St. Raymond's Church (Bronx, New York)
Encyclopedia
St. Raymond's Church is a Roman Catholic parish church under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
, located at Castle Hill Avenue at Tremont Avenue, The Bronx
, New York City
. The parish was established in 1842. It is dedicated in honor of Saint Raymond of Penyafort
, a 12th century Catalan
-Spanish
saint. According to the parish website, this is incorrect. "It was dedicated on the feast of St. Raymond Nonnatus, on August 31, 1845, thus getting its name." There is a stained glass window, on the right side if you are looking at the sanctuary, of St. Raymond Nonnatus and the men who took him hostage. Adding the URL to the parish website under parish.
, when the area was still part of southern Westchester County, New York
. Bishop John Dubois
of New York had a deed executed on 2 December 1835 at a cost of $160 for the 125 foot by 26 foot plot of land situated about two miles north of Fort Schuyler, New York. A church and/or school were intended to be constructed that year on the plot of land, however, nothing was erected.
In 1842, Bishop John Hughes purchased the acre that the current St. Raymond's Church is located on, and in 1847 an adjoining acre was purchased. The land purchased coincided with the 1840 founding of St. John's College in the village of Fordham
, the future Fordham University
, with the Rev. Felix Vilanis being its Superior. In the same year, Fr. Vilanis was appointed to attend to the Westchester and the villages along the Sound. He built the first church and had it dedicated 31 August 1845.
Among the notable pastors were the Rev. William O'Reilly, pastor in the late 1840s, who was the brother of the second Bishop of Hartford, and later rector of Our Lady of the Isle (Newport, Rhode Island) and Vicar General of the Diocese of Hartford
. The Rev. I. A. Kensella (pastor from 1857 to 1875) left around $18,000 in his will for the erection of a new church. The forward-thinking Rev. Michael B. McEvoy (pastor from 1875 to 1885), bought the Underhill Farm on Throgg's Neck and had it consecrated for burial purpose as St. Raymond's Cemetery
, one of the Bronx's more famous cemeteries. The Msgr. Edward McKenna, P.R., was born in Truagh, County Monaghan
, Ireland, on 18 July 1843, roughly two decades before the birth of the Most Rev. Dr. Patrick McKenna (9 August 1868 – 7 February 1942), the very influential Bishop of Clogher, who was also born in the very small and isolated Truagh parish, where he had St. Patrick's Church erected and a memorial placed to his parents and family. Bishop McKenna had many churches built or renovated during his lengthy episcopate. Both McKennas from Truagh are almost certainly related.
In 1914, there were around 4,000 Catholics living within the parish and the church property valued at $200,000.
, Ireland, was appointed pastor of St. Raymond's in 1888 and had the present "beautiful church" built in 1898 at a cost of $100,000. The architect of St. Raymond Church was George H. Streeton
of Brooklyn
who also designed the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Brooklyn, as well as St. Raphael's Church in Manhattan
(1900–1902). The building was dedicated 23 October 1898. in 1908, Cardinal Logue laid the cornerstone of the new school, which opened September 1909.
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 Castle Hill Avenue at Tremont Avenue, 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 1842. It is dedicated in honor of Saint Raymond of Penyafort
Raymond of Peñafort
Saint Raymond of Penyafort, O.P. is a Dominican friar who compiled the Decretals of Gregory IX, a collection of canon laws that remained part of church law until the Code of Canon Law was promulgated in 1917...
, a 12th century Catalan
Catalan people
The Catalans or Catalonians are the people from, or with origins in, Catalonia that form a historical nationality in Spain. The inhabitants of the adjacent portion of southern France are sometimes included in this definition...
-Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
saint. According to the parish website, this is incorrect. "It was dedicated on the feast of St. Raymond Nonnatus, on August 31, 1845, thus getting its name." There is a stained glass window, on the right side if you are looking at the sanctuary, of St. Raymond Nonnatus and the men who took him hostage. Adding the URL to the parish website under parish.
Parish
http://www.straymondparish.org/parish_history.html The parish of St. Raymond's predates the creation of The BronxThe 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...
, when the area was still part of southern Westchester County, New York
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
. Bishop John Dubois
John Dubois
Bishop John DuBois was the third bishop of the Roman Catholic diocese of New York. He was the first presiding bishop to reside in the diocese....
of New York had a deed executed on 2 December 1835 at a cost of $160 for the 125 foot by 26 foot plot of land situated about two miles north of Fort Schuyler, New York. A church and/or school were intended to be constructed that year on the plot of land, however, nothing was erected.
In 1842, Bishop John Hughes purchased the acre that the current St. Raymond's Church is located on, and in 1847 an adjoining acre was purchased. The land purchased coincided with the 1840 founding of St. John's College in the village of Fordham
Fordham, Bronx
Fordham is a neighborhood of New York City, United States, located in the West Bronx. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 5. It is bordered by Fordham Road to the north, Webster Avenue to the east, East 183rd Street to the south, and Jerome Avenue to the west...
, the future Fordham University
Fordham University
Fordham University is a private, nonprofit, coeducational research university in the United States, with three campuses in and around New York City. It was founded by the Roman Catholic Diocese of New York in 1841 as St...
, with the Rev. Felix Vilanis being its Superior. In the same year, Fr. Vilanis was appointed to attend to the Westchester and the villages along the Sound. He built the first church and had it dedicated 31 August 1845.
Among the notable pastors were the Rev. William O'Reilly, pastor in the late 1840s, who was the brother of the second Bishop of Hartford, and later rector of Our Lady of the Isle (Newport, Rhode Island) and Vicar General of the Diocese of Hartford
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Hartford is a particular church of the Latin Rite in Hartford, Litchfield and New Haven counties in Connecticut. The archdiocese includes about 700,000 Catholics, more than 500 priests, 216 parishes and almost 300 deacons. This is roughly one-half the population of...
. The Rev. I. A. Kensella (pastor from 1857 to 1875) left around $18,000 in his will for the erection of a new church. The forward-thinking Rev. Michael B. McEvoy (pastor from 1875 to 1885), bought the Underhill Farm on Throgg's Neck and had it consecrated for burial purpose as St. Raymond's Cemetery
Saint Raymond's Cemetery, Bronx
Saint Raymond's Cemetery is a Roman Catholic cemetery at 2600 Lafayette Avenue in the Throggs Neck section of The Bronx, New York City. The cemetery is composed of two separate locations: the older section , located west of the Hutchinson River Parkway; and the newer section , which is east of...
, one of the Bronx's more famous cemeteries. The Msgr. Edward McKenna, P.R., was born in Truagh, County Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland, on 18 July 1843, roughly two decades before the birth of the Most Rev. Dr. Patrick McKenna (9 August 1868 – 7 February 1942), the very influential Bishop of Clogher, who was also born in the very small and isolated Truagh parish, where he had St. Patrick's Church erected and a memorial placed to his parents and family. Bishop McKenna had many churches built or renovated during his lengthy episcopate. Both McKennas from Truagh are almost certainly related.
In 1914, there were around 4,000 Catholics living within the parish and the church property valued at $200,000.
Buildings
Monsignor Edward McKenna, P.R., (b. 18 July 1843 in the parish of Truagh, County MonaghanCounty Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland, was appointed pastor of St. Raymond's in 1888 and had the present "beautiful church" built in 1898 at a cost of $100,000. The architect of St. Raymond Church was George H. Streeton
George H. Streeton
George H. Streeton, AIA, was an American architect who worked in New York during the first half of the twentieth century, primarily for Roman Catholic clients.-Early life and education:...
of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
who also designed the Cathedral Basilica of St. James in Brooklyn, as well as St. Raphael's Church in Manhattan
SS. Cyril, Methodius, and Raphael's Church (New York City)
The Church of Saints Cyril & Methodius and St. Raphael. is a Roman Catholic parish church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located at 502 West 41st Street in Hell's Kitchen / Clinton, Manhattan, New York City, near the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel. It was established in 1974 from...
(1900–1902). The building was dedicated 23 October 1898. in 1908, Cardinal Logue laid the cornerstone of the new school, which opened September 1909.
Pastors
- Rev. Felix Vilanis (1842)
- Rev. Higgins (returned to Ireland when his health failed)
- Rev, William O'Reilly, brother of the second Bishop of Hartford, and afterward rector of Our Lady of the Isle (Newport, Rhode Island) and Vicar General of the Diocese of Hartford.
- Rev. Eugene McGuire (left 1853)
- Rev. Richard Kien (1853 until his death in 9 January 1854)
- Rev. Michael O'Reilly (4 February 1854-1857)
- Rev. I. A. Kensella (14 July 1857 - 6 January 1875, who in his will left $1000 for every year he was pastor of this church for the erection of a new church)
- Rev. Michael B. McEvoy (appointed February 1875 to 1885, who bought the Underhill Farm on Throggs Neck, now known as St. Raymond's CemeterySaint Raymond's Cemetery, BronxSaint Raymond's Cemetery is a Roman Catholic cemetery at 2600 Lafayette Avenue in the Throggs Neck section of The Bronx, New York City. The cemetery is composed of two separate locations: the older section , located west of the Hutchinson River Parkway; and the newer section , which is east of...
and had it consecrated for burial purposes) - Rev. Charles F. O'Keeffe (1885-1888)
- Msgr. Edward McKenna, P.R. (b. 18 July 1843 in the parish of Truagh, County MonaghanCounty MonaghanCounty Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
, Ireland, pastor of St. Raymond's from 1888)