Parish History
A New York Parish Begins in RomeOn December 8, 1854, John Hughes, the fourth bishop and first archbishop of New
York, was in Rome and standing a few feet from Pope Pius IX when the pontiff
promulgated the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception.
“Just at the moment,” Hughes later recalled, “I resolved, on my return to New York, toerect a church to commemorate the event.”
On June 15, 1855, Immaculate Conception parish was founded and the priest charged
with its responsibility, the Rev. Bernard Farrell, offered Mass in a temporary chapel on
15th Street. However, the young priest’s health soon failed, and he was succeeded by aJesuit, the Rev. John Ryan, SJ. On December 8, exactly one year after Archbishop
Hughes’ resolution, a cornerstone was laid and Father Ryan began the building of an
elegant Romanesque-style church on the north side of 14th Street, just east of Avenue A.
On May 16, 1858, a delighted Archbishop Hughes dedicated what he claimed was “thefirst church on earth set apart to honor immaculate nature of the Mother of Christ.”
A School Opens
In 1861, the Rev. William Plowden Morrogh, by now pastor of Immaculate Conception,
applied for three Sisters of Charity of Mount St. Vincent to open a parochial school. Theschool opened officially in 1864 and the sisters were joined in 1880 by the ChristianBrothers, who took charge of the boys education. Father Morrogh was succeeded in 1875
by Msgr. John Edwards who also served as vicar general of the archdiocese for manyyears. His successor, Msgr. William G. Murphy, was pastor from 1906 to 1917. During
this period, Immaculate Conception was one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese.
Nearly 3000 children, largely of Irish, Italian, and German descent, were crowded into its
classrooms.
During the pastorate of Msgr. Thaddeus W. Tierney (1917-1932), the parish began tofall on hard times. As parishioners moved to other parts of the city, the school population
dwindled. The Christian Brothers withdrew around 1930, but the Sisters of Charity
remained. During the pastorates of Father Cornelius Fitzsimmons (1932-36) andAloysius S. Karl (1936-48), the parish was at its lowest ebb. Then something remarkable
happened.

A Renaissance on 14th StreetIn 1914, the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company embarked on one of the mostsuccessful urban renewal projects in the history of New York City. It created Peter
Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town to address a projected housing shortage among
returning World War II veterans. The Met, as it was known in those days, bought up
block after block of the area between 14th and 23rd Streets, from First Avenue to Avenue
C. Included in the purchases were Immaculate Conception Church, its rectory, conventand school buildings.
The Archdiocese of New York then purchased an Episcopal mission settlement, GraceChapel, on the south side of 14th Street, East of First Avenue. It was renamed“Immaculate Conception”
While the original Catholic buildings were lost, the move across 14th Street led to arenaissance for Immaculate Conception Parish as it prepared for the arrival of thechildren of the veterans. It also saved from the probable destruction Grace Chapel and its
hospital, which was converted to a rectory. These two buildings are now recognized as
being among New York City’s most distinguished architectural landmarks. Built between
1884 and 1897 by Grace Church, one of the foremost Episcopal Parishes in New York
City, Grace Chapel was designed by J. Stewart Barney in a late French Gothic stylecalled Francois I. Along with the brick and terra-cotta church with its freestanding bell
tower, Grace Church built a hospital/ dispensary for the elderly and children. On 13thStreet, Grace chapel opened a settlement house where immigrants (primarily German andItalian) learned English and job skills. To the delight of the neighborhood, this building
boasted an indoor swimming pool. However, like its Roman Catholic neighbor, Grace
Chapel’s mission diminished as the neighborhood changed. The great Depression struck
a lethal blow and Grace Chapel closed in 1942. The buildings stood empty until theArchdiocese purchased them.
A New home for the old Parish
Under Father Karl’s Leadership, Grace Chapel was renamed Immaculate Conception
Church and renovated for Catholic liturgies. The old hospital became a rectory. The
settlement house was razed to make room for a new parochial school with a penthouseconvent.
In 1948, Msgr. Valentine F. Snyder became pastor and reinvigorated the parish
societies. He and his successor, Msgr. Charles McCabe (1952-67), cleared the debt on thenew Immaculate Conception Church and buildings. In 1955, the parish celebrated its
centennial.

Vatican II brings spiritual and physical renewal
Eleven years later, in order to conform to the liturgical changes mandated by theSecond Vatican Council (1962-1965), Msgr. McCabe began a renovation of the of thesanctuary, including the installation of a new, free-standing altar.
Msgr. Leonard J. Hunt was named pastor in 1967. He set out to replace the heating
system, air condition the church and lay a new slate floor. A pipe organ was installed andserved the churches musical needs until its replacement in the late 1980’s. The lighting inthe school was upgraded and the rectory was renovated. During Msgr. Hunt’sadministration, the sisters of Charity withdrew from the school and were replaced by a
dedicated lay faculty and administration. The parish celebrated its 125th anniversary in1980.
After Msgr. Hunt’s retirement in 1987, Msgr. Francis M. Costello, the former pastor ofneighboring Epiphany parish, served as administrator until 1991. With money raised by
the archdiocesan-wide parish campaign, a new roof was put on the school and otherrepairs were undertaken. The Church carillon which had been silent since the departureof the Grace congregation, was reactivated in 1989. A great deal was done during thisperiod, which kept the church in good condition and paved the way for years of futureuse.
A new vision for a new century
In 1991, Msgr. Kevin P. O’Brien became pastor. Three years later, the parishioners
joined with the members of Grace Church to mark both the 100th anniversary of thelaying of the cornerstone of Grace Chapel/ Immaculate Conception.
As visitors from both congregations toured the Church, marveling at the spectacular
stained glass windows by celebrated 19th century artists Henry Holiday, Clayton and Bell,and Charles Booth, a vision formed in Msgr. O’Brien’s mind. He pictured a parish readyand eager for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.
He knew he would need plans and funds to execute this vision, so in September of1996, he presented a plan to the trustees, parish council and finance committee. Titled“Making Room for the Vision,” the plan called for the restoration of the church to its
landmark beauty and the replacement of its 100-year-old slate roof. The long covered
fresco of The Heavenly City would be restored. The windows would be cleaned, restored
to their original positions and, where necessary be illuminated by artificial lighting. Ashrine would be created for the Blessed Sacrament.
In the school, more than 7500 feet of brick walls and roof parapets would be pointed,repaired or rebuilt. Gutters, pipes, railings and flashing would be repaired. Every room
would be painted and rewired for the new technological age of Internet connectivity,computers and instructional television. The school would have two libraries and an artroom.
The $1 million estimate for this work was a staggering amount. However, Msgr.
O’Brien and the parishioners would join in making room for the vision of a 21st century
Immaculate Conception Parish. The plan was approved and a capital campaign began in
January of 1997. With their customary generosity and goodwill, the parishioners
answered the challenge and the vision was fulfilled.
While the fabric of the church and school was being restored, the educational processprospered in the school. In 1994, under the leadership of its principle, Donna Vincent,and her dedicated faculty and staff, the Immaculate Conception School received thecoveted Middle States Accreditation of Elementary and Secondary Schools, which wasrecently renewed. In 1998, in recognition of the fact that modern parochial schools could
no longer rely on tuition for sustenance, a development office was established.

New population and old buildings

In 2001, Father Joy Mampilly was installed as pastor. Three days later, the tragedy of
September 11th occurred. Dealing with this tragedy was his first challenge. Many turnedto the church for spiritual guidance, consolation and comfort after this terrible event.
This led to the establishment of the Interfaith Prayer Service, which has taken place every
year to remember the loved ones lost on this day and pray for peace. This service also
promotes understanding and tolerance for people of all faiths. In addition, a Special
Events Committee was established to celebrate the significant moments in the lives ofparishioners throughout the calendar year. This has invigorated the parish with social andspiritual activities.
The parish was confronted with changing demographics and an aging building incontinuing need of repairs. In response, Father Mampilly developed a “Wish List” forrenovations that would ensure the future of our historically landmarked church building.
Due to the generosity of the parishioners, all these items were completed: the restorationof the glass window in the confessional, the installation of a wooden backdrop behindthe crucifix in the sanctuary, lighting on the cross in the bell tower, stained glass
windows in the grotto, and the rose window. Now parishioners can enjoy the beauty ofthese architectural and artistic treasures.
At the end of 2001, a surplus from the operating expense budget made possible 204
new school windows. This greatly improved the efficiency of the heating system andimproved the overall comfort and safety of staff and students. Despite theseaccomplishments, the aging church building was still in need of a great deal more work
to maintain its integrity and keep it operational for years to come. To address this matter,
Father Mampilly embarked on a $1 million capital campaign to make necessary building
improvements such as the replacement of the water tank, repair and replacement ofdamaged termite infested floor support beams and flooring in the grotto, updating of the
air conditioning system, slating of the sanctuary floor and repair of the church plaza.
To ensure meeting future needs, a Parish Endowment Fund was established with $2
million as a start. Of this, $1 million came from the surplus of the last four years, andanother $1 million from the sale of air rights. This is critical for the continuation of thespiritual, educational and social mission of our parish. Our parish Trustees, FinanceCommittee and Parish Council also found this new venture significant to ensure ourfinancial security and sustainability as a parish and school. Thus, the very special legacyof Immaculate Conception parish handed down to us will continue to be there for future
generations.

Embracing the future
Today, 150 years and a few buildings later, Immaculate Conception parish thrives andlooks to It’s future. In many ways, New York City is America’s front door, even thoughmost of the newest residents come not only from Europe but from all over the world.
This is the city’s gift to the parish: a remarkably multi-ethnic, multi-cultural population,
whose hearts burn with the same ambition-to create a better life for themselves, theirchildren and their descendants.
Above the church door, there is a small but exquisite statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary
from the first Immaculate Conception Church. The expression on her face is neither
joyful nor sad; it is pensive. What could she be thinking? Is she calling all those men,
women and children who have passed beneath her feet? Does she think about the oldneighborhood, the one that preceded Peter Cooper Village/Stuyvesant Town? Perhaps
she is not engaging in nostalgia at all. She might be looking ahead.
It is time for us to look ahead, too. As William Shakespear reminded us, “What is pastis prologue.”