Ever wonder about the story behind this Romanesque Revival church? We’re standing before St. Anthony of Padua Church. It stands at 155 Sullivan Street. This is the corner of West Houston Street in Manhattan.
St. Anthony of Padua Church has a rich history. It is the first parish in the United States. It was specifically formed to serve Italian immigrants. The parish was founded in 1859. A priest named Sanguinetti started it. He came from Italy with the approval of Archbishop John Hughes. His goal was to serve the Catholic faith to his countrymen. Many Italian immigrants were not practicing their faith. They lacked clergy who spoke their language. Some even joined other denominations.
Sanguinetti leased the former Church of St. Vincent de Paul. It was built in 1841 on Canal Street. However, Sanguinetti returned to Italy after only a year. He felt overwhelmed by the obstacles.
The Italian community did not want to lose what Sanguinetti started. John McCloskey appealed for help. He was Hughes’ successor. He contacted Pamfilo of Magliano. He was the Minister Provincial of the Franciscan friars. Father Pamfilo agreed to take responsibility. He assigned Friar Leo Pacilio to the task. The parish was re-established in 1866. It was located at 149 Sullivan Street. This building was originally the Sullivan Street Methodist Episcopal Church. The Franciscan friars served the parish. They continue to administer it today. Cardinal McCloskey dedicated the church on April 10 1866.
Between 1886 and 1888, a new church was built. Arthur Crooks designed it. The style is Romanesque Revival. The friars had lived with the first church structure. Now, a separate friary was built for them. It was on Thompson Street behind the church. It also served as provincial headquarters.
Originally, tenement buildings blocked the Houston Street facade. These were demolished when Houston Street was widened in the 1930s. This exposed the plain facade. The church now uses this space as a garden. From 1902 to 2005, the parish operated a school. It was located on Mac Dougal Street.
On the night of November 4 1938, the friary caught fire. Father Richard Fagan rescued two other friars. He went back into the building three times. On his third attempt, he was trapped. He was badly burned. He escaped through a window. He landed on a neighboring roof. He died of his injuries at age 27. In 1941, New York City named a park in his honor. It is located at Sixth Avenue and Prince Streets.
The cornerstone was laid on June 13 1886. The Italian Renaissance church is 75 feet wide and 150 feet long. The facade has three entrances. A statue of St. Anthony surmounts them. There is a stained glass wheel window. It is 26 feet in diameter. Turrets rise above the brick side walls. At the rear facing Thompson Street is a four-story monastery. A campanile tower holds three bells. The interior rises 86 feet high. It includes stained glass windows. Italian marble was used for the pulpit, communion rail, and altars. The main altar is 17 feet wide and 26 feet tall. The church could accommodate 1500 people. There is a basement that can hold as many people as the upper church.
In 1909, an upper gallery was constructed. The organ was reconfigured. Hutchings-Votey company did this. The organ was electrified by Midmer-Losh in 1929. It was rebuilt again in 1946 by Anthony Porto. Restorative work was done in 2005.
The original organ was built in 1886. George Jardine Son of New York City installed it. It cost 8000 dollars.
So, the next time you pass by St. Anthony of Padua remember its history. It is a beacon of faith and community for Italian immigrants in New York City. It is the oldest existing Italian parish in the U.S.. It is a testament to the enduring power of faith.