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St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church (Oyster Bay, New York)
Encyclopedia
The Church of St. Dominic is a Roman Catholic parish church in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Center, located at in Oyster Bay, New York
. The parish was founded in the late nineteenth century.
The first resident pastor of the Oyster Bay Catholic congregation, Rev. John Belford, had much to celebrate on Thanksgiving Day in 1897. It was on that day that he dedicated the completion of this beautiful gothic style granite church. It would seat almost twice as many parishioners as their first church building, a wood frame structure which still exists as a private house on Summit Street. The new church had been finished in under a year, with a ground breaking in May and a November dedication. Construction bad been no easy task, however; besides the many loads of giant timbers needed for the 40-foot vaulted ceiling, huge granite blocks quarried in Greenwich, Connecticut
, had to be transported by barge across Long Island Sound
and then hauled by horse drawn sled up the hill. This site, the highest in Oyster Bay, looked down on the village and the Sound, and when the golden cross was put atop the 33-foot spire, it was said that on a clear day you could see it shining from the shores of Connecticut.
The original porte cochere affords a covered entrance to the chapel, and inside one can still listen to the original pipe organ. It is one of only three of its kind in the United States, an American-made Hook and Hastings Opus Tracker organ, built in 1901. The gothic interior features dark wood beams which in the 1950’s were elaborately hand painted and accented with gold. Intricate stained glass depicting biblical scenes graces the windows, while art nouveau panels are featured in the entryway. The original altar is inlaid with mother of pearl tiles and jewel-like glass works which although not signed, are believed by many to have been made by Louis Comfort Tiffany
, whose estate, Laurelton Hall was once in Oyster Bay Cove. The large stained glass windows on the front of the chapel facing the street had to be replaced after they were blown out by the Great New England Hurricane of 1938.
St. Dominic’s Roman Catholic Church has expanded greatly since that Thanksgiving Day over a century ago. In 1922, they established a grammar school and in 1928, a high school. To accommodate their growing congregation, in 1968 they broke ground on a large contemporary church building, located across the street from this one.
Today St. Dominic’s six acre campus has eleven different buildings, including schools, offices, a sports complex, a rectory, a seminary and of course the two churches.
Oyster Bay (town), New York
The Town of Oyster Bay is easternmost of the three towns in Nassau County, New York, in the United States. Part of the New York metropolitan area, it is the only town in Nassau County that extends from the North Shore to the South Shore of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the town population was...
. The parish was founded in the late nineteenth century.
History
This Gothic style granite building was first dedicated on Thanksgiving Day in 1897. The original porte cochere provides a covered entrance to the chapel, and once inside one can listen to the original pipe organ. It is one of only three of its kind in the United States, an American-made Hook and Hastings Opus tracker organ, built in 1901. St. Dominic’s Roman Catholic Church has expanded greatly. In 1922 they established a grammar school, and in 1928, a high school. In 1968 they broke ground on a large contemporary church building, located across the street from this one. Today St. Dominic’s six acre campus has eleven buildings.The first resident pastor of the Oyster Bay Catholic congregation, Rev. John Belford, had much to celebrate on Thanksgiving Day in 1897. It was on that day that he dedicated the completion of this beautiful gothic style granite church. It would seat almost twice as many parishioners as their first church building, a wood frame structure which still exists as a private house on Summit Street. The new church had been finished in under a year, with a ground breaking in May and a November dedication. Construction bad been no easy task, however; besides the many loads of giant timbers needed for the 40-foot vaulted ceiling, huge granite blocks quarried in Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich, Connecticut
Greenwich is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 61,171. It is home to many hedge funds and other financial service companies. Greenwich is the southernmost and westernmost municipality in Connecticut and is 38+ minutes ...
, had to be transported by barge across Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is an estuary of the Atlantic Ocean, located in the United States between Connecticut to the north and Long Island, New York to the south. The mouth of the Connecticut River at Old Saybrook, Connecticut, empties into the sound. On its western end the sound is bounded by the Bronx...
and then hauled by horse drawn sled up the hill. This site, the highest in Oyster Bay, looked down on the village and the Sound, and when the golden cross was put atop the 33-foot spire, it was said that on a clear day you could see it shining from the shores of Connecticut.
The original porte cochere affords a covered entrance to the chapel, and inside one can still listen to the original pipe organ. It is one of only three of its kind in the United States, an American-made Hook and Hastings Opus Tracker organ, built in 1901. The gothic interior features dark wood beams which in the 1950’s were elaborately hand painted and accented with gold. Intricate stained glass depicting biblical scenes graces the windows, while art nouveau panels are featured in the entryway. The original altar is inlaid with mother of pearl tiles and jewel-like glass works which although not signed, are believed by many to have been made by Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany
Louis Comfort Tiffany was an American artist and designer who worked in the decorative arts and is best known for his work in stained glass. He is the American artist most associated with the Art Nouveau and Aesthetic movements...
, whose estate, Laurelton Hall was once in Oyster Bay Cove. The large stained glass windows on the front of the chapel facing the street had to be replaced after they were blown out by the Great New England Hurricane of 1938.
Today St. Dominic’s six acre campus has eleven different buildings, including schools, offices, a sports complex, a rectory, a seminary and of course the two churches.
See also
- Oyster Bay History WalkOyster Bay History WalkThe Oyster Bay History Walk is a path through downtown Oyster Bay, New York that leads the walker to 30 historic sites. It is a 1 mile loop and is the first certified American Heart Association Start! Walking Path on Long Island.-Origins and Development:...
- List of Town of Oyster Bay Landmarks
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Nassau County, New York