Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1838-01-22
st. Peter. Church. Barclay street.


the history Of the Roman Catholic church IN Bar
clay street, only by alemDers OF that faith but
by many christians Of all denominations VINO take
interest IN the Eccles astcal antiquities OF TINS
CITY, we resume its annals from the Herald of Sat.
urday, (the OH INSANITY on which occasion we
brought them Town 10 the year 1885, when Inc Efforts
of the plous had succeeded II, erecting an edltce to
the worship OF God Oh the site now occupies by Tue
magnificent structure nearly ready TO. consecraton.
The church SO far finished as TO have solemn
mass cet braed for the first time, within It's walls,
on Saturday Lth November, 1876, being the anniver-
sary of ST. Carries and the day selected in conpi-
menl his excel.ncy, the Spanish Plenpotentlary,
who attended with his suite, and with many other
persons of distinction. The service at the al
tar was perfsrmed by the Rev, Mr.. Nugent pastor
of the church. assisted by the chaplain OF the Span
ish ambassador and by the Rev. Joseph Phelan.-
The opening of this church was highly gratifying TO
the congregation, the members OF which now felt for
the first time the Substantial assurance that they
were indeed free exercise their duties 10 God ac-
cordng the dictates of Their conscience; tie law
liberal and Just, and no longer ntoerant or persecu
ting, because the protecting mantle OF every clzen;
whatever might be the tenets of the religion he pro-
fessed, il the cennel which guarded every place
of worship, be the same Catholic or Protestant Jew
or Gentle. This was great day for the city and
Stale of New York, proc!aimng, as II may be SAID
TO have don~, that the Of civil and religious ber
ty had cast its warming and nvigoraung rays on a
regeaerated, Free and happy people.
On the 23d of April 1887 the congregation held
its first election for trustees under the of
poraton new act under the style and name OF
1.-THE Trustees of the Roman Catholic congregation
of St. Peters Church in the city of New York IN
America" The 70 lowing are the names of the Trus-
tees elected 1.-THE late charter having increased Their
number0 Dominic Lynch, Andrew Morris, Gibbon
Burke, Charles Naylor, William Brysoh, William
Mooney George Barnes swell and John sullivan;
In the wear 1888, the Reverend William o Bren
succeeded Mr.. Nugent as pastor of the church. The
low state in which Mr. Brien found the funds of the
church. induced this gentleman 10 visit the cities of
Havana, Mckee, and other places 10 obtain subscrip-
her exxith n n
relieve the wants of the congregation. During his
absence, the church was under the pastoral care OF
the Reverend Mr.. Burne. The mission OF Mr. y Bren
was attended with the expected success. On ms re-
turn he resumed the of the flock and had thence
forward az his assistant the Reverend Mathew U Bri
en- The Reverend William o Brien continued pastor
10 the time of his DEATH in the year 1906 his remains
are inferred in the burial ground of the 81. Peter 8
church, MOVIE enclosed within its walls. The Reverend
Mathew Brien died some years since, having pre-
viousy been called from ST Peters, 10 perform duty
in another part of the United States.
Under a succession of pastors this church has cor
tinued TO be attended by a constantly increasing con-
greeaton. The present pastor, the Reverend Doctor
John Power, Vicar Gensra of the Diocese has been
in charge of the church for about fifteen or more
years.
or the few Catholics residing in this city the first
opening of ST. Peter church, few remain; the great.
er number have passed to another world, and others
have removed from the city, and live, have died in
other places The few who live in the city, who wit
messed and recollect the eni,tnlng scene which st.
Peters church presented on the Attn day OF November
1876 fifty years ago. may well exult IN the pros
pcry the church 10 which they belong. ST. Peter s
church was then sufficient nay than sufficient,
10 accommodate all the Catholics Of the city. Over
flowing II has since been relieved from time TO time,
by the successive erecons OF seven other RomaH Ca
thoc churches within the limits Of the city. Yet has
ST. Peters church continued TO overflow, with con
gregaon which IN vain sought admission within IL
For some years, the eye of the passing citizen has
been frequently attracted obse the considerable
number of persons, who, during the time OF service on
Sundays engaged prayer in the yard OF the church
and who could find no disengaeed place within IL
The subject oil rebuilding ST. Peters Church has
been for some years, desired object of the coHgrr
CATION; has been often under the consideration Of
the Trustees. The difficulty OF obtaining the necessa
nv funds deferred oil from the attempt The Catho-
lies Of the city were numerous exceeding forty thou
sand but the greater portion Of them poor and
all had already made large ana frequent contributions
towards the of Their other churches and they
were now burthened with a considerable annual out
lay for their support. The prospect was that st Pc
ters church long continue In its first shape and
portion OF its congregation long continue exposed,
during time of church service to the elements with
out other than the canopy Of the heavens. An
eventplaced the circumstances Of the congregation IN
a position in which large amount OF money must
be expended IN repairs without atfordng any add.
tiona accommodation 10 tho congregations the church
must be abandoned, or be taken down and rebuilt on
m enlarged scae. The latter has been courogeous
attempted by The Trustees and has been accomplish
cd 10 the surprise Of its best friends and 10 the adm
which will require a new evidence Of the ceasing
zeal OF the ever iJwrng llberalny OF the Roman
Catholic community TO lqudate u.
The timbers Of the church were IN state o! rapid
and somc what alarming decay In the spring Of 1896
large portion OF the TIMBER VIII oh sustained tae &c l.
inc gave way and fell into the body of the church,
breaking by lie force and weight, several Of
and forcing usef through the floor Fortunately this
happe 1ed while the church wasc'osed hadh occurred
on Sunday during service number OF persons must
have been lost. The fragments were removed, and
there was reason 20 hope further falling Of The ma.
terals would soon although IL was nsccialned
that other portions of the roof were dccayIng. A
considerable portion Of the congregation continued 70
attend praycrsn the church; but the wealthy portion,
those on whom principally reliance could be placed
for the means Of defsyng tie ordinary expenses were
rapidly removing and became sufficiently evide mt
that the pews could not DC Lei IN the next succeeding
wear or would let al prices too low 10 support tae
church IL was under these circumstances, the Tfus
fees undertook the bold effort to rebuild.
The pisiy and real the congregation and Their y.
berslty have enabled the Trustees to bring Their worE
70 completion and in very few weeks i vii 0ephs