Sunday, March 28, 2010

Sts. Peter and Paul, Williamsburg




Update in June, 2021. Please see the dedication of a church at 288 Berry Street. [url]https://thetablet.org/saints-peter-and-paul-parish-celebrate-new-church-in-historic-building/[/url]

The mailing address of the parish of Sts. Peter and Paul is 71 South Third St., Brooklyn NY 11211, telephone 718-388-9576. The church, pictured above and constructed in 1963, at 82 South Second Street between Berry St. and Wythe Avenue, will be closed April 3, 2016. Please take note of this decree from the bishop concerning the church building.  A news story in the Tablet (linked HERE), explains how parts of a former school will ultimately be rebuilt for worship.  Please check the dialogue in the comments below!
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The above photo and the two photos below were taken in 2010.   
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To the left of the church is a convent of the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara. This link describes their work. They, with the initials S.S.V.M., are connected to the group of I.V.E. priests from Argentina working in East New York parishes.
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Any photo may be enlarged by clicking on it.

The pastor and staff serve a merged parish. This church is a few blocks north of the Williamsburg Bridge. Epiphany is a few blocks south of the Williamsburg Bridge. The website of the merged parish is lined HERE.

The parish, founded in 1844, was one of the first Catholic parishes in Williamsburg. From 1848 to 1957 this parish was graced with architect Patrick Keely's first church. Above is the 1963 church that will soon close.  Below is the building in which a church will be constructed.




This is the former parish school on Berry Street.

Sister Helen Patrick Howley, a Brentwood Josephite, was principal of the parish school. For a brief and inspiring biography, please scroll down on this link.

Above: the rectory at 71 South Third St.
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(Edit of 1.11.2017:) Because of inquiry in the comments below, "Where was the original church?" I refer the reader to this link.  On an aerial photo collection of the entire city taken in 1924, the church appears to be on the east side of Wythe Avenue between South 2nd Street and South 3rd Street.




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7 comments:

  1. Does anyone know if they will use what used to be the school as a recreation center for kids? They really should do something like that.

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  2. Where on Wythe was the old SS Peter & Paul Church? My great, great uncle, Micheal Richardson, married Margaret O"Conner in 1887 in that church. He was the first member of that branch of my family to come over from Ireland (Clogheen in County Tipperary)

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    1. Apparently the parking lot of the "modern" church has the address 321 Wythe Avenue. Please see this article for an explanation of the sale
      http://newyorkyimby.com/category/saints-peter-and-paul-catholic-church

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    2. Hi Donald,
      My great-grandmother Johanna Bahan was married to my great-grandfather in the church in 1915. We think Johanna's family also came from County Tipperary, near Roscrea. It'd be interesting to know how many people in that parish came from Tipperary!
      Diane

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    3. Hi Joe,
      I am very curious to know the current status of the renovation of the old McCaddin Memorial Hall? Has it been completed? Is the SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in its new location? The most recent information I have found on the Internet is an article in The Tablet and the information you published back in March 28, 2010. I would greatly appreciate hearing from you.
      Thank you, Marianne Ryan.

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    4. Please see the dedication of a church within the Berry Street building https://thetablet.org/saints-peter-and-paul-parish-celebrate-new-church-in-historic-building/

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  3. Hi Diane,
    I hope you see my response to your January blog. Based on my genealogical research and work I would guess that many thousands of Irish immigrants passed through SS. Peter and Paul Church. My Himmarried at the church in 1852. They also had the funerals for their first child, Mary Ryan, in 1855, and Michael Ryan’s mother, Mary Bourke, in 1853. Michael and Mary Crowe Ryan arrived in New York with many members of their extended family. Eventually most of them permanently settled in Minnesota or Wisconsin. The Ryan’s and Crowes came Cappamore and Doon area in County Limerick. This area is very close to the county line between Limerick and Tipperary.
    Recently, I have been doing a lot of research on SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church. That was how I came across your blog.
    Marianne Ryan.

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