St. Barnabas' Church (Bronx, New York)
Encyclopedia
The Church of St. Barnabas is a Roman Catholic parish church under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
, located at Martha Avenue near East 241st Street in The Bronx
, New York City
. The parish was established in July 1910 by the Rev. Michael A. Reilly, separated from the Bronx parish of St. Frances of Rome. It is one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese.
church was dedicated by Cardinal John M. Farley in November 1911. When opened, it accommodated 700. A temporary school was opened in 1911, with 200 students, staffed by seven Sisters of Charity
nuns. Opposite the church, a convent for the Sisters of Charity
was opened in January 1913 at a cost of $8,000 (which in 1914 still had a debt of $5,500). In 1914, the parish numbered around 1,000, and the property was valued at $100,000, with a debt of $59,500. The chapel and high school building were erected during the pastorship of Msgr. George McWeeney (1947-1965). During the 1980s, up to 22 masses were celebrated in the parish each week. The rectory, parish center and high school chapel were renovated during the pastorate of Msgr. Timothy S. Collins (1986-1994).
around 1911. The second was created by George S. Hutchings of Boston, Massachusetts in 1890, installed around 1948 and restored in 1988. The third was installed by Jaeckel Organs, Inc. of Duluth, Minnesota
in 1985. The Peragallo Pipe Organ Company
of Paterson, New Jersey
installed the present organ in 2009.
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes...
, located at Martha Avenue near East 241st Street in The Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The parish was established in July 1910 by the Rev. Michael A. Reilly, separated from the Bronx parish of St. Frances of Rome. It is one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese.
Buildings
The church building was built 1911. The ItalianateItalianate architecture
The Italianate style of architecture was a distinct 19th-century phase in the history of Classical architecture. In the Italianate style, the models and architectural vocabulary of 16th-century Italian Renaissance architecture, which had served as inspiration for both Palladianism and...
church was dedicated by Cardinal John M. Farley in November 1911. When opened, it accommodated 700. A temporary school was opened in 1911, with 200 students, staffed by seven Sisters of Charity
Sisters of Charity
Many religious communities have the term Sisters of Charity as part of their name. The rule of Saint Vincent for the Daughters of Charity has been adopted and adapted by at least sixty founders of religious orders around the world in the subsequent centuries....
nuns. Opposite the church, a convent for the Sisters of Charity
Sisters of Charity
Many religious communities have the term Sisters of Charity as part of their name. The rule of Saint Vincent for the Daughters of Charity has been adopted and adapted by at least sixty founders of religious orders around the world in the subsequent centuries....
was opened in January 1913 at a cost of $8,000 (which in 1914 still had a debt of $5,500). In 1914, the parish numbered around 1,000, and the property was valued at $100,000, with a debt of $59,500. The chapel and high school building were erected during the pastorship of Msgr. George McWeeney (1947-1965). During the 1980s, up to 22 masses were celebrated in the parish each week. The rectory, parish center and high school chapel were renovated during the pastorate of Msgr. Timothy S. Collins (1986-1994).
Music
The church has had at least four organs over its 100 year history. The first was installed by the Estey Organ Company of Brattleboro, VermontBrattleboro, Vermont
Brattleboro, originally Brattleborough, is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States, located in the southeast corner of the state, along the state line with New Hampshire. The population was 12,046 at the 2010 census...
around 1911. The second was created by George S. Hutchings of Boston, Massachusetts in 1890, installed around 1948 and restored in 1988. The third was installed by Jaeckel Organs, Inc. of Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth, Minnesota
Duluth is a port city in the U.S. state of Minnesota and is the county seat of Saint Louis County. The fourth largest city in Minnesota, Duluth had a total population of 86,265 in the 2010 census. Duluth is also the second largest city that is located on Lake Superior after Thunder Bay, Ontario,...
in 1985. The Peragallo Pipe Organ Company
Peragallo Pipe Organ Company
The Peragallo Pipe Organ Company of Paterson, New Jersey was founded in 1918 by John Peragallo, Sr, who, prior to founding the company, apprenticed with the E.M. Skinner Organ Company . A family company, Peragallo Pipe Organ Company was run by Peragallo, Sr., and then by John Peragallo Jr...
of Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson, New Jersey
Paterson is a city serving as the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, its population was 146,199, rendering it New Jersey's third largest city and one of the largest cities in the New York City Metropolitan Area, despite a decrease of 3,023...
installed the present organ in 2009.
Parish Schools
St. Barnabas Elementary School is located at 413 East 241st Street, Bronx, NY 10470. The school has full pre-kindergarten programs, and includes grades from pre-k to eighth grade. St. Barnabas High School is located at 425 East 240th Street, Bronx, N.Y., 10470. It is an all girls Catholic parish school that offers a college prep program to young women in Grades 9-12. During the 1980s, there were over 1500 enrolled in the parish elementary school and 800 enrolled in the high school.Pastors
- 1910-1947: Msgr. Michael A. Reilly (1873-1947), the first pastor was the New York City-born Rev. Reilly, who graduated from St. Francis Xavier's CollegeSt. Francis Xavier's CollegeSt. Francis Xavier's College is a Catholic Secondary School for boys, located in Tai Kok Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. The school in Kowloon was founded in 1955...
and Dunwoodie Seminary. He was ordained in 1898 and served as assistant at St. Peter's Church (Poughkeepsie, New York) until being transferred to the New York Apsotolate in 1902 where he remained until 1910, when he founded St. Barnabas. Under his pastorship, he built the church, the schools, the convent, and the rectory, and the parish became one of the largest in the Archdiocese. Consequently he was elevated to the position of monsignor and died in 1947. - 1947-1965: Msgr. George McWeeney, erected the new high school building and chapel were erected.
- 1965-1986: Msgr. John J. Considine
- 1986-1994: Msgr. Timothy S. Collins, transferred to become pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary Church (Manhattan) (The Mother Seton Shrine).
- 1994-2003: Msgr. Francis X. Toner, reorganized parish services and served until his death.
- 2003-present: Msgr. Edward M. Barry