“A model in fire exit accommodations” the New York Times called St Lucy’s Church school in 1915. That’s quite a detail isn’t it? Right here on East 104th Street stands St Lucy’s Church a testament to East Harlem’s rich history.
St Lucy’s Church wasn’t always this grand Neo-Gothic structure. Its story began humbly in 1899. Archbishop Michael Corrigan established the Parish of St Lucy to serve Italian and English-speaking Catholics. Father Edmund W Cronin a tireless priest rented a simple loft for the first Mass.
The congregation quickly outgrew its temporary home. They moved to a larger space on East 103rd Street. Then in 1901 a one-story stone church was built. It wasn’t the magnificent church we see today. It was a practical space for a growing community. Lynch & Comb designed the initial building and a rectory. The basement church was dedicated on Pentecost Sunday 1901.
By 1914 the parish boasted over 15000 members. Mostly Italian-speaking. The small church was insufficient. Thomas J Duff designed the current three-story structure. It was a grand undertaking combining a church and a school. Completed in 1915 the church was dedicated by Cardinal John Farley. Archbishop Giovanni Bonzano the Apostolic Delegate from the Holy See presided. The Pallotine Sisters ran the school until 1979. Each classroom had three exits a fire safety marvel for its time.
The church’s symmetrical facade its rose window and bellcote are architectural highlights. It reflects the Italian-American community that built it. But times change. In the mid-20th century the neighborhood’s demographics shifted. The Italian community was replaced by a Puerto Rican one. Membership in St Lucy’s dwindled.
In 2015 the Archdiocese of New York merged St Lucy’s with St Ann’s Church. Masses ceased. St Lucy’s Church was deconsecrated in 2017. The building stands as a reminder of a vibrant past a legacy of faith and community. A beautiful reminder of a once thriving parish and the Italian-American heritage of East Harlem. A building once full of voices now stands silent. But its story echoes still.