Holy Cross Church (Manhattan)

Church in New York City, US

Church in New York City, USA

Holy Cross Church

Holy Cross Church

Location| New York City
Country| USA
Denomination| Roman Catholic
History
Founded| 1852 (1852)
Architecture
Architect(s)| Henry Engelbert
Style| Italianate Gothic
Completed| 1870
Specifications
Length| 100 feet (30 m)
Width| 82 feet (25 m)
Height| 148 feet (45 m)
Materials| Red brick
Administration
Archdiocese| New York
Parish| Holy Cross — St. John the Baptist Parish
Clergy
Pastor(s)| Fr. Michael Ramos, OFMCap

40°45′29″N 73°59′28″W﻿ / ﻿40.75806°N 73.99111°W﻿ / 40.75806; -73.99111

This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Needs description of merger with St. John the Baptist in 2015. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (June 2018)

|

Former Holy Cross School, now De La Salle Academy[1]

Holy Cross Church is a Roman Catholic church located at 329 West 42nd Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City, near Times Square and across the street from the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

## History

[edit]

The Holy Cross Parish was established in 1852 and a chapel erected, which the congregation quickly outgrew.[2] In 1854, a new building was constructed and dedicated, but lightning struck this second structure in 1867, and the ensuing fire severely damaged it. The current church was constructed to a design by Henry Engelbert on the site of the damaged building and completed in 1870.[3][4] It is notable as the oldest building on 42nd Street.[5] The Holy Cross School, located behind the church at 332 West 43rd Street, was built in 1887 to a design by Lawrence J. O'Connor.[4]

Since 1900, Holy Cross Church has worked with politicians, police and community groups to combat poverty, crime and drugs in the neighborhood.[6] The parish is especially associated with the popular ministry of the Reverend Francis P. Duffy.

In 2015, the parish of Holy Cross Church merged with the parish of St. John the Baptist Church, on West 30th Street. The Archdiocese of New York also confirmed the merger in a press release in May 2015. The press release notes that the two parishes had been collaborating for several years prior to the merger and that the newly formed Holy Cross-St. John the Baptist Parish would continue to serve the spiritual needs of the local community.[7] Holy Cross Church has been staffed by priests of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin since the 2015 merger.[8]

## Architecture

[edit]

The exterior of Holy Cross Church shows a red brick facade with flanking twin towers in an Italianate Gothic form.[3] Inside, the church reveals an eclectic mixture of Georgian classical, Romanesque and Byzantine forms.[3] The main dimensions are 100 feet from front to back and 82 feet from side to side, where the configuration completes the suggestion of a cross. A dome, surmounted by a cross, rises above the intersection of nave and transept. From curb level to the top of the cross is a distance of 148 feet.[5]

The nine stained-glass windows in the chancel were made by Mayer & Company of Munich.[9] Louis Comfort Tiffany designed the mosaics below the dome and in the sanctuary. Tiffany also designed the stained glass of the clerestory windows and wheel windows of the transepts.[3]

The red brick and terra-cotta school building facade was designed in the Romanesque Revival style.[4]

## Services

[edit]

Mass is celebrated in both English- and Spanish-language services. Holy Cross Church operates Crossroads Food Pantry and Harvesters Soup Kitchen (alternate Saturdays) serving the poor and hungry. Hospitality is offered directly after the 11:30am Mass on Sundays. (Except month of June and December). It also conducts an evangelical program named LAMP Missionary for the assistance of local residents and passers-by who wish to receive religious counseling.

## Music

[edit]

Choral music and congregational singing are present in both Spanish- and English-language services. Music is led from either a grand piano located near the altar or from an organ in the gallery. The church houses an Aeolian-Skinner organ, which is located in the rear gallery in the choir loft. Installed in 1933 and completed in 1941 with the addition of a set of chimes, it replaced an organ built in 1882 by J.H. & C.S. Odell. The earliest organ, with one manual and two octaves, which had been built by Hall and Labagh in 1854, was destroyed in the fire of 1867.[10]

## Father Duffy

[edit]

Holy Cross Church is sometimes known informally as "Father Duffy's Church", after the Reverend Francis P. Duffy. Duffy served as Chaplain of the "Fighting Irish" 69th New York Regiment during World War I, and was decorated for his activities. After the war, in 1921, Duffy was appointed Rector of Holy Cross. Later elevated to Pastor, Father Duffy served the church until his death in 1932. That year he instituted the Printers' Mass on Sunday mornings at 2:30 A.M. for workers at the New York Times, Herald Tribune, Daily News and Daily Mirror whose shifts required late hours. Father Duffy is commemorated by a bronze statue located on West 46th Street between Seventh Avenue and Broadway, at Times Square's northern end, which is officially named Duffy Square.

## References

[edit]

Notes

1. ^ De La Salle Academy, 332 West 43rd Street
2. ^ Remigius Lafort, S.T.D., Censor, The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X. Volume 3: The Province of Baltimore and the Province of New York, Section 1: Comprising the Archdiocese of New York and the Diocese of Brooklyn, Buffalo and Ogdensburg Together with some Supplementary Articles on Religious Communities of Women.. (New York City: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914), p. 330.
3. ^ a b c d "Holy Cross". New York Architecture Images - Midtown. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
4. ^ a b c White, Norval & Willensky, Elliot (2000). AIA Guide to New York City (4th ed.). New York: Three Rivers Press. ISBN 978-0-8129-3107-5., p. 254
5. ^ a b "History" Archived 2010-07-04 at the Wayback Machine on the Holy Cross Church website
6. ^ MacIntosh, Jeane (2008-12-09). "Mass Appeal". New York Post. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
7. ^ "About Us". Parish of Holy Cross-St. John the Baptist. christinthecity.nyc. Retrieved 2019-05-17.
8. ^ Pfeifer, Michael. "THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF HOLY CROSS". Retrieved 1 August 2023.
9. ^ "Stained Glass Windows" Archived 2010-09-24 at the Wayback Machine on the Holy Cross Church website. Accessed on 2009-11-11
10. ^ "Church of the Holy Cross" on the American Guild of Organists, New York City Chapter website

Further reading

* Duffy, Francis P. Father Duffy's Story, introduction by Joyce Kilmer. New York: George H. Doran Company, 1919.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Holy Cross Church (New York City).

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York

* v
* t
* e

Ordinaries of the Archdiocese of New York

Bishops of New York|

R. Luke Concanen
John Connolly
John Dubois
John Joseph Hughes

Archbishops of New York|

John Joseph Hughes
John Cardinal McCloskey
Michael Augustine Corrigan
John Murphy Cardinal Farley
Patrick Joseph Cardinal Hayes
Francis Joseph Cardinal Spellman
Terence James Cardinal Cooke
John Joseph Cardinal O'Connor
Edward Michael Cardinal Egan
Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan

Auxiliary bishops,
current|

Peter John Byrne
Gerardo Joseph Colacicco
Edmund James Whalen
John Samuel Bonnici
Joseph Armando Espaillat

Auxiliary bishops,
emeritus|

Josu Iriondo
John Joseph Jenik
Dominick John Lagonegro
James Francis McCarthy
John Joseph O'Hara
Gerald Thomas Walsh

Auxiliary bishops,
former, currently living|

Henry J. Mansell
Theodore McCarrick
Timothy A. McDonnell
Edwin Frederick O'Brien
Dennis Joseph Sullivan

Auxiliary bishops,
former, deceased|

Patrick Vincent Ahern
Edwin Broderick
Thomas Cusack
Edward Vincent Dargin
Joseph Patrick Donahue
John Joseph Dunn
John Michael Fearns
Joseph Francis Flannelly
Francisco Garmendia
William Jerome McCormack
James Griffiths
George Henry Guilfoyle
Edward Dennis Head
Walter P. Kellenberg
John Joseph Maguire
James Patrick Mahoney
William Jerome McCormack
James Francis McIntyre
Anthony Francis Mestice
Emerson John Moore
Joseph Thomas O'Keefe
Joseph Maria Pernicone
Fulton J. Sheen
Patrick Joseph Thomas Sheridan
Austin Bernard Vaughan
Robert Anthony Brucato

Bishops who served as
priests in the archdiocese,
living|

Charles Daniel Balvo
Charles John Brown
William Muhm

Bishops who served as
priests in the archdiocese,
deceased|

St. John Nepomucene Neumann
Patrick Aloysius O'Boyle
Charles H. Colton
John J. Conroy
Philip Joseph Furlong
Charles Edward McDonnell
Francis Patrick McFarland
Francis McNeirny
Bernard John Joseph McQuaid
Rrok Kola Mirdita
John Joseph Mitty
Joseph Thomas Dimino
William Quarter
Francis Frederick Reh
Joseph Francis Rummel
William Scully

* Catholicism portal

* v
* t
* e

Churches in the Archdiocese of New York

Archdiocese|

Cathedral
St. Patrick's Cathedral, Manhattan

Former cathedral
Basilica of St. Patrick's Old Cathedral

New York City|

Bronx
Blessed Sacrament Church
Church of the Sacred Heart
Christ the King's Church
Holy Cross Church
Immaculate Conception Church
Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church
Our Lady of Mercy's Church
Our Lady of Mount Carmel's Church
Our Lady of the Nativity of Our Blessed Lady's Church
Our Lady of Solace's Church
St. Angela Merici's Church
St. Anselm's Church
St. Ann's Church
St. Anthony's Church
St. Anthony of Padua Church
St. Athanasius's Church
St. Augustine's Church
St. Barnabas' Church
St. Brendan's Church
St. Clare of Assisi's Church
St. Dominic's Church
St. Frances de Chantal's Church
St. Frances of Rome's Church
St. Francis Xavier's Church
St. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church
St. Helena's Church
St. Jerome's Church
St. Joan of Arc's Church
St. John's Church
St. John Chrysostom's Church
St. Joseph's Church
St. Lucy's Church
St. Luke's Church
St. Margaret Mary's Church
St. Margaret of Cortona's Church
St. Martin of Tours' Church
St. Nicholas of Tolentine Church
St. Pius V's Church
St. Raymond's Church
Church of St. Simon Stock
St. Theresa of the Infant Jesus Church
SS. Peter and Paul's Church
Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Manhattan
All Saints Church
Church of the Annunciation
Chapel of the Resurrection
Church of Notre Dame
Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Church of Our Lady of Sorrows
Church of Our Lady of the Scapular–St. Stephen
Church of Sts. Cyril & Methodius and St. Raphael
Church of St. Catherine of Genoa
Church of St. Ignatius Loyola
Church of St. Joseph
Church of St. Michael
Church of St. Vincent Ferrer
Church of the Ascension, Roman Catholic
Church of the Blessed Sacrament
Church of the Epiphany
Church of the Good Shepherd
Church of the Holy Agony
Church of the Holy Family
Church of the Incarnation, Roman Catholic
Church of the Most Precious Blood
Church of the Nativity
Chapel of the Resurrection
Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Church of the Transfiguration, Roman Catholic
Corpus Christi Church
Holy Cross Church
Holy Innocents Church
Holy Name of Jesus Roman Catholic Church
Holy Rosary Church
Holy Trinity Church
Immaculate Conception Church
Our Lady of Esperanza Church
Our Lady of Good Counsel Church
Our Lady of Guadalupe at St. Bernard Church
Our Lady of Lourdes Church
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary's Church
Our Lady of Pompeii Church
Our Lady of Victory Church
Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church
Our Saviour Church
San Lorenzo Ruiz Chapel
St. Agnes Church
St. Aloysius Catholic Church
St. Andrew Church
St. Ann Church
St. Anthony of Padua Church
St. Benedict the Moor Church
St. Catherine of Siena Church
St. Cecilia Church and Convent
St. Charles Borromeo Church
St. Elizabeth Church
St. Elizabeth of Hungary Church
St. Emeric Church
St. Francis of Assisi Church
St. Francis Xavier Church
St. Gregory the Great Church
St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic Church
St. John the Baptist Church
St. John the Evangelist Church
St. Joseph of the Holy Family Church
St. Joseph Chapel
St. Jude Church
St. Lucy Church
St. Malachy Roman Catholic Church
St. Mark the Evangelist Church
St. Mary Church
St. Monica Church
St. Patrick's Old Cathedral
St. Paul Church
St. Paul the Apostle Church
St. Peter's Church
St. Rose of Lima Church
St. Stanislaus Bishop and Martyr Church
St. Stephen of Hungary Church
St. Teresa Church
St. Thomas More Church
St. Veronica Church
Slovenian Church of St. Cyril

Staten Island
Church of Our Lady Help of Christians
Church of Our Lady of Pity
Church of Our Lady Queen of Peace
Church of Our Lady Star of the Sea
Church of the Blessed Sacrament
Church of the Holy Family
Our Lady of Good Counsel's Church
Sacred Heart Church
St. Adalbert's Church
St. Charles's Church
St. Clare's Church
St. Mary's Church
St. Patrick's Church
St. Peter's Church
St. Rita's Church
St. Roch's Church
St. Teresa of the Infant Jesus's Church

Dutchess County|

Saint Kateri Tekakwitha Church (LaGrangeville)
Church of Regina Coeli (Hyde Park)
Church of St. Martin de Porres (Poughkeepsie)
Church of St. Mary, Mother of the Church (Fishkill)
St. Mary's Church (Poughkeepsie)
St. Mary's Church (Wappingers Falls)
Church of the Good Shepherd (Rhinebeck)
Immaculate Conception Church (Amenia)
Immaculate Conception Church (Bangall)
Our Lady of Mount Carmel's Church (Poughkeepsie)
St. Anthony's Church (Pine Plains)
St. Charles Borromeo's Church (Dover Plains)
St. Christopher's Church (Red Hook)
St. Columba's Church (Hopewell Junction)
St. Denis Church (Hopewell Junction)
St. Joachim and St. John the Evangelist's Church (Beacon)
St. John the Evangelist's Church (Pawling)
St. Joseph's Chapel (Rhinecliff)
St. Joseph's Church (Millbrook)
St. Patrick's Chapel (Millerton)
St. Paul's Chapel (Staatsburg)
St. Peter's Church (Poughkeepsie)
St. Sylvia's Church (Tivoli)

Orange County|

Putnam County|

Rockland County|

Sullivan County|

Ulster County|

Westchester County|

Blessed Sacrament Church (New Rochelle)
Church of the Holy Family (New Rochelle)
Church of the Resurrection (Rye)
Church of St. Augustine (Larchmont)
Church of St. Joseph (Bronxville)
Church of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (Scarsdale)
Immaculate Conception Church (Tuckahoe)
Immaculate Conception St. Mary's (Yonkers)
Most Holy Trinity Church (Mamaroneck)
Our Lady of Mercy Church (Port Chester)
St. Gabriel's Church (New Rochelle)
St. Vito's Church (Mamaroneck)
St. Vito-Most Holy Trinity Parish (Mamaroneck)

* v
* t
* e

Education in the Archdiocese of New York

Archdiocese|

Seminaries
Saint Joseph's Seminary

Charities
List of Catholic charities in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York

Universities and colleges
Fordham University
Iona University
Manhattan University
University of Mount Saint Vincent

New York City|

Bronx high schools
Academy of Mount St. Ursula
All Hallows High School
Cardinal Hayes High School
Cardinal Spellman High School
Fordham Preparatory School
Monsignor Scanlan High School
Mount Saint Michael Academy
Preston High School
St. Barnabas High School
St. Catharine Academy
St. Raymond Academy
St. Raymond High School for Boys

Manhattan high schools
Cathedral High School
Convent of the Sacred Heart
Cristo Rey New York High School
Dominican Academy
La Salle Academy
Loyola School
Marymount School of New York
Notre Dame School
Regis High School
St. George Academy
St. Jean Baptiste High School
St. Vincent Ferrer High School
Xavier High School

Staten Island high schools
Monsignor Farrell High School
Moore Catholic High School
Notre Dame Academy
St. Joseph by the Sea High School
St. Joseph Hill Academy
St. Peter's Boys High School

Dutchess County|

Our Lady of Lourdes High School

Orange County|

John S. Burke Catholic High School

Rockland County|

Albertus Magnus High School

Westchester County|

Iona Preparatory School
John F. Kennedy Catholic High School
Maria Regina High School
Sacred Heart High School
Salesian High School
School of the Holy Child
Archbishop Stepinac High School
The Montfort Academy
The Ursuline School

Closed|

John A. Coleman Catholic High School
College of New Rochelle

* Catholicism portal
* New York (state) portal
* New York City portal

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template