Once stood the magnificent St. Leo Church. It was located at 11 East 28th Street in Manhattan. The church served as a Roman Catholic parish. However, it closed under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York.
St. Leo Church’s history began in 1880. It aimed to alleviate the overcrowding at St. Stephen’s parish. Reverend Thomas J. Ducey was its first rector. He remained there until his death in 1909. The church was dedicated to St. Leo. He was the patron saint of Pope Leo XIII.
Notably, the Delmonico brothers significantly contributed to the construction of St. Leo Church. Lorenzo Delmonico was even buried from St. Leo’s in September 1881. Thomas J. McCluskey later president of Fordham University served as vice-rector from 1881 to 1887.
St. Leo Church became known for its humanitarian spirit. In 1899, Ducey built the House of Repose for the Stranger Dead. This mortuary chapel at 9 East 28th Street served people of any faith. These were people who died while temporarily in the city. Hotel guests were among those served. The clergy of St. Leo’s handled services without payment. This was if no one claimed the bodies for a proper funereal arrangement.
In the early 1900s, the neighborhood evolved. It transitioned to one of apartments and hotels. Subsequently, the parish was suppressed. It became a mission of the former St. Stephen’s Church. Some say this happened in 1908. Others believe it occurred in 1909 after Fr. Ducey’s death. The church building was given to the Sisters of Mary Reparatrix as a convent and retreat house. The old rectory became a convent. In 1914, thirteen professed nuns, three lay sisters and a postulant inhabited it.
Lawrence J. O’Connor designed the Gothic Revival church. It was built in 1880 of rough-cut brownstone. The church measured 50 by 120 feet. Its walls stood 56 feet high. The New York Times reported on August 16, 1880 that the tower on the east side of the church would be 105 feet high. A colossal cross would adorn the main entrance.
The cornerstone was laid on August 15, 1880. At that time, the walls had risen twenty feet. The church was to be roofed in November 1880. It was scheduled to open for worship around August 1881. The cost was estimated at US$95,000.
New York City Police Department Capt. Berghold with 30 policemen controlled the 2,000-person street crowd. Every seat within the enclosure of the un-roofed church was occupied.
The cornerstone bore a Latin legend. It stated that Cardinal McCloskey laid the cornerstone of the new church of St. Leo. The date was August 15, 1880. The Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was on this day. Leo XIII was the reigning Pontiff. Rutherford B. Hayes was President. Alonzo B. Cornell was Governor. Edward Cooper was Mayor. The Rev. Thomas J. Ducey was Pastor. The Rev. David J. Leahy was assistant. Lawrence J. O’Connor was architect. United States coins of all denominations, a picture of Pope Leo XIII, a large photograph of Cardinal McCloskey and copies of Catholic and New York daily papers were placed in the cornerstone.
Cardinal McCloskey did not attend the ceremony due to ill-health. The Vicar General officiated. He was assisted by Rev. McQuirck, Rev. Frisbie, Rev. Salter and Rev. Wyrich. Rev. Ducey also assisted.
The church and rectory-turned convent chapel and convent were eventually sold. It was sold to a private developer. They were demolished in the 1980s. Today, the site is occupied by the plaza in front of the Madison Belvedere Apartments. St. Leo Church is now only a memory. Yet its legacy of humanitarianism remains.