St. Aloysius Catholic Church | |
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General information | |
Location | 209-217 West 132nd Street Manhattan, New York City |
Construction started | 1902 (church);[1] 1940(school)[1] |
Cost | $60,000 (church);[1] $60,000 (school)[1] |
Client | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York[1] |
Technical details | |
Structural system | Masonry |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | William W. Renwick (1902 church);[1] Starret & Van Vleck & Purdy & Henderson (1940 school)[1] |
Website | |
https://staloysiuschurchny.org/ |
The St. Aloysius Catholic Church[2] is a Catholic parish in the Archdiocese of New York, located at 209-217 West 132nd Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard and Frederick Douglass Boulevard in the Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City.
It was built in 1902-04 and was designed by William W. Renwick – the nephew of James Renwick Jr. – in the Italian Gothic Revival style.[3] It has been called a "little-known treasure".[4] The church was designated a New York City Landmark on January 30, 2007.[5]
The St. Aloysius congregation was established in 1899 and has been staffed by the Jesuit Fathers, of which Saint Aloysius Gonzaga was himself a member.[6] The congregation was originally primarily German, Irish and Italian immigrants and their families.[3] The current congregation is primarily African American, and gospel music is utilized in the services.[4]
The brick church designed by Renwick has an "usually intricate facade, with colorful bands of red brick, celadon glazed bricks and polychrome terra cotta,"[3] creating "an evocative and delicate facade."[7] Sculpted reliefs on the depict Christ, the Holy Family and two angels.[3] The overall design compares favorably to Renwick's All Saints Church on East 129th Street,[4] and may have been inspired by Renwick's travels in Italy before joining his uncle's firm.[7]
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