St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church (Manhattan)
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Saint Peter Catholic Church, New York
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(2012)
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| Location | 22 Barclay Street, Manhattan, New York City |
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| Built | originally 1785, current structure 1836-1840 |
| Architect | John R. Haggerty and Thomas Thomas |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Website | St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, Manhattan |
| NRHP Reference # | 80002721 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 23, 1980 |
| Designated NYCL | December 21, 1965 |
St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church, at 22 Barclay Street at the corner of Church Street in the Financial District of Manhattan, New York City, was built in 1836-40 and was designed by John R. Haggerty and Thomas Thomas in the Greek Revival style, with six Ionic columns. The parish, part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, is the oldest Roman Catholic parish in New York State, and the building replaced an earlier one built in 1785-86. The original church was used for worship until 1834 when it was replaced by the present structure.
The church was designated a New York City landmark in 1965 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. The present church has been declared a landmark by federal, state and city agencies.
A gift of 1,000 silver pieces from King Charles III of Spain topped off donations to start the construction of the church. Catholics constructing the original church initially tried to locate it on Broad Street, then in the heart of New York City. Due to anti-Catholic sentiments, however, New York City officials implored them to change the location to a site at Barclay and Church Streets, then outside the city limits. The builders relented and accepted the present location. The cornerstone of the original church was laid in 1785 and the first Mass celebrated in 1786.
Mexican artist Jose Vallejo painted an icon of the Crucifixion and Nunez de Haro, archbishop of Mexico City, gave it to St. Peter parish in 1789; it hung above the main altar. Father William O'Brien, the first pastor, is remembered for his tireless service to the citizens of New York during the yellow fever epidemics of 1795 and 1798. In 1800 the first free Catholic school in New York State was established at St. Peter's. On March 14, 1805 at St. Peter's Church, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton converted from the Episcopal Church to Catholicism. Thereafter, she often prayed before the painting of the Crucifixion above the main altar. The Catholic Church later canonized her, the first native-born United States citizen so honored.
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