Designed in 1809-1815 by architect
Joseph Francois Mangrin, who also designed City Hall, St. Patrick’s Old
Cathedral is the oldest Roman Catholic
church in the City. It is located in
the East Village between Mott and Mulberry
Streets. This neighborhood was so wild
when the Cathedral was first built that foxes were often caught inside.
In 1879 the new St. Patrick’s
Cathedral was dedicated (at Fifth
Avenue between 50th & 51st
Streets). Construction of the cathedral
took longer than first planned partially because it was interrupted
during the Civil War. The cathedral's spires were
not finished until 1888. The new St.
Patrick’s design is a Gothic-style by James Renwick, Jr. who was influenced by the design of the Cologne
Cathedral, one of Europe’s most beautiful. It is the largest Catholic cathedral in America.
