Church of St. Ignatius Loyola (New York City)

Church of St. Ignatius Loyola
New York City Landmark  No. 0431
St. Ignatius Loyola complex, April 2021
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Location	980 Park Avenue, New York City, New York
Coordinates	40°46′44″N 73°57′31″W / 40.77889°N 73.95861°W / 40.77889; -73.95861
Area	3.5 acres (1.4 ha)
Built	1895-1900[2][3]
Architect	Schickel & Ditmars[2]
Architectural style	German Baroque; Classical Revival
Website	Official website
NRHP reference No.	80002679[1]
NYSRHP No.	06101.002473
NYCL No.	0431
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	July 24, 1980
Designated NYSRHP	June 23, 1980
Designated NYCL	March 4, 1969

The Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola is a

The present grand limestone edifice stands as testimony to both the growing affluence and confidence of the Catholic community on New York's Upper East Side near the start of the 20th century as well as the ambitious determination of Fr. Neil McKinnon, S.J., pastor of the parish from 1893 to 1907.[5] During his time, Martin J. Scott, later a noted author of novels and controversial literature, worked as assistant priest among the young (1902-1915) and built a day nursery in 1910.

The church was declared a New York City Landmark on March 4, 1969.^[2] The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 24, 1980.^[1]

The church was used as the setting for the funeral of Logan Roy, a central character in the HBO television series Succession. Filming for the episode, which aired in May 2023, took place over two and a half days.^[7]

Notable funerals

• Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, First Lady – May 1994^[8]
• Aaliyah, singer and actress – August 2001^[8]
• Patricia Kennedy Lawford – September 2006
• Lena Horne, singer and actress – May 2010^[8]
• Philip Seymour Hoffman, actor – February 2014^[8]
• Oscar de la Renta, fashion designer – November 2014^[8]
• Mario Cuomo, governor of New York – January 2015^[9]
• Ann Mara, co-owner of N.Y. Giants Football Team – February 2015
• David Carr, N.Y. Times media columnist – February 2015

Architecture

Construction

A wooden church was erected in 1852, which was replaced in 1853 by a modest brick structure.^[5]

The church's present foundation was built 1884-1886 as the foundations to a planned Gothic design. The parish was transferred to Jesuit control in 1886.

Two unbroken vertical orders, a

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God) and the Great Seal of the Society, composed of a cross, three nails, and the letters I H S (the first three letters of Jesus' name in Greek which later became a Latin acronym denoting Jesus the Savior of Humankind); together they proclaim to all who pass by that St. Ignatius is a Jesuit Parish.^[5]

The church is constructed of American, European, and African marbles, including pink Tennessee, red-veined Numidian, yellow Siena, pink Algerian marble, white Carrara marble, and veined Pavonazzo marble; most of the intricate marble work was executed by the firm of James G. Batterson Jr., and John Eisele of New York.^[5]

The marble mosaic Stations of the Cross panels were designed by Professor Paoletti for Salviati & Company of Venice; some were publicly exhibited in Turin before installation.

The great twelve-panel bronze doors located at the sanctuary end of the side aisles… were designed by the Rev. Patrick O'Gorman, S.J., pastor from 1924 to 1929... [and were] crafted by the Long Island Bronze Company….

The Jesuit statues, including

The church is notable for its organ, dedicated in 1993 and built by English organ builder Noel Mander. The instrument "is New York City's largest mechanical action (tracker) pipe organ, and the largest mechanical action pipe organ ever to have been built in the British Isles."^[5]

Baptistery The semi-circular wrought-iron

• 1. Rev. Eugene O'Reilly, rector 1851-August 5, 1852[12]
• 2. Rev. Thomas Ouellet, S.J., rector 1852- ^[12]
• 3. Rev. Walter J. Quarter, rector –1866^[13]
• 4. Rev. Samuel Mulledy (1811–1866), rector 1863–1866^[13]
• 5. Rev. Victor Beaudevin, S.J., rector 1866–^[13]
• 10. Rev. John Treanor, S.J., rector (–1880)^[14]
• 11. Rev. Robert J. Fulton, S.J.(1826-1895), rector November 1, 1880- ^[12]
• 12. Rev. David Merrick, S.J. (rector 1880–)^[15]

• 13. Rev. Neil McKinnon, S.J., rector July 31, 1893 – 1907 (parish rededicated on December 11, 1898, with new upper church dedicated to
  St. Lawrence O'Toole)^[12]
• 14. William O'Brien Pardow, S.J., rector 1907-1909[16]
• 15. David Hearn, S.J., rector 1909-1915^[16]
• 16. Cowles Havens Richards, S.J., rector 1915-1919^[17]
• 17. James J. Kilrowy, S.J., rector 1919-1924^[17]
• 18. Patrick F. O'Gorman, S.J., rector 1924-1929^[17]
• 19. Edward J. Sweeney, S.J., rector 1930-1933^[17]
• 20.
  William J. Devlin, S.J., rector 1933-1935^[17]
• 21. W. Coleman Nevils, S.J., rector 1935-1940^[17]
• 22. Francis A. McQuade, S.J., rector 1940-1945^[17]
• 23. John Edwards Gratton, S.J., rector 1945-1949^[17]
• 24. C. Justin Hanley, S.J., rector 1949-1952^[17]
• 25. Robert I. Gannon, S.J., rector 1952-1958^[17]
• 26. John J. McGinty, S.J., rector 1958-1960^[17]
• 27. William T. Wood, S.J., rector 1960-1966^[17]
• 28. Charles T. Taylor, S.J., rector 1966-1970^[17]
• 29. Robert J. Haskins, S.J., rector 1970-1979^[18]
• 30. Victor R. Yanitelli, S.J., rector 1980-1986^[19]
• 31. Walter F. Modrys, S.J., rector 1986-2005^[20]
• 32. Gerald R. Blaszczak, S.J., rector 2005-2008^[17]
• 33. William J. Bergen, S.J., acting rector June–August 2008^[17]
• 34. George M. Witt, S.J., rector 2008-2015^[17]
• 35. Thomas H. Feely, S.J., parish administrator 2015–2016^[17]
• 36. Dennis J. Yesalonia, S.J., rector 2016–Present^[21]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Manhattan below 14th Street
• List of Jesuit sites
• List of New York City Designated Landmarks in Manhattan below 14th Street

References

Notes