Doesn’t this building command attention? Saint Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church stands as a testament to faith and architectural evolution. The church’s story began in 1920. Bishop Charles E. McDonnell established the parish. He appointed Father Ward G. Meehan as rector. Early masses occurred in the Casino. It was located in a grove atop Jackson Heights.
Father Meehan announced a generous donation. The Queensboro Corporation provided land. This land would house the church and rectory. He ordered prefabricated buildings. These came from a Middle West firm. The total cost was about $20,000. Father hoped the congregation would occupy the buildings by August 15.
Ground broke on July 6, 1920. This was the day Joan of Arc was beatified in Rome. The building components were lost in shipping. Father Meehan sent wires everywhere. He looked between New York and Chicago. The components were found in Elmhurst railyards. The new building was meant to be temporary. A permanent church was planned. It would be modeled after the Gothic cathedral at Nancy. Saint Joan is Nancy’s patron saint. This church was expected within five years. The cost would exceed $250,000.
Construction to complete the Upper Church began in 1949. It is a brick structure with limestone trimming. Its style is Italianate. The first service was a solemn high midnight mass. This took place on Christmas Eve 1950.
The Upper Church features a Kilgen & Son organ. It was installed in 1950. The organ boasts electro-pneumatic action. It has three manuals and 31 stops. It also includes 34 ranks.
The church complex includes more than just the church. There is a rectory and a convent. A primary school and meeting hall are also present. These all seem well-used and maintained.
The school was completed in 1924 by Steinback and Murphy. Murphy and Lehman completed the rectory in 1926. Henry V. Murphy completed the convent in 1940. LaPierre and Litchfield finished Ward Meehan Hall in 1961.
Original plans for a cathedral were not approved. An original plan from 1927 resulted in only the basement being completed. New plans were unveiled in 1941. They weren’t implemented until 1949. This may explain the building’s neo-Romanesque appearance. The building features lavish decoration. There are striking mid-century mosaics inside.
In June 1920, Saint Joan of Arc Parish was established. A five-day carnival raised money. Babe Ruth appeared at the carnival. He auctioned off autographed baseballs. The highest bid came from Babe Ruth himself. It was a hundred dollars.
The first pastor was Captain Ward Meehan. He was an Infantry Chaplain. This was during World War I. A shrapnel-marked statue of Saint Joan of Arc stands here. Its base contains stone from her prison. It was presented to Father Meehan for his war work. It is now enshrined in our Saint Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church.
Dolores De Fina, the future Mrs. Bob Hope, was an active parishioner. She helped make parish shows successful. In 1950, construction began on the Upper Church. It was built around the existing Lower Church. The Upper Church was completed in 1951. Today, both churches are used daily. This beautiful Saint Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church is truly a beacon of faith.