Holy Innocents Church (New York City)

Shrine and Parish Church of the Holy Innocents
In 2012
Location 128 West 37th Street, NYC
Country United States
Denomination Roman Catholic
Website https://shrineofholyinnocents.org/
History
Founded 1866
Architecture
Functional status Active
Architect(s) Patrick Keely
Style Gothic Revival
Years built 1870
Administration
Diocese Archdiocese of New York
Clergy
Vicar(s) Rev. Fr. Louis Van Thanh, Parrochial Vicar
Pastor(s) Rev. Fr. James L. P. Miara, Pastor
The Fashion Tower (currently)
General information
Architectural style Art Deco
Town or city 135 W 36th St, New York
Country United States of America
Construction started 1924[1]
Completed 1925
Cost $600,000[1]
Client Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
Design and construction
Architect Emery Roth 19 West 40th Street[1]

The Church of the Holy Innocents is a Roman Catholic parish church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located at 128 West 37th Street at Broadway, Manhattan, New York City.[2]

History

The parish was established in 1866. It was formed from portions of St. Stephen the Martyr, St. Michael's, Holy Cross, Cathedral and St. Columba's parishes. The first pastor was Father John Larkin, formerly of County Galway, Ireland by way of St. Michael's. He purchased a small frame Episcopal church on the corner of Broadway and 37th St. The old name was retained and the chapel converted for use until a new church building could be constructed. [3] The present edifice was dedicated on February 13, 1870.

As the city rapidly expanded northward the community, known as the "Tenderloin", teemed with immigrants from Europe. In 1872, A parochial school adjoining the church was built, staffed by the Sisters of Charity. Later, the Christian Brothers were enlisted to provide instruction. By the early 1900s the area was known for newspaper publishing (The New York Herald) and theaters (The Metropolitan Opera House (39th St)). Holy Innocents was called the "actor's church". Eugene O'Neill, the playwright, was baptized in the church in 1888.

Pastor Rev. Dr. Richard Brennan transferred here in 1890 from being pastor since 1875 of St. Rose of Lima's Old Church (New York City),[4] after the death of the former pastor, Rev. Larkin.[5]The parish debt being paid off, the church was consecrated by Archbishop Corrigan on February 12, 1901. in 1924 the parish built a twenty-storey storage and loft building at 135-9 West 36th Street to designs by the eminent Emery Roth 19 West 40th Street for $600,000.[1][6]

In addition to serving as a regional parish, the church has been a location for daily Mass in the authorized extraordinary form of the Roman Rite (the 1962 edition of the Tridentine Mass) since 2009.[7] In December 2017, the parish has plans to hold a series of Rorate Masses, a tradition candlelight votive Mass during Advent in honor of the Blessed Virgin.[8]

Holy Innocents is the oldest church in the Garment District.

Pastors

Architecture

Designed by Patrick C. Keely in the Gothic Revival style, the cornerstone was laid on June 20, 1869. The building was constructed of Ohio and Belleville mixed stone. The interior is noted for the high altar of white marble that is surmounted by a fresco of the Crucifixion by Constantino Brumidi. The church was dedicated on Sunday, February 13, 1870; music provided by the Seventh Regiment Band.[10]

During Father O'Farrell's tenure two side altars of Carrara marble were installed. The Church has twenty stained glass windows from Munich; however subsequent building in the area has somewhat dimmed the interior.[10]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Office for Metropolitan History, "Manhattan NB Database 1900-1986," (Accessed 25 Dec 2010).
  2. ↑ The World Almanac 1892 and Book of Facts (New York: Press Publishing, 1892), p.390.
  3. ↑ 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.. (New York City: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914), p.330.
  4. ↑ Lafort, p. 369.
  5. 1 2 "Father Larkin's Successor," New York Times, January 13, 1891 (Retrieved 20 May 2011); Excerpt: "Dr. Richard Brennan, who for twenty years has been of the Roman Catholic Church of St. Rose of Lima on Cannon Street, has been transferred to the Church of St Rose of Lima, on Cannon Street, has been transferred to the Church of the Holy Innocents on West Thirty-seventh Street, to fill the vacancy caused by the recent death of the Rev. John Larkin. Dr. Brennan is a native of this city and graduate of St. Francis Xavier's College. He made his theological studies at St. John's College, Fordham, and was ordained by Archbishop Hughes in 1857. Dr. Brennan will be succeeded in the pastorate of the Church of St. Rose of Lima by the Rev. Edward T. McGinley, who is also a graduate of St. Francis Xavier's College. He was formerly pastor of the Church of the Sacred Heart in Highland Falls, New York."
  6. ↑ "History", Shrine and Parish Church off the Holy Innocents
  7. ↑ The Society of St. Hugh of Cluny » Post Topic » New Daily Low Mass in Manhattan Sthughofcluny.org, (Retrieved 14 Feb 2014).
  8. ↑ Chessman, Stuart. "Rorate Masses at Church of Holy Innocents", The Society of St. Hugh of Cluny, November 29, 2017
  9. ↑ 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.. (New York City: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914), p.369.
  10. 1 2 3 "Church of the Holy Innocents", NYC AGO
  11. ↑ 50 Priests Give Last Rites At 'Normandie' Fire; Catholic Hospitals Also Lend Aid The Observer, Rockford, Illinois, Feb. 22, 1942. (Retrieved 14 Feb 2014)

Coordinates: 40°45′7.85″N 73°59′17.08″W / 40.7521806°N 73.9880778°W / 40.7521806; -73.9880778

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