Good Shepherd Baptist Church

Gazing at Good Shepherd Baptist Church, imagine stepping back to 1911. The Paulist Fathers purchased land from the Isham family, establishing this vital hub for Inwood’s Roman Catholic community. Good Shepherd Baptist Church aimed to be a beacon of faith. The first church, a modest wood-framed structure, served the growing community. Around 1930, this building was moved across Cooper Street. It was later demolished for school expansion. The 1930s brought the IND subway under Broadway. Inwood’s population boomed, particularly the Irish community. A larger church was needed. In 1935, architect Paul Monaghan designed the current Good Shepherd Baptist Church. The Romanesque-style building is impressive. Its granite facade, limestone and granite trim, and terra-cotta tile roof are striking. Three stained-glass windows, nestled between buttresses, grace the facade above a prominent porch. The church’s design commands attention, a symbol of the community’s strength and faith. Inside, the grand space can seat around 1,000 people. In 1914, a rectory was built south of Isham Park. Designed by Maynicke and Franke, it stands on the corner of Cooper and Isham Streets. Its design, reminiscent of the Church of the Intercession, blends simple Gothic details with robust form. The Fordham gneiss walls, quarried in the Bronx, add to the building’s character. The church’s construction changed the rectory’s view. It now faces the back of the church rather than the Harlem River. A school and convent were added in the 1930s. Good Shepherd Baptist Church, initially serving the Irish community, now embraces a largely Hispanic congregation. The Capuchin Franciscan Friars now guide the church. Good Shepherd Baptist Church reflects Inwood’s history. It stands as a testament to the once-thriving Irish Catholic middle class.