St. Leo's Church (New York City)
Encyclopedia
The Church of St. Leo is a former Roman Catholic parish church under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
, located at 11 East 28th Street, between Fifth & Madison Avenues in Manhattan, New York City
.
, patron saint of Pope Leo XIII, the reigning pontiff at the time. The Archbishop of New York at the time was John Cardinal McCloskey
, the first American-born Cardinal, who was eligible to take part in the conclave that elected Leo pope (but did not because of travel delays). The parish was marked by its broad humanitarian spirit. It had a separate mortuary chapel at 9 East 28th Street for the purpose of paying proper respect for individuals of any faith who had passed away while temporarily being in the city, such as hotel guests. The bodies could remain there until being claimed for a proper funereal arrangement, or St. Leo's clergy could handle the service without remuneration. The parish was suppressed in 1908 to became a mission of the former St. Stephen's Church. Other sources claim the suppression occurred in 1909, following Fr. Ducey's death. Regardless, Fr. Ducey was the church's founding and sole rector. The church building was given to the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix as a convent and retreat house following their expulsion fron France in 1910. The old rectory was turned into a convent among whom lived (in 1914) 13 professed nuns and 3 lay sisters and one postulant
.
church was built 1880 to the designs of Lawrence J. O'Connor
.
The plan called for the church to be 50 by 120 feet, 56 feet high walls. The New York Times reported on August 16, 1880, that “the tower on the east side of the church will be 105 feet high, and over the main entrance will be a colossal cross” The cornerstone was laid August 15, 1880. At that point, the walls had risen twenty feet above ground level and over the basement level. The church was to be roofed in November 1880 and opened for worship around August 1881 at a cost of $95,000.
New York City Police Department
Capt. Berghold with 30 policeman kept the 2,000-person street crowd under control, as every seat within the enclosure of the un-roofed church was already occupied.
“The corner-store bore the following legend in Latin: ‘His Eminence Cardinal McCloskey, Archbishop o New-York, laid the corner-stone of the new church o St. Leo, on the 15th day of August, 1880, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Leo XIII being the reigning Pontiff of the Church. Rutherford B. Hayes
, President of the United States of America; Alonzo B. Cornell
, Governor of the State of New-York; Edward Cooper, Mayor of New-York; the Rev. Thomas J. Ducey, Pastor; the Rev. David J. Leahy, assistant, and Lawrence J. O'Connor
, architect.’ United States coins of all denominations, a picture of Pope Leo XIII, a large photograph of Cardinal McCloskey, attired in his large cape, copies of Catholic papers, and of New-York daily papers were placed in the corner-stone.”
However, the day of the ceremony, Cardinal McCloskey did not attend because of ill-health. The Vicar General assisted by Rev. McQuirck, assistant priest at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Rev. Frisbie, rector of St. Francis Xavier’s College, the Rev. Salter of St. Joseph’s, the Rev. Wyrich of St. Alphonso’s Church
, the Rev. Ducey, pastor of the new church.
The church and rectory-turned convent chapel and convent were eventually sold to a private developer and demolished in the 1980s. The site is now occupied by the plaza in front of the Madison Belvedere Apartments.
in 1864, was ordained in December 1868, and became assistant to the Rev. George McCloskey of the Church of the Nativity, Manhattan. During this period, he was also a volunteer chaplain at the Tombs Prison. During a series of sermons in 1871 and 1872, he denounced the Boss Tweed
ring, who retaliated by trying to have him removed to a parish outside the city. However, Fr. Ducey had powerful friends and Cardinal McCloskey refused to move him. In 1873, Fr. Ducey was appointed assistant at St. Leo's. Fr. Ducey died 22 August 1909.
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes...
, located at 11 East 28th Street, between Fifth & Madison Avenues in Manhattan, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
History
The parish was established in 1880 to relieve the overcrowded St. Stephen's parish by the Rev. Thomas J. Ducey, its first rector who continued there until his death in 1909. It was dedicated to St. LeoSt. Leo
-Places:United States* St. Leo, Florida** Saint Leo University** St. Leo Abbey Historic District* St. Leo, Kansas* St. Leo, Minnesota* Saint Leo the Great Parish, within the Roman Catholic Diocese of San Jose, CaliforniaAustralia...
, patron saint of Pope Leo XIII, the reigning pontiff at the time. The Archbishop of New York at the time was John Cardinal McCloskey
John Cardinal McCloskey
John McCloskey was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He was Archbishop of New York from 1864 until his death in 1885, having previously served as Bishop of Albany...
, the first American-born Cardinal, who was eligible to take part in the conclave that elected Leo pope (but did not because of travel delays). The parish was marked by its broad humanitarian spirit. It had a separate mortuary chapel at 9 East 28th Street for the purpose of paying proper respect for individuals of any faith who had passed away while temporarily being in the city, such as hotel guests. The bodies could remain there until being claimed for a proper funereal arrangement, or St. Leo's clergy could handle the service without remuneration. The parish was suppressed in 1908 to became a mission of the former St. Stephen's Church. Other sources claim the suppression occurred in 1909, following Fr. Ducey's death. Regardless, Fr. Ducey was the church's founding and sole rector. The church building was given to the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix as a convent and retreat house following their expulsion fron France in 1910. The old rectory was turned into a convent among whom lived (in 1914) 13 professed nuns and 3 lay sisters and one postulant
Postulant
A postulant was originally one who makes a request or demand; hence, a candidate. The use of the term is now generally restricted to those asking for admission into a monastery or a convent, both before actual admission and for the length of time preceding their admission into the novitiate...
.
Building
The Gothic RevivalGothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
church was built 1880 to the designs of Lawrence J. O'Connor
Lawrence J. O'Connor
Lawrence J. O’Connor, FAIA was an American architect who designed a number of Catholic churches, schools, convents and rectories in New York and New Jersey.-Architectural practice:...
.
The plan called for the church to be 50 by 120 feet, 56 feet high walls. The New York Times reported on August 16, 1880, that “the tower on the east side of the church will be 105 feet high, and over the main entrance will be a colossal cross” The cornerstone was laid August 15, 1880. At that point, the walls had risen twenty feet above ground level and over the basement level. The church was to be roofed in November 1880 and opened for worship around August 1881 at a cost of $95,000.
New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
Capt. Berghold with 30 policeman kept the 2,000-person street crowd under control, as every seat within the enclosure of the un-roofed church was already occupied.
“The corner-store bore the following legend in Latin: ‘His Eminence Cardinal McCloskey, Archbishop o New-York, laid the corner-stone of the new church o St. Leo, on the 15th day of August, 1880, the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Leo XIII being the reigning Pontiff of the Church. Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
, President of the United States of America; Alonzo B. Cornell
Alonzo B. Cornell
Alonzo Barton Cornell was a New York politician and businessman who served as 27th Governor of New York from 1880 to 1882.-Early years:...
, Governor of the State of New-York; Edward Cooper, Mayor of New-York; the Rev. Thomas J. Ducey, Pastor; the Rev. David J. Leahy, assistant, and Lawrence J. O'Connor
Lawrence J. O'Connor
Lawrence J. O’Connor, FAIA was an American architect who designed a number of Catholic churches, schools, convents and rectories in New York and New Jersey.-Architectural practice:...
, architect.’ United States coins of all denominations, a picture of Pope Leo XIII, a large photograph of Cardinal McCloskey, attired in his large cape, copies of Catholic papers, and of New-York daily papers were placed in the corner-stone.”
St. Alphonsus Ligouri's Church (New York City)
The Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori is a closed Roman Catholic parish church under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located at 308 W. Broadway in Manhattan, New York City. It was established as a mission of Most Holy Redeemer in 1847, and elevated to parish status in...
, the Rev. Ducey, pastor of the new church.
The church and rectory-turned convent chapel and convent were eventually sold to a private developer and demolished in the 1980s. The site is now occupied by the plaza in front of the Madison Belvedere Apartments.
Rev. Thomas J. Ducey (1843-1909)
Father Ducey was born 4 February 1843 in Ireland and emigrated in 1848. He entered the seminary at Troy, New YorkTroy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
in 1864, was ordained in December 1868, and became assistant to the Rev. George McCloskey of the Church of the Nativity, Manhattan. During this period, he was also a volunteer chaplain at the Tombs Prison. During a series of sermons in 1871 and 1872, he denounced the Boss Tweed
Boss Tweed
William Magear Tweed – often erroneously referred to as William Marcy Tweed , and widely known as "Boss" Tweed – was an American politician most notable for being the "boss" of Tammany Hall, the Democratic Party political machine that played a major role in the politics of 19th century...
ring, who retaliated by trying to have him removed to a parish outside the city. However, Fr. Ducey had powerful friends and Cardinal McCloskey refused to move him. In 1873, Fr. Ducey was appointed assistant at St. Leo's. Fr. Ducey died 22 August 1909.