Imagine Cardinal Francis Spellman in 1944. He founded Our Lady of Victory Church. It sits at Pine and William Streets in Manhattan’s Financial District. This was during World War II. Victory was in sight but not yet assured.
Our Lady of Victory Church is also known as the War Memorial Church. A quote from Cardinal Spellman greets visitors. It says: “This Holy Shrine is dedicated to Our Lady of Victory in Thanksgiving for Victory won by our valiant dead, our soldier’s blood, our country’s tears, shed to defend men’s rights and win back men’s hearts to God.”
Initially, Our Lady of Victory Church occupied temporary space. This was at 23 William Street. The present church was built later. Major Edward Bowes donated the land. The dedication happened on June 23, 1947.
The Georgian Revival church was completed in 1946. Eggers and Higgins designed it. The planned cost was 430000 dollars.
Our Lady of Victory Church has a special devotion to the Blessed Mother. People publicly recite the rosary daily. Church bells ring every hour. They remind everyone of God’s love.
A Soldier’s Shrine exists in the lower chapel of Our Lady of Victory Church. The Teresa Benedicta Auschwitz Memorial is in the lobby. It commemorates a Holocaust victim. A 9-11 Remembrance Book is on display.
Our Lady of Victory merged with St. Peter’s in 2022. St. Andrew’s was merged with Our Lady of Victory in 2017. St. Andrew’s is currently closed.
Our Lady of Victory Church serves daytime worshipers. It is not a neighborhood church.
The church had an organ from George Kilgen and Son in 1955. The church uses an organ made around 2010. It was made by the Allen Organ Company.
Several bronze plaques are in the narthex of Our Lady of Victory Church. One plaque displays Spellman’s dedication speech. Another honors Monsignor Richard J. Pigott. He was born in 1895 and died in 1963.
A plaque recognizes Mr. and Mrs. Christopher J. Devine. They donated the main altar. It honors the Kirby and Devine families. Another plaque acknowledges Major Edward Bowes. He donated the site to Cardinal Spellman.
A plaque states the statue of Our Lady of Victory was donated. It is in memory of Wallace Gilroy. Another says George Doty donated the carillon. It is in memory of his sister Josephine Jaburg.
There is a memorial to Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. It marks her Calvary was Auschwitz. A stained-glass fanlight is above the Pine Street entrance. It shows the Downtown New York Skyline with the World Trade Center. It is inscribed “September 11th Year 2001.”
Our Lady of Victory stands as a testament to faith. It commemorates sacrifice. It is a place of remembrance in the Financial District.