Torn between reverence and curiosity, let’s delve into the story of St. Benedict the Moor Church. It was once a beacon of Black Catholic life in New York City. The church stood at 342 West 53rd Street in Hell’s Kitchen. Today, the building is under new ownership. Yet, its legacy echoes through time.
In 1883, a Black Catholic mission parish was established. It was named after St. Benedict the Moor. This was thanks to a $5,000 bequest by Fr. Thomas Farrell. He wanted to serve the African-American community in Lower Manhattan. His will stipulated an interesting clause. If the Catholic Church couldn’t use the funds for this purpose, the money would go to the Protestant Colored Orphan Asylum.
St. Benedict the Moor Church holds a significant place in history. It was the first church in New York City for Black Catholics. Moreover, it was the first such church north of the Mason-Dixon line. In 1892, the parish acquired the former Third Universalist Church. It was located at 210 Bleecker Street. This was a time when many African Americans resided in southern Manhattan. They renamed the church after their parish. Later, Our Lady of Pompeii Church occupied the Bleecker Street building.
Fr. Augustus Tolton celebrated his first Mass in America at this parish in 1886. He was the first openly Black Catholic priest in the United States. William Augustine Williams served as the parish sacristan a decade later. He was the first openly Black Catholic seminarian.
As the Black population moved north, the parish followed suit. In 1898, it took over the former Second German Church of the Evangelical Association. This was at 342 W. 53rd Street in Hell’s Kitchen. They renamed it St. Benedict the Moor Church. In the 1920s, many parishioners relocated to Harlem. Harlem became a hub of African-American life.
After 1953, Spanish friars of the Third Order of Saint Francis staffed the church. It was rededicated in 1954. Later, the parish became a mission. The Lumen Christi congregation maintained it. Despite a recommendation for closure, the Archdiocese announced in 2007 that the church would retain its parish status. However, on June 30, 2017, the church was deconsecrated. In 2023, it was sold to a developer.
The Italianate-style church was built in 1869. R.C. McLane & Sons designed it for the Second German Church of the Evangelical Association. A three-story rectory was built in 1965. Joseph Mitchell designed it. The rectory reused the statue of the Virgin Mary.
St. Benedict the Moor Church hosted prominent Black Catholics. Auxiliary Bishop Emerson Moore noted its role in addressing racial prejudices. The church served as a stepping stone for Blacks from the Village to Harlem. By the late 1890s, the church acquired its current property. It served as a national parish for African Americans.
The church became the “intellectual center of the New York Negro.” It hosted lyceums that attracted Black luminaries. John E. W. Thompson, a physician and diplomat, was a parishioner. William Augustine Williams served as the parish sacristan. He was known as a well-educated Black polyglot.
The Franciscan Handmaids of the Most Pure Heart of Mary were connected to the parish. They opened a nursery, convent, and orphanage there. Although integrated, most African Americans moved to Harlem. This led to the parish’s decline.
St. Benedict the Moor ceased operation in 2007. It was deconsecrated a decade later. Under the new agreement, the church must remain intact for at least 20 years. It can be repurposed for other uses. The story of St. Benedict the Moor Church is a testament to faith. It is a tribute to community and resilience. It stands as a reminder of the past.