IWalked Audio Tours
IWalked New York City's St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine
Feeling a bit out of place is this small red-brick Federal style rowhouse located in Lower Manhattan which is known as the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine. This structure is actually two interconnected buildings as you have the church-like building on your left and the curved wooden portico section on your right.
The earliest portion of this structure (on the right hand side) was constructed between 1792-1794. It was built for a merchant named James Watson who was also the first Speaker of the New York State Assembly and a US Senator. Although the architect is not 100% confirmed it is largely believed to be designed by John McComb Jr who also designed the nearby Castle Clinton in Battery Park. It is said that the white Ionic columns which dominate the curved façade were made of masts from a ship once owned by Watson. Subsequent to Mr. Watson this building took on a series of other lives including becoming a hotel shortly after the Civil War. It currently serves as the church rectory for the adjoining Our Lady of the Rosary Church of your left.
The current church you are viewing was actually built rather recently in 1964, although it blends in rather nicely with its 18th century neighbor. The church’s roots actually go back much further as the parish itself was officially established in 1884.
The parish is named for the first American-born saint who formerly had a home on this site with her husband and five children, Elizabeth Ann Seton. She lived in a former home located on the site of this church with her family until her husband passed away in 1803. After struggling for three years to support her family she accepted an offer to open a school for girls near Baltimore, Maryland (in Emmitsburg, MD). In subsequent years through her unrelenting charity she helped establish numerous hospitals and other various educational centers. In 1975 she was canonized by Pope Paul VI in recognition of her tireless efforts.
Today the church which bears Ms. Seton’s name (despite having no direct association outside of the building locale) may be visited 8am-5pm on weekdays or before/after masses on weekends.
For more history regarding this site, including how you can visit this locale via one of our MP3 audio walking tours, check out our site here: iwalkedaudiotours.com/2011/06/iwalked-new-york-city%E2%80...
IWalked New York City's St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine
Feeling a bit out of place is this small red-brick Federal style rowhouse located in Lower Manhattan which is known as the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Shrine. This structure is actually two interconnected buildings as you have the church-like building on your left and the curved wooden portico section on your right.
The earliest portion of this structure (on the right hand side) was constructed between 1792-1794. It was built for a merchant named James Watson who was also the first Speaker of the New York State Assembly and a US Senator. Although the architect is not 100% confirmed it is largely believed to be designed by John McComb Jr who also designed the nearby Castle Clinton in Battery Park. It is said that the white Ionic columns which dominate the curved façade were made of masts from a ship once owned by Watson. Subsequent to Mr. Watson this building took on a series of other lives including becoming a hotel shortly after the Civil War. It currently serves as the church rectory for the adjoining Our Lady of the Rosary Church of your left.
The current church you are viewing was actually built rather recently in 1964, although it blends in rather nicely with its 18th century neighbor. The church’s roots actually go back much further as the parish itself was officially established in 1884.
The parish is named for the first American-born saint who formerly had a home on this site with her husband and five children, Elizabeth Ann Seton. She lived in a former home located on the site of this church with her family until her husband passed away in 1803. After struggling for three years to support her family she accepted an offer to open a school for girls near Baltimore, Maryland (in Emmitsburg, MD). In subsequent years through her unrelenting charity she helped establish numerous hospitals and other various educational centers. In 1975 she was canonized by Pope Paul VI in recognition of her tireless efforts.
Today the church which bears Ms. Seton’s name (despite having no direct association outside of the building locale) may be visited 8am-5pm on weekdays or before/after masses on weekends.
For more history regarding this site, including how you can visit this locale via one of our MP3 audio walking tours, check out our site here: iwalkedaudiotours.com/2011/06/iwalked-new-york-city%E2%80...