Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Bronx) explained
The Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary was a Roman Catholic parish church under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located at 160 Van Cortlandt Park South, Kingsbridge, Bronx, New York City, New York.
History
The parish was established in 1928. The original structure was a combined school-over-church, common to the city.[1] Construction of the Major Deegan Expressway caused the church to move to its present site in 1951.[4] Ground-breaking for the new church was held in February 1952, Bishop Joseph P. Donahue officiating.[5]
Both church and school were completed 1953 as Modernist brick and reinforced concretestructures.[1] [6] Cardinal Spellman dedicated the parish school building, which was completed in 1953 at a cost of $200,000.[3] The rectory address is 160 Van Cortlandt Park South, Bronx NY 10463.[2]
The parish school is at 171 West 239th Street, Bronx NY 10463.[2]
On November 2, 2014, the parish was merged with that of Church of St. John,[7] and on June 30, 2017, the church was deconsecrated.[8] In 2022, a school and apartment complex were proposed for the site.[9]
On June 19, 2023, demolition of the church had been completed, and demolition of the school building was nearly complete.
Notes and References
- See Thomas J. Shelley, The Archdiocese of New York: the Bicentennial History, (New York: Archdiocese of New York / Strasbourg: Éditions du Signe, 2007), p. 478, 480.
- Joe McMahon, Bronx Catholic "Visitation, Van Cortlandt Park South", May 16, 2010, "This is an attempt to index references to The Bronx in "The Archdiocese of New York: the Bicentennial History," a marvelous 624-page book written by Thomas J. Shelley. The 2007 book may still be available at the St. Patrick Cathedral gift shop. The strength of this blog will be in the alphabetic list of labels to the right, or use the search box at top left. The blog format requires that entries move from recent to old." (Retrieved 21 May 2011)
- "Dedication by Cardinal: New School of the Visitation Opens Today in Marble Hill," The New York Times, Apr 27, 1953, Excerpt: "Four thousand persons saw Cardinal Spellman dedicate yesterday the new School of the Visitation, a parochial elementary school, at West 239th Street and Putnam Avenue in the Marble Hill section of the Bronx.... at a cost of $200000, it is in tho rear of the new Roman Cathoti6 Church of the Visitation of the Virgin Mary, 160 Van Cortlandt Park South...."
- "Bronx Parish to Get New Building Site; Visitation Church and School to Replace Plant Ousted by Parkway Link," The New York Times, May 2, 1951, Excerpt: "The Archbishopric of New York has purchased a plot containing 50,000 square feet of land at Van Cortlandt Park South, Review Place and Putnam Avenue in the Bronx... The land will be the site of the new church and school for Visitation parish...."
- https://www.nytimes.com/1952/02/18/archives/new-church-started-by-parish-in-bronx.html "New Church Started in the Bronx"
- "Parcels in Bronx Go To 3 Churches: Lutheran, Episcopal, Roman Catholic Groups Involved --Expansion Is Planned," The New York Times, Mar 5, 1956, Excerpt: "Purchases of properties in the Bronx by churches were announced over the week-end....The Roman Catholic Church of the Visitation bought three vacant parcels to round out its control of the entire square block bounded by Van Cortlandt Park ...."
- Dolan, Timothy Michael (November, 2014) "Decree on Merger of the Parish of Saint John, Bronx, NY and the Parish of Visitation, Bronx, NY" Office of the Cardinal, Archdiocese of New York
- Dolan, Timothy Michael (June 30, 2017) "Decree on the Relegation of the Church of Visitation in the Parish of Saint John-Visitation, New York" Office of the Cardinal, Archdiocese of New York
- NYC SCA, Access Date: April 1, 2022
