“An ashlar church in the tradition of the others nearby which antedate 1850.” That is how the AIA Guide to New York City describes St. Teresa Church. But its story goes far beyond simple architectural description.
St. Teresa Church stands on Rutgers Street. It graces the corner of Henry Street in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. This Roman Catholic parish falls under the Archdiocese of New York. Its story is one of resilience and community spirit.
Originally, this building was the Rutgers Presbyterian Church. It was erected in 1841-42 in the Gothic Revival style. Colonel Henry Rutgers donated the land. A unique feature is said to be the oldest public clock in New York City.
In 1863 St. Teresa’s Parish took over the church. The parish had been founded just three years prior.
A 1901 New York Times article noted St. Teresa Church. It mentioned other Catholic structures in the Lower East Side. These churches primarily served as parish churches. They were in areas where social needs were otherwise met.
But disaster struck in 1995. The interior vaulted ceiling of St. Teresa Church collapsed. Sixty thousand pounds of plaster crashed down. It broke through the floor into the basement parish hall.
The congregation faced a daunting challenge. For months, they worshiped in a local synagogue. They managed to repair the floor so they could worship in the basement.
Closing St. Teresa’s was considered due to the high cost of roof repair. But Father Dennis Sullivan and his parishioners refused to give up. They were determined to save their church.
The parish school had been condemned and closed in 1942. It was torn down. The space became a parking lot used by the church and neighborhood. As New York City revitalized in the late 1990s property values rose. The Lower East Side began to gentrify. St. Teresa’s parish found a solution. They sold the parking lot and adjacent air rights.
This sale provided the funds for extensive renovations. The renovations included a new roof. New interior appointments were salvaged from the old church. Three murals painted in the 1880s were restored. These murals depict significant religious scenes. One shows St. Patrick teaching pagan kings. Another shows St. Teresa teaching her sisters. The third depicts the crucifixion of Christ.
In early winter 2002, St. Teresa Church reopened. Edward Cardinal Egan rededicated it in early 2003.
Monsignor Sullivan departed in July 2003. Father Donald Baker then served as pastor from 2003 to 2015. Father Jose Serrano followed him. Currently, Father Alexis Bastidas is the pastor.
Today St. Teresa Church conducts services in three languages. These languages are English, Spanish, and Chinese. It serves a diverse community.
St. Teresa Church stands as a testament to faith. It demonstrates perseverance and community spirit. It overcame challenges. It continues to serve its congregation. It welcomes all. It is a beacon of hope in the Lower East Side.