The Old Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne, also known as Mount Loretto Church, is a historic Catholic church building located in the Pleasant Plains area of Staten Island in New York City. It is located north of Hylan Boulevard between Page Avenue and Richard Avenue, in the southern part of the island, near the Atlantic Ocean and Tottenville. At 225 feet (69 m), it is the tallest building in Staten Island.[1]
| The Former Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne | |
|---|---|
 The facade of the church, built in 1891 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Town or city | Staten Island, New York |
| Country | United States |
| Completed | c.1891 |
| Client | Archdiocese of New York |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Masonry |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Benjamin E. Lowe |
History
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It was constructed in 1891 on the grounds of Mount Loretto, an institution founded by Father John Drumgoole to house and educate destitute street children of the city.[2] The church principally served the children and staff of that institution. Mount Loretto was conceived as a farm, and at the time of its construction, the church stood in a rural area.[3]
In 1972, the church was one of the locations used in the movie The Godfather.[4] In 1973, a serious fire largely destroyed the church, leaving only its facade. The owner of the church, the Archdiocese of New York, rebuilt it in 1976, incorporating the old facade into the new smaller structure.[2][5]
The church is not considered a parish of the archdiocese.[6] The church building does not operate full-time and is mainly used for occasional ceremonial Masses. Mount Loretto, officially known as the Mission of the Immaculate Virgin and now named Catholic Charities of Staten Island, continues to use the surrounding property for a variety of social services, including some residential programs.[7] A small plaza in front of the church features bells saved from the steeples during the 1973 fire, and an 1891 statue of Father Drumgoole by sculptor Robert Cushing.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Staten Island Buildings". Emporis. Archived from the original on June 12, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ a b Semler, Kacey L. (July 1, 2012). "Staten Island Gems – The Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne, Pleasant Plains". SI Live. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ^ "Thousands Were There". New York Times. September 14, 1891. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ^ "There's Something Wrong With This Staten Island Church". ScoutingNY.com. January 13, 2014. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ^ Gupte, Pranay (October 18, 1976). "Cooke Leads Rejoicing as Staten Island Church 'Rises' From Ashes of a Fire". New York Times. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
- ^ "Parish Finder". Archdiocese of New York. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ "Catholic Charities of Staten Island at Mount Loretto". Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ "Robert Cushing's Art" (PDF). New York Times. March 29, 1896. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
External links
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Media related to St. Joachim and St. Anne Church (Staten Island) at Wikimedia Commons
40°30′42″N 74°13′15″W / 40.51167°N 74.22083°W
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