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Agency Testimony

Herman presents Church of St. Mary history and Irish immigrant significance

New York City Council · Jul 9, 2026 · starts 0:19:30 · 44 sec

Herman describes the Church of St. Mary as Manhattan's third oldest Catholic parish, founded in 1826 for Irish immigrants, completed in 1833, and redesigned in 1864 by architect Patrick Charles Keeley with a Romanesque Revival facade.

Margaret Herman

Starting with the Church of St.

Margaret Herman

Mary.

Margaret Herman

The Church of St.

Margaret Herman

Mary is the home of Manhattan's third oldest Catholic parish.

Margaret Herman

It was founded in 1826 to serve the rapidly growing Irish immigrant population of the Lower East Side.

Margaret Herman

And today it remains an important center of Catholic immigrant life in the community.

Margaret Herman

The building was completed in 1833, making it the second oldest existing Catholic church building in Manhattan.

Margaret Herman

Originally adorned with a Greek revival facade, prolific Irish-American architect of Catholic churches, Patrick Charles Keeley, designed its current Romanesque revival facade and towers in 1864.

Margaret Herman

Next slide.

Margaret Herman

The church is located at 440 Grand Street between Clinton and Pitt Streets, and the landmark site is the tax lot.

Margaret Herman

Next slide, please.