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Church of the Transfiguration (New York City)
Encyclopedia
The Church of the Tranfiguration is a Roman Catholic parish
located at 25 Mott Street on the northwest corner of Mosco Street (formerly Park Street) in the Chinatown neighborhood of Manhattan
, New York City
. The parish is under the authority of the Archdiocese of New York
and is staffed by the Maryknoll
order.
The church was built in 1801 in the Georgian style
of architecture for the Zion English Lutheran Church., a Lutheran congregation that subsequently converted en masse to the Protestant Episcopal Church
. The church then became known as Zion Protestant Episcopal Church. It was rebuilt after a major fire in 1815 which gutted the church and 35 dwellings in the surrounding Five Points
neighborhood. The church was rebuilt thanks to the effort of congregation member Peter Lorillard
.
The Episcopal congregation sold the building in 1853 to the Roman Catholic Church of the Immigrants parish, which had been founded in 1827 by the Rev. Felix Varela y Morales to minister to the poor Irish in the Five Points who were predominately Roman Catholic. The parish later changed its name to the Church of the Transfiguration.
The church is one of four on the Lower East Side
built from Manhattan schist
. The AIA Guide to New York City
describes it as "[A] Georgian church with Gothic
(small-paned double-hung) windows ... with Gothic tracery ... Dressed Manhattan schist makes neat building blocks, with brownstone
detail." A copper-covered octagonal tower designed by Henry Engelbert
was added to the church building in 1868, when the Gothic windows are assumed to have been added as well.
The church was designated a New York City landmark in 1966, and was was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1980.
Today, this parish serves an almost entirely Chinese congregation. It offers Sunday masses in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, and has a Catholic School open to all religions. The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers who staff the parish belong to an order that has historical roots in overseas missions to China in particular and the entire world in general. Because the Maryknoll Order is dedicated to overseas mission, this Chinese Roman Catholic Parish has the unique designation as the only parish that is entirely staffed by Maryknollers.
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
located at 25 Mott Street on the northwest corner of Mosco Street (formerly Park Street) in the Chinatown neighborhood of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The parish is under the authority of the Archdiocese of New York
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes...
and is staffed by the Maryknoll
Maryknoll
Maryknoll is a name shared by three organizations that are part of the Roman Catholic Church and whose joint focus is on the overseas mission activity of the Catholic Church in the United States...
order.
The church was built in 1801 in the Georgian style
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
of architecture for the Zion English Lutheran Church., a Lutheran congregation that subsequently converted en masse to the Protestant Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
. The church then became known as Zion Protestant Episcopal Church. It was rebuilt after a major fire in 1815 which gutted the church and 35 dwellings in the surrounding Five Points
Five Points
Five Points may refer to:*Five Points, Alabama*Five Points, California , multiple locations*Five Points, Florida*Five Points, North Carolina*Five Points, Ohio*Five Points, Pennsylvania , multiple locations...
neighborhood. The church was rebuilt thanks to the effort of congregation member Peter Lorillard
Pierre Lorillard II
Pierre Lorillard II also known as Pierre Lorillard Jr., was an American tobacco manufacturer, industrialist, banker, businessman, and real estate tycoon.-Biography:...
.
The Episcopal congregation sold the building in 1853 to the Roman Catholic Church of the Immigrants parish, which had been founded in 1827 by the Rev. Felix Varela y Morales to minister to the poor Irish in the Five Points who were predominately Roman Catholic. The parish later changed its name to the Church of the Transfiguration.
The church is one of four on the Lower East Side
Lower East Side
The Lower East Side, LES, is a neighborhood in the southeastern part of the New York City borough of Manhattan. It is roughly bounded by Allen Street, East Houston Street, Essex Street, Canal Street, Eldridge Street, East Broadway, and Grand Street....
built from Manhattan schist
Manhattan schist
The Manhattan schist is a formation of mica schist rock that underlies much of the island of Manhattan in New York City. It is well suited for the foundations of tall buildings, and the two large concentrations of skyscrapers on the island occur in locations where the formation is close to the...
. The AIA Guide to New York City
AIA Guide to New York City
Authored by Norval White and Elliot Willensky, The AIA Guide to New York City is an extensive catalogue with descriptions, critique and photographs of significant and noteworthy architecture throughout the five boroughs of New York City....
describes it as "[A] Georgian church with Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
(small-paned double-hung) windows ... with Gothic tracery ... Dressed Manhattan schist makes neat building blocks, with brownstone
Brownstone
Brownstone is a brown Triassic or Jurassic sandstone which was once a popular building material. The term is also used in the United States to refer to a terraced house clad in this material.-Types:-Apostle Island brownstone:...
detail." A copper-covered octagonal tower designed by Henry Engelbert
Henry Engelbert
Henry Engelbert was an architect best known for buildings in the French Second Empire style, which emphasized elaborate mansard roofs with dormers. New York's Grand Hotel on Broadway is the most noteworthy extant example of Engelbert's work in the French Second Empire Style...
was added to the church building in 1868, when the Gothic windows are assumed to have been added as well.
The church was designated a New York City landmark in 1966, and was was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1980.
History
By the 1840s, many new European immigrants had arrived in the area served by the church, which became known as the "Five Points". Many of the earlier Protestant residents moved to northern parts of the city, which prompted the church being sold to the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York. Over the years it has continued to serve the Irish, Italian and more recently Chinese immigrant communities. Today it is the oldest Roman Catholic church building in New York City..Today, this parish serves an almost entirely Chinese congregation. It offers Sunday masses in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, and has a Catholic School open to all religions. The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers who staff the parish belong to an order that has historical roots in overseas missions to China in particular and the entire world in general. Because the Maryknoll Order is dedicated to overseas mission, this Chinese Roman Catholic Parish has the unique designation as the only parish that is entirely staffed by Maryknollers.