St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, New York
Encyclopedia
St Peter's Church is the oldest Roman Catholic parish in New York City
and part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
. The church was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
in 1965. The original church's cornerstone was laid in 1785 and the first solemn Mass was celebrated in 1786. The cornerstone of the present Greek Revival church, designed by architects Thomas Thomas and John R. Hagarty, was laid in 1836. The existing church was completed in 1840. The address is 22 Barclay Street.
topped off donations to start the construction of the church.
Prior to construction, due to anti-Catholic sentiments, city officials in 18th-century New York urged project organizers to change the church’s initial location on Broad Street
, in what was then the heart of the city, to a site outside the city limits at Barclay and Church. The builders relented and accepted the present location. On December 24, 1806, two decades after the church was built, the building was surrounded by Protestants incensed at a Christmas
celebration going on inside — a religious observance then viewed by some in the United States as an exercise in “popish superstition”. Protesters tried to disrupt the service. In the melee that ensued, dozens were injured, and a policeman was killed.
St Peter’s Church is where Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first United States citizen to be canonized by the Catholic Church, converted to Catholicism. Saint Elizabeth often prayed before the painting of the Crucifixion above St. Peter's main altar. (The painting, by Mexican artist Jose Vallejo, was a gift from the archbishop of Mexico City
in 1789).
St Peter’s Church was also for 66 years the parish of Pierre Toussaint
, a black Haiti
an born into slavery who was well-known known for his great generosity to the poor and piety. Toussaint is currently in the process of being canonized by the Catholic Church.
temporarily sat on the Church Street side until it was moved to the World Trade Center Memorial
. A new, custom cross was commissioned to stand in place, in installed on August 11, 2011.
The body of Father Mychal Judge, the chaplain for the New York City Fire Department
and "Victim 0001", who was killed in the 9/11 attacks, was laid before the altar by his fellow firemen. The church also served as a staging ground for rescue/recovery operations after 9/11. "We were the first place they were bringing all the emergency equipment. Everything was in disarray," the then pastor, Father Madigan stated. "Stuff was piled six feet high all over the pews—bandages, gas masks, boots, hoses and cans of food for the workers and the volunteers, many of whom were sleeping in the church on bedrolls." The same was true of the downstairs church.
Normal life did not come back to St. Peter's until October 28, when martial law
in the area was lifted. "That was when we officially celebrated our first mass after September 11," says Father Madigan. There were other masses before then, but only for the rescue workers and those with credentials to get in. After October 28 the parish cut back on the number of masses "because the number of people coming was way down. Many who had been coming to mass at St. Peter's or St. Joseph's from the World Trade Center
, of course, were not around anymore."
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...
and part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
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...
. The church was designated a landmark by the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission
The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission is the New York City agency charged with administering the city's Landmarks Preservation Law. The Commission was created in April 1965 by Mayor Robert F. Wagner following the destruction of Pennsylvania Station the previous year to make way for...
in 1965. The original church's cornerstone was laid in 1785 and the first solemn Mass was celebrated in 1786. The cornerstone of the present Greek Revival church, designed by architects Thomas Thomas and John R. Hagarty, was laid in 1836. The existing church was completed in 1840. The address is 22 Barclay Street.
History
A gift of 1,000 silver pieces from King Charles III of SpainCharles III of Spain
Charles III was the King of Spain and the Spanish Indies from 1759 to 1788. He was the eldest son of Philip V of Spain and his second wife, the Princess Elisabeth Farnese...
topped off donations to start the construction of the church.
Prior to construction, due to anti-Catholic sentiments, city officials in 18th-century New York urged project organizers to change the church’s initial location on Broad Street
Broad Street
Broad Street may refer to:In the United Kingdom:*Broad Street , in London*Broad Street, Birmingham*Broad Street, Bristol*Broad Street, Oxford*Broad Street, Reading*Broad Street, Suffolk, hamlet near Groton...
, in what was then the heart of the city, to a site outside the city limits at Barclay and Church. The builders relented and accepted the present location. On December 24, 1806, two decades after the church was built, the building was surrounded by Protestants incensed at a Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
celebration going on inside — a religious observance then viewed by some in the United States as an exercise in “popish superstition”. Protesters tried to disrupt the service. In the melee that ensued, dozens were injured, and a policeman was killed.
St Peter’s Church is where Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, the first United States citizen to be canonized by the Catholic Church, converted to Catholicism. Saint Elizabeth often prayed before the painting of the Crucifixion above St. Peter's main altar. (The painting, by Mexican artist Jose Vallejo, was a gift from the archbishop of Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in 1789).
St Peter’s Church was also for 66 years the parish of Pierre Toussaint
Pierre Toussaint
The Venerable Pierre Toussaint was an immigrant to the United States and a successful hairdresser in New York City during the Federal Period. Due to his devout and exemplary life, the Roman Catholic Church has been investigating his life for possible canonization.-Life:Pierre Toussaint was born as...
, a black Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
an born into slavery who was well-known known for his great generosity to the poor and piety. Toussaint is currently in the process of being canonized by the Catholic Church.
September 11
The building was damaged during the September 11, 2001, attacks due to being hit by a portion of the landing gear. The World Trade Center crossWorld Trade Center cross
The World Trade Center cross, also known as the Ground Zero cross, is a group of steel beams found amidst the debris of the World Trade Center following the September 11, 2001 attacks which resembles the proportions of a Christian cross.-Background:...
temporarily sat on the Church Street side until it was moved to the World Trade Center Memorial
World Trade Center Memorial
- Fundraising :The Foundation has fundraising responsibilities because of the tasks assigned to it by the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation...
. A new, custom cross was commissioned to stand in place, in installed on August 11, 2011.
The body of Father Mychal Judge, the chaplain for the New York City Fire Department
New York City Fire Department
The New York City Fire Department or the Fire Department of the City of New York has the responsibility for protecting the citizens and property of New York City's five boroughs from fires and fire hazards, providing emergency medical services, technical rescue as well as providing first response...
and "Victim 0001", who was killed in the 9/11 attacks, was laid before the altar by his fellow firemen. The church also served as a staging ground for rescue/recovery operations after 9/11. "We were the first place they were bringing all the emergency equipment. Everything was in disarray," the then pastor, Father Madigan stated. "Stuff was piled six feet high all over the pews—bandages, gas masks, boots, hoses and cans of food for the workers and the volunteers, many of whom were sleeping in the church on bedrolls." The same was true of the downstairs church.
Normal life did not come back to St. Peter's until October 28, when martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
in the area was lifted. "That was when we officially celebrated our first mass after September 11," says Father Madigan. There were other masses before then, but only for the rescue workers and those with credentials to get in. After October 28 the parish cut back on the number of masses "because the number of people coming was way down. Many who had been coming to mass at St. Peter's or St. Joseph's from the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
, of course, were not around anymore."