“Rectory/Office located at: 2860 Webb Ave”. That’s what the sign says here at Our Lady of Angels Rectory. But the story of this place is so much more than just an address. It is a story of faith, community, and resilience.
Our Lady of Angels Rectory is linked to the Church of Our Lady Queen of Angels. This church has a fascinating past. In 1886, East Harlem was still quite rural. Archbishop Michael Corrigan asked Capuchin friar Bonaventure Frey to start a parish. This parish was for German Catholics who had moved north from Yorkville. The church was built in Neo-Romanesque style by the Capuchin Friars. It became the third Capuchin parish in the city.
Father Bonaventure Frey was key. He co-founded the Capuchin Franciscan Catholic Order in the United States. He built the church and grew the congregation. He also served as the church’s first Superior.
Our Lady Queen of Angels Church is located on a cul-de-sac. This cul-de-sac is within the Jefferson Houses. The charming Neo-Romanesque building is flanked by a convent and a rectory.
The Archdiocese closed Our Lady Queen of Angels Church in 2007. This happened because of few priests and lower attendance. But the Our Lady Queen of Angels School remains open. It is part of the Partnership Schools network. This network has nine Catholic schools in Cleveland and New York.
Today, the Franciscan Sisters of the Renewal live in Our Lady Queen of Angels convent. They run the “Fr. Solanus Soup Kitchen”. It continues the church’s legacy of service.
The closure of Our Lady Queen of Angels Church was met with opposition. Parishioners and officials fought to keep it open. Despite popular support, the church’s future remains unclear.
Our Lady of Angels in the Bronx also invites people to celebrate Mass. The parish office is at 2860 Webb Ave. Our Lady of Angels parish was started on September 24th, 1891, by Bishop John Loughlin. Father Martin Loftus held the first Mass on September 27th, 1891. It took place in a small firehouse on 67th Street. Seventy-two people attended.
The first Our Lady of Angels Church was built at Fourth Avenue and 74th Street. It was dedicated on September 17, 1893. The current church was dedicated on June 23, 1929.
In 1946, Msgr. O’Hara died. Msgr. Edmund J. Reilly became the new pastor. He expanded the school. This included the gymnasium we see today.
Our Lady of Angels Rectory stands as a testament. It represents the enduring spirit of faith and community in New York City. Though the church may be closed, its legacy lives on. It lives on through the school, the soup kitchen, and the memories of those who found solace and strength within its walls.