New-York tribune., 1908-04-05
VALUE OF CHURCH'S
PROPERTY, S54,OOO,OO0
ONE OF WE4LTHIEST SEES
IN WORLD.
Parishes 1cith Holdings Of Orer q
Million - Yearly ReUenue Of
Archdiocese, 81, 100000
M. A. coRRioAN
Third ArchbIshop-
-41Ar 1907 bv d II AnterDcn

II Is possible that there are sees OF the Rorad
Catholic Church in Europe possessing greater
wealth as represented in paintings and landsd
estates but in that faith there is none possessed
OF the wealth Of the archdiocese OF New York IN
the form of land and buildings used solely fos
religious and charitable purposes In Manhat-
tan and The Bronx there. are 127 parishes whoss
churches. rectories and 'parochiaI schools. to-
gether with their sites valued at S42 137,5l0.
In Richmond there are thirteen parishes with
property estimated TO be worth SS19O0o- Tbs
parishes IN the counties OF Dutchess. Orange,
Putnam. Rockland. Sullivan. Ulster and West
chester IN New York, and in the Bahama ISL
ands which are also included IN the see, have
buildings and land valued at approximately
100000. There are also hospitals. colleges.
converts and other institutions whose value
adds SSOOOOOO TO the total. This makes tbs
value OF the property OF the entire archdiocese
approximately S54 100000 on which there are
debts Of something more than SS.OOOO00 The
wealth Of the churches Of the score or moro
other denominations OF Manhattan and Ths
Bronx. numbering 559 is SI697S941.
There are several churches whose holdings
estimated 10 be worth than million dol
lars. The valuation placed upon ST. Patricks
Cathedral is SS,OOOOO0. Trinity Church IS tbs
only other church in New York. and possibly III
the United States. having property worth more
than this amount. There are five other churches
in the archdiocese which possess property worth
more than one million dollars They are St.
Peters No IS Barclay street; St. Michaers,
Nos 424 and 1876 West 34th street: st. Joseph's.
No. 80 Sixth avenue; St. Ignatius LoyOla's. Paris
avenue and S4th street, and Holy Innocents,
Broadway and West 37th street
The total revenue OF the churches OF the arch
diocese averages S4O0OOOO a year. an amount
not equaIIed in any Roman Catholic In
English speaking country. and possibly IN any
country This sum does not go into the treas
ury Of the archdiocese, however, as soms may
imagine. but, barring its quota for the support
of the functions Of the Archbishops Office and
for the support Of the seminary. Is retained IN
the treasures OF the various churches IN which
it is raised to be used IN the payment Of the
penses Of the respective parishes. It Is said that
the quota Of no church m the archdiocese for
the expenses OF the archbishop's Office Is more
than 500 year. The archdiocese as see has
practically no invested wealth
The property is In the hands OF the parishes
as individual corporations. and consists OF
buildings and land IN active use for the work
of the Church. Each parish IS incorporated
under the laws of the State OF New York ths
incorporators in each case being the Archbishop
anI the vicar general OF the see. the pastor OF
the parish and two lay trustees from the parish
The only fixed assessment upon each parish ts
that for the support Of the and the seminary
AZ Dunwoodie for the education Of the priest
hood The funds for all other purposes outside
the regular parish work obtained from VOL
untary contributions for those special objects.
These include asylums. hospitals and the othes
institutions OF the Church and the Vatican