St. Anthony Church (New Bedford, Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
St. Anthony of Padua is a Roman Catholic church in New Bedford, Massachusetts
, part of the Diocese of Fall River
.
church was begun in 1902 when the parish acquired plans from of Canadian architect Joseph Venne
of Montreal. The cornerstone for the new building was laid on June 1904 and work began on shortly thereafter. On September 20, 1904 several construction workers were seriously injured and one killed when a 50 foot wall collapsed at the construction site.
After the accident the original contractor, Michael J. Houlihan of Providence, Rhode Island
, withdrew from the project and noted Fall River architect Louis G. Destremps
was brought in as supervising architect. The church exterior was completed in December 1905 and the lower church was available for masses by 1908. The upper portion of the church, though not yet ready for religious service was opened for public viewing on January 17, 1909. The period of 1909-1912 was largely taken up by extensive interior decoration and the installation of a large Casavant pipe organ. The finished church was formally dedicated on November 28, 1912.
The exterior is of red sandstone from East Longmeadow, Massachusetts
. The spire is 256 feet high, the tallest in New England. The building is 241 feet long and 80 feet wide (135 feet wide at the transept). It seats 2,000 worshipers and several thousand more standing. The outline of the church can be seen for miles around and dominates the skyline of North New Bedford.
Italy, near Parma, and studied in Florence. Other examples of his work can be found in various churches in Canada, a cathedral Berlin, New Hampshire
, Notre Dame Church and Blessed Sacrament Church, both in Fall River, Massachusetts
.
One of Castagnoli's most significant contributions was the design of 32 enormous angel statues some of which are 20 feet tall. These statues are located throughout the church. The faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony Church.
was an important Canadian architect of the late 19th early 20th century who designed many important buildings in his native country and was active in the establishment of the first Institute of architects in Canada. He also designed three large and important catholic churches in the United States. The first of these is St. Anthony, New Bedford. He would later design the Notre Dame Church of Southbridge, Massachusetts
, also for a French congregation. Notre Dame is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. He also designed a church in Adams, Massachusetts
.
who was living in Rhode Island at the time. The original pulpit, which had been designed by Castagnoli was replaced with one designed by Nincheri and built by the
Del Bono Arte Del Marno company of Italy. Nincheri also added several stained glass windows and paintings of each of the four evangelists.
of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
, as their Opus 489. The organ enjoys an especially favorable placement in the church being installed in the unusual second balcony some 70 feet above the floor. It was dedicated on September 12, 1912. Famous Belgian organist Gaston Dethier
performed the dedicatory recital.
This instrument remains essentially intact, and was partially restored in 2005 by Daniel Lemieux & Associates. In recent years the church has sponsored a series of recitals on this instrument and it has been used for the commercial recording Pipes and Angels.
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
, part of the Diocese of Fall River
Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States. It is led by the prelature of a bishop administering the diocese from the mother church St...
.
History
St. Anthony of Padua was founded in 1895 to serve the needs of French Canadian Catholics who lived in the North End of New Bedford. The new parish was under the care of first pastor, Fr. Hormisdas Deslauriers (1861–1916), an energetic leader who would have great influence on the parishes future development. The first mass was celebrated on Oct 6th 1895 at ‘’North Union Hall’’ on Bullock Street. Shortly thereafter a two story wood frame church was dedicated on March 8, 1896.Building
The present Romanesque styleRomanesque Revival architecture
Romanesque Revival is a style of building employed beginning in the mid 19th century inspired by the 11th and 12th century Romanesque architecture...
church was begun in 1902 when the parish acquired plans from of Canadian architect Joseph Venne
Joseph Venne
Joseph Venne was a prominent Canadian architect whose practice was located in Montreal, Quebec. During a long and distinguished career he designed more than sixty buildings in the Montreal area and three large catholic churches in Massachusetts....
of Montreal. The cornerstone for the new building was laid on June 1904 and work began on shortly thereafter. On September 20, 1904 several construction workers were seriously injured and one killed when a 50 foot wall collapsed at the construction site.
After the accident the original contractor, Michael J. Houlihan of Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, withdrew from the project and noted Fall River architect Louis G. Destremps
Louis G. Destremps
Louis G. Destremps, was a Canadian-born American architect who worked extensively with the Roman Catholic Church and other clients in Fall River, Massachusetts. He is the father of Louis E. Destremps, who also designed notable buildings in the New Bedford, Massachusetts area.-Early life and...
was brought in as supervising architect. The church exterior was completed in December 1905 and the lower church was available for masses by 1908. The upper portion of the church, though not yet ready for religious service was opened for public viewing on January 17, 1909. The period of 1909-1912 was largely taken up by extensive interior decoration and the installation of a large Casavant pipe organ. The finished church was formally dedicated on November 28, 1912.
The exterior is of red sandstone from East Longmeadow, Massachusetts
East Longmeadow, Massachusetts
As of the census of 2010, there were 16,187 people, 5,248 households, and 3,988 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,087.1 people per square mile . There were 5,363 housing units at an average density of 413.5 per square mile...
. The spire is 256 feet high, the tallest in New England. The building is 241 feet long and 80 feet wide (135 feet wide at the transept). It seats 2,000 worshipers and several thousand more standing. The outline of the church can be seen for miles around and dominates the skyline of North New Bedford.
The work of John Castagnoli (1908-1912)
Much of the interior decoration was accomplished between 1908 and 1912 by Italian sculptor John Castagnoli (1863–1914), Castagnoli was born in Borgo Val di TaroBorgo Val di Taro
Borgo Val di Taro is a town and comune in Emilia, Italy, in the Province of Parma, 63 km from the city of Parma.Borgo Val di Taro is an important centre for cattle husbandry in Emilia and it's one of the zones where Parmigiano-Reggiano is produced....
Italy, near Parma, and studied in Florence. Other examples of his work can be found in various churches in Canada, a cathedral Berlin, New Hampshire
Berlin, New Hampshire
Berlin is a city along the Androscoggin River in Coos County in northern New Hampshire, United States. The population was 10,051 at the 2010 census. It includes the village of Cascade. Located on the edge of the White Mountains, the city's boundaries extend into the White Mountain National Forest...
, Notre Dame Church and Blessed Sacrament Church, both in Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
.
One of Castagnoli's most significant contributions was the design of 32 enormous angel statues some of which are 20 feet tall. These statues are located throughout the church. The faces of the angels come from parishioners of St. Anthony Church.
Joseph Venne
Joseph VenneJoseph Venne
Joseph Venne was a prominent Canadian architect whose practice was located in Montreal, Quebec. During a long and distinguished career he designed more than sixty buildings in the Montreal area and three large catholic churches in Massachusetts....
was an important Canadian architect of the late 19th early 20th century who designed many important buildings in his native country and was active in the establishment of the first Institute of architects in Canada. He also designed three large and important catholic churches in the United States. The first of these is St. Anthony, New Bedford. He would later design the Notre Dame Church of Southbridge, Massachusetts
Southbridge, Massachusetts
The Town of Southbridge is a city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 16,719 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, also for a French congregation. Notre Dame is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. He also designed a church in Adams, Massachusetts
Adams, Massachusetts
Adams is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 8,485 at the 2010 census.-History:...
.
The 1952 renovation by Guido Nicheri
In 1952 an extensive renovation of the church was conducted under the direction of Italian architect and artist Guido NincheriGuido Nincheri
Guido Nincheri was a Canadian artist working mainly in stained glass and fresco.-Biography:Born in Prato, Italy, he studied art in Florence and immigrated to Montreal in 1915 after a short stay in Boston where he decorated the Boston Opera House.Nincheri designed the interior decoration of many...
who was living in Rhode Island at the time. The original pulpit, which had been designed by Castagnoli was replaced with one designed by Nincheri and built by the
Del Bono Arte Del Marno company of Italy. Nincheri also added several stained glass windows and paintings of each of the four evangelists.
The 1990s and Fr. Edmond Levesque
By 1990 the once grand church had fallen on hard times. In 1991 Bishop Daniel A. Cronin appointed Fr. Edmond R. Levesque pastor of the beleaguered church telling him at the time that unless Father Levesque could reverse the pattern of decline, that St. Anthony Church would have to be closed. Over the next several yeart Fr. Leveque, with the aid of his housekeeper Patricia DeAndrade, was able to restore the church to its former grandeur and revitalize the parish community.Casavant Organ
St. Anthony of Padua church is home to a large 4 manual pipe organ built in 1912 by Casavant FrèresCasavant Frères
Casavant Frères is a prominent Canadian company in Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec, which has been building fine pipe organs since 1879. As of 2008, they have produced over 3800 organs.- Company history :...
of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec
Saint-Hyacinthe is a city in southwestern Quebec east of Montreal on the Yamaska River. The population as of the Canada 2006 Census was 55,823. The city is located in Les Maskoutains Regional County Municipality of the Montérégie region, and is traversed by the Yamaska River which flows...
, as their Opus 489. The organ enjoys an especially favorable placement in the church being installed in the unusual second balcony some 70 feet above the floor. It was dedicated on September 12, 1912. Famous Belgian organist Gaston Dethier
Gaston Dethier
Gaston Marie Dethier was an American organist, pianist, and composer of Belgian birth. Born in Liège, he was the son of organist Emile Dethier, the brother of violinist Edouard Dethier, and the uncle of physiologist Vincent Dethier. He studied at the Royal Conservatory in his native city with...
performed the dedicatory recital.
This instrument remains essentially intact, and was partially restored in 2005 by Daniel Lemieux & Associates. In recent years the church has sponsored a series of recitals on this instrument and it has been used for the commercial recording Pipes and Angels.