Saint Paul Roman Catholic Church

STATUS Designated Individual Landmark

121 East 117th Street

ARCHITECT: Neville & Bagge

DATE: 1907-08

STYLE: Romanesque Revival, Church

Church East Harlem Manhattan Romanesque Revival

Designated: June 28, 2016

Saint Paul Roman Catholic Church, completed in 1908, is significant as an excellent example of the late Romanesque Revival style. Designed by the firm of Neville & Bagge, the facade incorporates both medieval and classical features. It is also historically significant as one of the earliest Roman Catholic parishes in Manhattan, serving the East Harlem neighborhood since 1834.

Dominating the street facade are symmetrical corner towers, an extraordinary row of five entry portals, and large round-arch stained-glass windows with simple geometric tracery. These dramatic windows on the front and side facades figure prominently in the design and their construction was facilitated by the building’s structural use of steel and concrete. Typical Romanesque Revival features include round-arch openings, towers, steep roofs, and carved medieval-style ornamentation.

*image courtesy of the Landmarks Preservation Commission

STATUS Designated Individual Landmark

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Also known as El Barrio, the area is famous as one of the largest predominantly Latino neighborhoods in the city. Echoing development patterns across the city, the neighborhood was largely built in response to the availability of transportation. In the 1830s, tracks were laid along...

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