Church of the Guardian Angel (Manhattan)

The Church of the Guardian Angel
General information
Architectural style	Southern Sicilian Romanesque (for 1930 church)
Town or city	Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, New York
Country	United States of America
Construction started	1888 (for first church)[1] 1929[2]
Completed	1888 (for first church)[1] 1910 (for second church)[3] 1930 (for present church)[3][4]
Demolished	1910 (for 1888 church)[3] 1930 (for 1910 church)[3]
Technical details
Structural system	Brick masonry (for 1930 church)
Design and construction
Client	Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
Architect	George H. Streeton (for 1910 church)[3] John V. Van Pelt of Van Pelt, Hardy & Goubert (for present 1930 church)[5][4][6][7][8]

The Church of the Guardian Angel is a Roman Catholic church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located at 193 West 21st Street at Tenth Avenue, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, New York.

Buildings

The present Southern Sicilian Romanesque-style brick church at 193 West 23rd Street and Tenth Avenue was built 1930 to the designs of John Van Pelt of Van Pelt, Hardy & Goubert.^[4] Plan were filed in 1929, and it was likely begun that year.^[2] Stylistically, it is similar to Van Pelt's other churches in Manhattan and the Bronx. The church design "is reminiscent of the early Romanesque sculpture at the abbey of Moissac. Both churches have a scalloped profile that seems to incorporate a bit of Moorish influence. Both the human and animal forms are treated with the same incredible flexibility...."^[4] The AIA Guide to New York City (1988) writes "The church's simple brick and limestone Southern Sicilian Romanesque facade merges with the Tuscan village forms of auxiliary buildings to the north in a well- related group."^[7] AIA Guide to New York City (2010) describes the church as "lush brick and limestone, Italian Romanesque, backed up snug against the High Line. Despite the obvious difference in style and materials, the two were built around the same time."^[8]

Parish history

The parish was founded in 1888 by the Rev. William A. O'Neill, who remained pastor until 1895 when he was transferred to St. Ann's as rector.^[1] The first church was dedicated June 10, 1888 by Bishop Conroy.^[1] The address for the first church was located at 513 West 23rd Street, as recorded in 1892.^[9]

The parish was founded to minister to workers at the bustling waterfront piers on the nearby Hudson River.^[3] A new church was completed in 1910 to the designs of George H. Streeton also at 513 West 23rd Street, replacing the 1888 church building.^[3] "In 1911, a parochial school was opened."^[1] In 1914, the following was reported: "The Catholic population numbers 3,000, and the church property is valued at $60,000, all out of debt."^[1]

That area's redevelopment in the 1930s with the construction of the elevated freight railroad, the Highline, by the New York Central Railroad necessitated the church's removal.^[3] Similar to the story of nearby St. Michael, the church's demolition and removal for redevelopment in the interests of a railroad were allegedly paid for by that developing railroad, which in this case was the New York Central.^[3] The architecture of the new church (see Buildings section) both seemingly ignores and stands in stark contrast, almost antagonistically to that of the Highline, perhaps reflecting this early relationship.

Although threatened with closure, the Archdiocese announced on January 19, 2007 that Guardian Angel would retain its parish status.^[10]

Pastors

• 1888-1895: Rev. William A. O'Neill, transferred 1895 as rector of St. Ann's^[1]
• 1895-1909: Rev. John C. Henry,^[1] former pastor of St. Mary’s Church.^[11], he had been assisted until 1904 by the Rev. Anthony J. Morgan (transferred to the Mission of Our Lady of the Rosary), replaced by the Rev. Francis A. Kiniry.^[12]
• 1909-1930: Rev. James R. Raywood^[1] (c.1855-Apr 6, 1930), a former assistant at St. Columba, a pastor of St. Mary’s Church (Newburg, New York), and founding pastor at a Monticello, New York, parish.^[13] In 1914, Fr. Raywood was assisted by the Revs. Timothy J. O'Brien and Daniel J. Fant.^[1]
• 1930-1934: Rev. Grogan (d.1934)^[14]
• 1934-?: Rev. John J. O'Donnell, former assistant at Holy Trinity Church^[15][16]
• Rev. Francis X. Quinn, assistant pastor in 1939 and 1940 who was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal for bravery^{[17][18][19][20][21][22]}
• 2009-present: Msgr. Michael F. Hull, S.T.D. (also a Professor of Sacred Scripture at St. Joseph’s Seminary (Dunwoodie) in Yonkers, New York, and a Censor Librorum of the Archdiocese of New York, assisted by the Rev. Philip S. Phan (also Director of the Archdiocese's Vietnamese Apostolate).^[23]

Parish School

The school was founded in 1911 and has always been run by a professional lay staff and the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh.^[24] "In 1911, a parochial school was opened; its school roll in 1914 shows an attendance of 132 boys and 130 girls."^[1] Five Sisters of St. Dominic ran the school, as reported in 1914.^[1] Along with the church's relocation in 1930, the school relocated to its current location at 193 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY 10011.^[24] The style of the schoolhouse is the same as the church, indicating that the complex was built by Van Pelt concurrently with the church building in 1930, or thereabouts. The current principal is Miss Maureen McElduff.^[24]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l} 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.
2. ^ ^{a b} "$5,000,000 IN PLANS FILED.; Manhattan Bureau Gets Largest Total in Recent Months"‎, New York Times, Dec 18, 1929, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Excerpt: "Plans for new buildings in Manhattan representing a total cost o! about ,000000 ... coat 3148,000; Roman Catholic Church of the Guardian Angels, owner; ...
3. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i} "Church of the Guardian Angel (Roman Catholic), 193 Tenth Avenue at 21st Street, New York, N.Y. 10011", New York Organ Website (Retrieved 21 July 2011
4. ^ ^{a b c d} New York Architecture Images-Chelsea The Church of the Guardian Angel (Roman Catholic) (Accessed 6 February 2011)
5. ^ "Questionair for Architects’ Roster and/or Register of Architects Qualified for Federal Public Works [1] May 6, 1946
6. ^ Norval White and Elliot Willensky, AIA Guide to New York City, rev. ed., (New York City: Collier Books], 1978).
7. ^ ^{a b} Norval White and Elliot Willensky, AIA Guide to New York City, Third Edition, (New York City: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich Publishers, 1988), p.175.
8. ^ ^{a b} Norval White, Elliot Willensky with Fran Leadon, AIA Guide to New York City Fifth Ed. American Institute of Architects New York Chapter Series. (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010), p.220. ISBN 9780195383867.
9. ^ The World Almanac 1892 and Book of Facts (New York: Press Publishing, 1892), p.390.
10. ^ Michael Luo, "Archdiocese to Shut 21 N.Y. Parishes," New York Times, January 19, 2007, Retrieved 21 July 2011.
11. ^ “DR. M'GLYNN TO GO TO NEWBURG; He Will be a Rector There Jan. 1, but May Soon Be Assigned to a Parish in This City,” New York Times, Dec 24, 1894, Retrieved 21 July 2011, Excerpt: “The Rev. Dr. Edward McGlynn, who has been restored by Archbishop Corrigan to full ecclesiastical standing in the Archdiocese of New-York, will take charge of St. Mary's Church, Newburg, Jan. 1. … John C. Henry, has been transferred to the Church of the Guardian Angel, ... As was stated in The New-York Times of yesterday, Dr. McGlynn will celebrate….”
12. ^ "Changes in Catholic Clergy: Archbishop Farley Announces a Number of Assignments and Transfers", New York Times, Jun 11, 1904. Retrieved 21 July 2011, Excerpt: "Martin J. Burke. from St. Joseph's to the Church of the Nativity, city; the Roy. Anthony J. Morgan, from the Church of the Guardian Angels to the Mission of Our Lady of the Rosary...."
13. ^ “Father Raywood, Formerly Here, Expires Sunday,” Newburgh News, Apr 7, 1930, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Full article: “Rev. James R. Raywood who from 1907 to 1910 was pastor of St. Mary’s church in this city, died yesterday in St. Vincent’s Hospital, New York City, of pneumonia. He was 75 years old. Father Raywood has been the pastor of the Church of the Guardian Angel, 517 West Twenty-third street for the past 20 years. He was born In New York city and educated in the schools there, completing his studies for the priesthood in the American College in Rome. After his ordination, he was assigned to St. Columbia’s Church [sic], New York City and later sent to Monticello, where he organized a church and remained its pastor until assigned to the New York church, where he remained until his death. The funeral service will be held in the Church of the Guardian Angel on Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock.”
14. ^ "NEW PASTORS NAMED BY CARDINAL HAYES; Seven Assistants Promoted and Newly Ordained Priests Are Assigned," New York Times, Jun 27, 1930, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Excerpt: "...N. Y:, to the -Church of the Guardian Angel; Manhattan. The Rev.. JOSH7PH. 8. CHERRY-From .the Chuibh o! 8t. Theresa, . Manhattan, _ to the Church of All i9 ..."
15. ^ "FOUR PASTORATES FILLED.; Appointments by Cardinal Hayes...", New York Times, Oct 20, 1934, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Excerpt: "John J. O'Donnell, formerly assistant at Holy Trinity Church, Manhattan, to the pastorship of the Church of the Guardian Angel...."
16. ^ "FATHER O'DONNELL GREETS NEW FLOCK; Successor to the Late Father Grogan at Guardian Angel Church Lauds Predecessor," New York Times, Oct 29, 1934, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Excerpt: "The Rev. John J. O'Donnell, who has been an assistant at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Broadway and Eighty-second Street, for the last sixteen years, addressed the congregation of the Guardian Angel Church, Tenth Avenue and Twenty-first Street, yesterday morning as newly appointed pastor.... addressed the congregation of the Guardian Angel Church, Tenth Avenue and ... Father O'Donnell, who is director of the Manhattan Division of the New ... ."
17. ^ "PRIEST PERSUADES BESIEGED GUNMAN TO YIELD TO POLICE; Hold-Up Man, Using Methodist Official as Shield in House, Keeps Scores at Bay THREATENS HIS HOSTAGE Catholic Clergyman Enters West 22d Street Flat With Arms Raised Over Head Hold-up in Restaurant One Thug Captured on Roof Shout Halts Policemen BESIEGED GUNMAN YIELDS TO PRIEST Uses Victim as Shield Appeals to Thug's Heart," Times Wide World, April 03, 1939, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Excerpt: "A Catholic priest and a Methodist missionary official joined yesterday in subduing, with measured words, an armed desperado who had successfully defied scores of policemen equipped with machine guns and tear-gas bombs....Francis X. Quinn was finishing the first Palm Sunday mass at the Roman Catholic Church of the Guardian Angel, Tenth Avenue and Twenty-first Street...."
18. ^ "Priest, Called From Services, Persuades Gunman To Give Up: New York Cleric Goes Into Gas-Filled Apartment Where Bandit Is Holding Hostages," The Baltimore Sun, Apr 3, 1939, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Abstract: "A priest called from his Palm Sunday devotions stepped bravely into a tear-gas-filled apartment today to persuade surrender of a gunman who had seized a fear-stricken elderly couple as hostages after his escape from a street gun battle with police."
19. ^ "Gunman Gives Up After Daring Priest's Plea: Cleric Leaves Palm Sunday Devotion to Enter Gas-Filled Room at Risk of Life," Los Angeles Times Apr 3, 1939, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Abstract: "A priest called from his Palm Sunday devotions stepped bravely into a tear gas-filled apartment today to persuade surrender of a gunman who had seized a fear-stricken elderly couple as hostages after..."
20. ^ "Gunman Defies Officers But Gives Self After Battle", Lewiston Morning Tribune Apr 3, 1939, Retrieved 21 July 2011.
21. ^ “Priest Going to White House to Get Medal Voted for Inducing Gunman to Surrender,” New York Times, Sep 2, 1940, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Excerpt: “WASHINGTON, Sept. 1--A New York City priest has been invited to the White House to receive a rare Congressional tribute, a medal in recognition of his valor in helping to capture a gunman barricaded in a midtown apartment….Francis X. Quinn of the Church of the Guardian Angel, New York City, by the Seventy-sixth Congress of the United States in recognition of his valor in ....”
22. ^ "Roosevelt Sends Medal to Priest: Valor in Saving Lives of Two Rewarded," Los Angeles Times, Sep 5, 1940, Retrieved 21 July 2011. Excerpt: "Francis X. Quinn, 40-year- ol0( assistant pastor at the Church of the Guardian, Angel, .New York City, today received from President Roosevelt a spe- cial" ...
23. ^ Parish Clergy, Guardian Angel Church-NYC Website (Retrieved 21 July 2011)
24. ^ ^{a b c} Guardian Angel School Home (Retrieved 21 July 2011)