Churches and Cathedrals of Manhattan, New York City - 5

Personal notes and information gleaned following a visit October 2003, and features only the churches which I discovered during my seven days in New York. The churches face in all sorts of directions, the descriptions that follow therefore have ritual directions which assumes the high altar is at the east end of the building. The churches are all Roman Catholic, unless otherwise mentioned, and are featured in the order I visited them.

GREENWICH VILLAGE

St John (Evangelical Lutheran) ( 81 Christopher Street)

The church was built in the "modified federal style" in 1821 as the Eighth Presbyterian Church. From 1842-1856 it was St Matthew's Episcopal Church and became Lutheran in 1858. Victorian features were added in 1886 by Berg & Clark, and the pediment was inscribed, "Deutsche Evangelish-Lutherische St. Johannes Kirche."

Thechurch has a pretty three-bayed facade behind which rises a cupola carrying a short spike with cross. Sadly I found it locked.

St Veronica (153 Christopher Street)

Built in 1889-91 in a quirky highly original Gothic style, designed by John J Deery. It has twin west towers and a wide facade. The nave seems no longer than the depth of these towers, as transepts seem to rise behind them.

Like the previous church, this too was locked, although a light was on above the door furthest away in the photograph.

(Any further information on this church gratefully received!)

 

Our Lady of Pompeii (Carmine St / Bleecker Street)

The church was built in 1926-28 to the designs of Matthew W del Gaudio, replacing a church where St Francesca Xavier Cambrini the first american citizen to be canonised worshipped. Rectangular in plan, the main front appearing rather lop-sided thanks to the three ever-decreasing-staged tower rising above the SW (actual NE) corner.

The interior is rather fine Italianite with marble columns and frescoes and murals.

I found the church open. (Any further information on this church gratefully received!)

 
     

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page updated 25th August 2007