48′49.8″N 73°56′44.43″W / 40.813833°N 73.9456750°W / 40.813833; -73.9456750
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St. Aloysius Catholic Church
(2014)
Map
General information
Location209-217 West 132nd Street
Manhattan, New York City
Construction started1902 (church);[1]
1940(school)[1]
Cost$60,000 (church);[1]
$60,000 (school)[1]
ClientRoman Catholic Archdiocese of New York[1]
Technical details
Structural systemMasonry
Design and construction
Architect(s)William W. Renwick (1902 church);[1]
Starret & Van Vleck & Purdy & Henderson (1940 school)[1]
Website
https://staloysiuschurchny.org/

The St. Aloysius Catholic Church[2] is a Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of New York, located at 209-217 West 132nd Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard and Frederick Douglass Boulevard in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.

It was built in 1902-04 and was designed by William W. Renwick – the nephew of James Renwick Jr. – in the Italian Gothic Revival style.[3] It has been called a "little-known treasure".[4] The church was designated a New York City Landmark on January 30, 2007.[5]

History and description

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The St. Aloysius congregation was established in 1899 and has been staffed by the Jesuit Fathers, of which Saint Aloysius Gonzaga was himself a member.[6] The congregation was originally primarily German, Irish and Italian immigrants and their families.[3] The current congregation is primarily African American, and gospel music is utilized in the services.[4]

The brick church designed by Renwick has an "usually intricate facade, with colorful bands of red brick, celadon glazed bricks and polychrome terra cotta,"[3] creating "an evocative and delicate facade."[7] Sculpted reliefs on the depict Christ, the Holy Family and two angels.[3] The overall design compares favorably to Renwick's All Saints Church on East 129th Street,[4] and may have been inspired by Renwick's travels in Italy before joining his uncle's firm.[7]

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  • In 1914
    In 1914
  • Entrance
    Entrance
  • Top
    Top
  • Circular window detail
    Circular window detail
  • Top right of facade
    Top right of facade
  • Relief sculpture detail
    Relief sculpture detail

See also

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References

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Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Office for Metropolitan History, "Manhattan NB Database 1900-1986" (Accessed 25 December 2010).
  2. ^ This is the name of the church according to the information board attached to the building
  3. ^ a b c d New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission; Dolkart, Andrew S.; Postal, Matthew A. (2009). Postal, Matthew A. (ed.). Guide to New York City Landmarks (4th ed.). New York: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-28963-1. p.203
  4. ^ a b c Dunlap, David W. (2004). From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship. New York: Columbia University Press. ISBN 0-231-12543-7., p.188
  5. ^ Shockley, Jay."St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church Designation Report" New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission (January 30, 2007)
  6. ^ Remigius Lafort, S.T.D., Censor, The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X. Volume 3: The Province of Baltimore and the Province of New York, Section 1: Comprising the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn, Buffalo and Ogdensburg Together with some Supplementary Articles on Religious Communities of Women.. (New York City: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914), p.310.
  7. ^ a b White, Norval; Willensky, Elliot; Leadon, Fran (2010). AIA Guide to New York City (5th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19538-386-7. p.540
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40°48′49.8″N 73°56′44.43″W / 40.813833°N 73.9456750°W / 40.813833; -73.9456750

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