Old St. Patrick's Cathedral

History and architecture

Although only the shell of this building remained intact after the church was completely gutted by a fire in 1836, the original Cathedral, when completed in 1815, was one of the earliest examples of Gothic Revival architecture in the City.

Some of this early Gothic work survived the restoration of 1868. Today, the massive stone facade facing Mott Street is still impressive and recalls its past glories. Formal and severely plain in appearance, this smooth faced windowless wall has great dignity and character in its restrained simplicity. Recessed arched niches over the side doors are unadorned as is the plain wall around them, and the wall formed by the high pitched gable of the roof above.

The handsome rough gray colored fieldstone masonry walls of the North and South elevations each contain eight, pointed arched triply divided stained-glass windows, with elegant tracery at the top.. North and South of the Church, enclosed within a brick wall, is a landscaped cemetery containing many old tombstones.

The holy See of New York was established in 1808 by Pope Pius VII. The following year in 1809,- the cornerstone of the Cathedral of Old St. Patrick's was laid. Owing to the War of 1812, work on the building was held up and the church was not completed until 1815. The architect was Joseph F. Mangin, co-architect with John McComb Jr., of the New York City Hall. The early history of the Roman Catholic Church in this country relates chiefly to this building, and particularly to the person of the great Archbishop, John Hughes. After the new St. Patricks Cathedral was dedicated at 50th Street, the old building was reconsecrated as a parish church on March 17, 1885.