Saint Margaret’s of Cartona Church

In 1887, a seed of faith was planted in Riverdale. This seed would blossom into the Saint Margaret’s of Cortona Church. Before Saint Margaret’s, local Catholics journeyed to St. John’s in Kingsbridge or St. Mary’s in Yonkers. The Reverend James F. Kiley saw the need for a local parish. He began holding services in St. Vincent’s Free School, now known as Le Gras Hall on the Mount Saint Vincent College campus. The first Saint Margaret’s of Cortona Church building was completed in 1891. It stood proudly at the southeast corner of Riverdale Avenue and West 260th Street. The dedication ceremony, held on August 16th, was led by Archbishop Corrigan. The church we see today at Saint Margaret’s of Cortona, however, isn’t the original structure. The current church and rectory were built in 1964 just across the street, on the northeast corner of Riverdale Avenue and West 260th. This new Saint Margaret’s of Cortona Church was dedicated in June 1965. It continues to serve the community. In 2015, the parish of St. Gabriel’s merged with Saint Margaret’s, further solidifying its presence in Riverdale. Interestingly, Saint Margaret’s has a strong connection to education. The Sisters of Charity established St. Vincent’s Free School in 1875. It served the children of the Irish poor who worked in the Riverdale estates. Years later, in 1910, Reverend Michael J. Murray, successor to Reverend Kiley, built Lavelle Hall intending it to be a school. Financial constraints, however, delayed its opening. The building served the New York City School system until 1926 when it finally became Saint Margaret’s Parish School under Reverend Thomas J. Doyle.