“St. Patrick’s of Harlem” they call it. A fitting nickname for All Saints Roman Catholic Church. This majestic building stands proudly at 47 East 129th Street. It’s a testament to faith and architectural brilliance.
All Saints Roman Catholic Church wasn’t always the predominantly African-American and Nigerian community hub it is today. Established in October 1879 its early years served the Irish immigrants who flocked to Harlem. Monsignor James W. Power a native Irishman was its first pastor. He oversaw the construction of the church itself a project that lasted from 1883 to 1886.
The design is stunning. James Renwick Jr. a name synonymous with architectural grandeur designed All Saints. He also designed St Patrick’s Cathedral. The Venetian Gothic style is breathtaking. The patterned brickwork and terra cotta details are exquisite. Rose windows grace the clerestory. A prominent bell tower soars towards the sky. The vaulted interior is equally opulent. Hand-carved pews invite quiet reflection. Murals and stained glass tell stories of faith and devotion. It’s a stunning example of the Italian Gothic Revival style. A rare choice for a late nineteenth-century New York church.
But All Saints was more than just a church. It was a community center. Power also built a parish school soon after the church. Irish Christian Brothers educated the children of Irish immigrants. Sisters of Charity from New York also helped. The school thrived. Enrollment once reached almost 2000 students mostly girls. All Saints Academy a high school for girls and All Hallows Collegiate Institute for boys operated within the parish. Even a Home for Working Girls existed. The Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart ran that home. Unfortunately All Saints School closed in 2011. A sad loss for the community.
The church itself had a remarkable organ too. Frank Roosevelt built his company’s last organ for All Saints in 1892. Welte-Tripp Organ Corp. later electrified and expanded it in 1931. This monumental instrument has since found a new home at St. Paul the Apostle Church.
The All Saints Roman Catholic Church complex achieved landmark status in January 2007. A well-deserved honor for a structure so significant to Harlem’s history. The parish merged with St. Charles Borromeo in 2015. The church was deconsecrated in 2017. A developer purchased the complex in 2021. It’s a bittersweet end to a glorious chapter. Yet the legacy of All Saints Roman Catholic Church lives on in the memories of those it served. It remains a stunning reminder of a bygone era. A symbol of faith resilience and community.