Phone +1 212-989-8280 | Opened 1930 | |
 | ||
Construction started 1888 (for first church)1929 Completed 1888 (for first church)1910 (for second church)1930 (for present church) Demolished 1910 (for 1888 church)1930 (for 1910 church) Structural system Brick masonry (for 1930 church) Address 193 10th Ave, New York, NY 10011, USA Architectural style Romanesque Revival architecture Similar St Columba Church, Children's Galleries for Jewis, Church of the Epiphany, Church of Sts Cyril & Methodiu, St Andrew's Church | ||
The Church of the Guardian Angel is a Roman Catholic church in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located at 193 Tenth Avenue, Chelsea, Manhattan, New York City, New York.
Contents
Buildings
The present Southern Sicilian Romanesque-style brick church at 193 Tenth Avenue was built 1930 to the designs of John Van Pelt of Van Pelt, Hardy & Goubert. Plan were filed in 1929, and it was likely begun that year. Stylistically, it is similar to Van Pelt's other churches in Manhattan and the Bronx. The church design "is reminiscent of the early Romanesque sculpture at the abbey of Moissac. Both churches have a scalloped profile that seems to incorporate a bit of Moorish influence. Both the human and animal forms are treated with the same incredible flexibility...." The AIA Guide to New York City (1988) writes "The church's simple brick and limestone Southern Sicilian Romanesque facade merges with the Tuscan village forms of auxiliary buildings to the north in a well- related group." AIA Guide to New York City (2010) describes the church as "lush brick and limestone, Italian Romanesque, backed up snug against the High Line. Despite the obvious difference in style and materials, the two were built around the same time."
Parish history
The parish was founded in 1888 by the Rev. William A. O'Neill, who remained pastor until 1895 when he was transferred to St. Ann's as rector. The first church was dedicated June 10, 1888 by Bishop Conroy. The address for the first church was located at 513 West 23rd Street, as recorded in 1892.
The parish was founded to minister to workers at the bustling waterfront piers on the nearby Hudson River. A new church was completed in 1910 to the designs of George H. Streeton also at 513<My great grandmother married her second husband there in 1906. The address on the Certificate Of Marriage is 511 W. 23rd St. NOT 513 W. 23rd St.> West 23rd Street, replacing the 1888 church building. "In 1911, a parochial school was opened." In 1914, the following was reported: "The Catholic population numbers 3,000, and the church property is valued at $60,000, all out of debt."
That area's redevelopment in the 1930s with the construction of the elevated freight railroad, the High Line, by the New York Central Railroad necessitated the church's removal. Similar to the story of nearby St. Michael, the church's demolition and removal for redevelopment in the interests of a railroad were allegedly paid for by that developing railroad, which in this case was the New York Central. The architecture of the new church (see Buildings section) both seemingly ignores and stands in stark contrast, almost antagonistically to that of the High Line, perhaps reflecting this early relationship.
Although threatened with closure, the Archdiocese announced on January 19, 2007 that Guardian Angel would retain its parish status.
Pastors
Parish School
The school was founded in 1911 and has always been run by a professional lay staff and the Dominican Sisters of Newburgh. "In 1911, a parochial school was opened; its school roll in 1914 shows an attendance of 132 boys and 130 girls." Five Sisters of St. Dominic ran the school, as reported in 1914. Along with the church's relocation in 1930, the school relocated to its current location at 193 Tenth Avenue, New York, NY 10011. The style of the schoolhouse is the same as the church, indicating that the complex was built by Van Pelt concurrently with the church building in 1930, or thereabouts. The current principal is Miss Maureen McElduff.