Photos and reporting by Stacie Joy
The grassroots effort continues to help save Most Holy Redeemer-Church of the Nativity on Third Street between Avenue A and Avenue B.
A group of residents and parishioners once again held a prayer vigil outside the church on Friday evening at 7 — a gathering they plan to continue weekly at this time. (You can follow the Facebook group Save Most Holy Redeemer Historical Church here.)
Participants brought headsets and a small portable speaker that was fastened to the church gates. Prayer sheets were handed out, and the group recited a series of novenas.
The mood outside was a mix of reverence and frustration. Parishioners have expressed concerns that the Archdiocese has not been transparent about its future plans for this parcel, which includes the adjoining rectory. (That building belongs to the Redemptorists, not the Archdiocese, which had only been renting the space.)
Several people also spoke about plans to attend the last Mass, held on Sunday, Aug. 31. Moving forward, Masses will be held at St. Brigid-St. Emeric on Avenue B.
Fox 5 was also on hand with a camera crew to cover the scene.
Village Preservation, along with the Lower East Side Preservation Initiative and the East Village Community Coalition, has launched a campaign to save Most Holy Redeemer, which has stood at 173 E. Third St. for more than 150 years.
Outgoing District 2 City Council Member Carlina Rivera and leadership at the Tenement Museum have voiced their support for preserving the church.
Founded in 1844 by German-speaking Redemptorist missionaries and completed in 1851, the church was once among the tallest structures in New York. Nicknamed the "German Cathedral of the Lower East Side," it became a cornerstone of Kleindeutschland. It played a significant role in the city's religious, immigrant, and fire safety history — from introducing Gregorian chant in Catholic churches to pioneering the use of electricity for religious structures.
Despite that legacy, Most Holy Redeemer, and preservationists warn that the building could be at risk.
Village Preservation notes the Landmarks Preservation Commission has often failed to protect historic churches, synagogues, and other neighborhood sites of worship in recent years.
For neighbors, the prospect of the steeple disappearing from the skyline after decades as a familiar presence is almost unimaginable.
As the Facebook group states:
Holy Redeemer is more than just bricks and stained glass — it's a cornerstone of our community's identity. Its architecture, history, and spiritual presence deserve to be cherished, not forgotten.
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