Have you ever felt the weight of history beneath your feet? Right here before you stands the Church of Saint Paul the Apostle a majestic testament to faith and artistry. This isn’t just any church. This is the mother church of the Paulist Fathers the first religious community of Catholic priests founded in the United States.
Established as a parish in 1858 its first home was a humble frame house. The congregation quickly outgrew this space. A new church was needed. The current building a stunning example of Late Gothic Revival architecture began construction in 1876. It was a collaborative effort. Jeremiah O’Rourke designed the initial plans. Paulist priest George Deshon a military engineer from West Point took over after O’Rourke’s death. He may have streamlined the design. Some believe Isaac Hecker the founder of the Paulist Fathers himself influenced the design using the Cathedral of Santa Croce in Florence as a model.
The construction was a remarkable feat. The builders used Tarrytown gray granite salvaged from the Croton Aqueduct. Other stones came from various structures across Manhattan. Even the granite steps at the entrance were salvaged from Booth’s Theatre a French Second Empire-style building on Sixth Avenue.
Dedicated on January 25 1885 the church was not yet fully complete. The 114-foot towers were still under construction. Much of the interior decoration remained unfinished. But even incomplete Saint Paul the Apostle Church awed visitors. The New York Daily Tribune described it as vast plain fortress-like yet possessing the most august unworldly interior of the continent.
The interior is breathtaking. Eminent artists like Stanford White and John LaFarge contributed their talents. The result is a symphony of ecclesiastical art. Large decorated side chapels adorn the space. Magnificent stained-glass windows catch the light. Intricate floor mosaics created by Bertram Goodhue add another layer of beauty. Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Frederick MacMonnies also contributed their artistic skills. Lumen Martin Winter’s Angel of the Resurrection graces the sarcophagus of Father Hecker in the northeast corner of the nave. Other Paulist Fathers are entombed in a crypt below.
Saint Paul the Apostle Church has faced challenges. Financial difficulties threatened its existence in the 1960s and 70s. Demolition was even briefly considered. But the church persevered. A sale of air rights allowed the construction of a new Parish Center. Today Saint Paul the Apostle Church thrives. It serves a vibrant community including young professionals and a Spanish-speaking congregation. It even hosts events ranging from a youth ministry food bank to LGBTQ+ ministry and support for orphanages in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. The church basement has seen many uses too from a school cafeteria to a homeless shelter. From a Rockettes rehearsal space to a boxing venue and even a comic convention.
The church’s magnificent M P Moller pipe organ Opus 9987 deserves a mention. With nearly 5000 pipes it’s a marvel of sound. Its rich tones have been captured on recordings by renowned organist Virgil Fox.
So gaze upon Saint Paul the Apostle Church. Let its grandeur and history inspire you. Its story is one of resilience faith and enduring artistic beauty. A true testament to the enduring spirit of New York City.