“Two white marble saints keep watch,” someone whispers. They guard the arched doorways at St. Stephen’s Roman Catholic Church. No one enters through them anymore.
Let me tell you about this silent sentinel on East 28th Street. St. Stephen’s has stood here since 1854. The parish was closed in 2015. It was part of the Archdiocese of New York’s restructuring.
St. Stephen’s wasn’t sold or demolished like other churches. It may have a happier ending. Its beauty and history are too significant to ignore.
This Romanesque Revival architecture is unusual for Catholic churches. James Renwick Jr. designed it. He also designed St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
But St. Stephen’s hides a treasure. Forty-three colorful murals adorn its interior. Constantino Brumidi painted them. He was called the “Michelangelo of the Capitol.” He also created frescoes in the U.S. Capitol.
Besides the U.S. Capitol, St. Stephen’s is the only other major site of Brumidi’s work in the United States. Preserving these murals is vital. It is vital for art lovers and parishioners alike. The outside doesn’t reveal the grandeur inside St. Stephen’s.
The centerpiece is a huge mural. It depicts the Crucifixion. It measures 22 by 44 feet. It’s the largest of its kind in the United States. Brumidi also painted ceilings walls and 54 cast-iron columns.
Over time the ceilings and columns were painted over. The murals were damaged. A 2008 analysis estimated restoration would cost $7 million.
Advocates tried to get National Historic Landmarks designation. But the archdiocese declined to support it in 2005.
Two years later the archdiocese supported city landmark status. This protects St. Stephen’s from demolition. It makes it eligible for restoration grants. But this protection doesn’t extend to the interior. The murals remain vulnerable.
The thriving Epiphany School shares the property with St. Stephen’s. The archdiocese has deconsecrated the church. It allows “profane use but not sordid use.” Film shoots bring in revenue.
Church officials are considering options for a new use. They don’t intend to sell the building. There is hope for St. Stephen’s future.
St. Stephen’s has a real chance to remain a place of worship. It could again echo with hymns and prayers. Its art and spirit could inspire for generations.