EVG file photo from 2023
As we first reported on July 16, Most Holy Redeemer-Church of the Nativity is halting its mass schedule starting in September, leaving the future of the historic church in question.
A group called "Save Most Holy Redeemer Historical Church" is hosting a vigil this evening at 7 outside the church on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B to raise awareness of its fate.
Meanwhile, efforts continue by preservation groups and parishioners to landmark the historic East Village property. To date, outgoing District 2 City Council Member Carlina Rivera and the Tenement Museum have lobbied the Landmarks Preservation Committee.
The landmarking effort, spearheaded by Village Preservation, the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative and the East Village Community Coalition, seeks to protect the 19th-century church built in 1851 — along with its rectory and former school — from potential redevelopment.
Supporters argue that the church is a vital part of the neighborhood's cultural and architectural heritage, and it deserves formal landmark status.
Find the petition here.
During a meeting on July 14, church officials said that Most Holy Redeemer's weekly masses will end on Aug. 31. In their place, the church will offer only occasional services, such as weddings, funerals, or what was described as "once in a blue moon masses" for long-time parishioners. This fall, masses that were previously held on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays (including Spanish services) will take place at nearby St. Brigid's.
Leadership cited the shortage of priests as a key reason for the shift.
Concerns were also raised about the structural condition of the building itself. There is plaster falling from the ceiling in the church, officials noted, adding that engineers would evaluate whether it remains safe.
An employee of Most Holy Redeemer and St. Brigid attended the July 14 meeting and expressed skepticism about the timing of the engineering review, calling it "suspicious."
Previously on EV Grieve:
3 comments:
Thank you for providing this information and also for providing the link to sign the petition 👍
Everyone rushes to say landmark this and landmark that. I will let you in on a little secret, most of these landmark designations don't preserve most stuff and don't prevent gentrification. In most cases they do the exact opposite. What they do is force mom and pop owners, who usually owned all those businesses neighborhood residents grew to love, to sell their properties because they can no longer afford the upkeep and keep up with the necessary red tape required by the landmarks commission. My building was landmarked in the arbitrary east village block of landmarking walk ups. I can no longer afford the upkeep and can no longer afford to give long time commercial tenants breaks on rent. What I am being forced to do is sell. Obviously, I will sell to the highest bidder who will force out the long time tenants in the commercial spaces that people in the hood love and bring in crap that everyone calls gentrification. This church will probably eventually be taken over by the city and sit idle for people to look at and just take up space and your tax money. And guess what, once all these landmarked spots are sold to big corporations they will get the zoning laws changed by greasing palms and then they will be torn down and the ugly glass condos you were thinking you were avoiding will pop up as the de-landmarked buildings will then be torn down.
Did you buy it before or after it was landmarked?
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