New York City, New York is well known as the historic gate of entry to the United States and it is unsurprising to find any ethnic group there, especially one as large as the German American community. This article will give a brief overview of the German Catholics of Neue York.
We will not focus too much on all of German New York history as it is simply too broad (in 1855, New York had the largest German population of any city outside Berlin and Vienna). In fact, New York is one of the last American cities with their original German language newspaper still in print. Starting in earnest in the 1850s, many Germans lived in “Little Germany” in Manhattan, also known as Kleinedeutschland or Dutchtown. The population quickly dwindled over the next 50 years but was exacerbated by the famous General Slocum disaster which killed off many of the most prominent residents of Kleindeutschland. Wikipedia summarizes:
The PS General Slocum was an American sidewheel passenger steamboat built in Brooklyn, New York, in 1891. During her service history, she was involved in a number of mishaps, including multiple groundings and collisions.
The blow to the community was severe and far reaching beyond the Lutheran church and Little Germany never really recovered. Many of the remaining Germans went to Yorkville and to other parts of the US such as Chicago. That being said, there are still some surviving remnants of German culture in that part of Manhattan you can read about here. We are here to discuss Catholic history however and without further drift will discuss the most prominent churches of the German Catholics of New York.
Originally the most important was Deutsche Römisch-Katholische St. Nicholas Kirche, or St. Nicholas German Roman-Catholic Church (notably included it’s German identity in it’s name, something rarely seen today, certainly not found in the German remnant diaspora). Founded in 1833, St Nicholas was in fact the national church of the German speaking population of the US. In fact, St. John Neumann celebrated his first mass there! St. John Neumann, a German-Czech American, is the first canonized American bishop and only canonized male US citizen. As the parish grew, disputes led to the founding of Most Holy Redeemer parish as well, which we will revisit in a moment. By 1848 the parish outgrew it’s first building and built a large Gothic Revival building, pictured below.
However, as the German population dwindled over the next century or so the building was least to Sloveniens for a time (since by ‘35 had only about 50 Germans were attending) and then sadly demolished in 1960, though the rectory building on the left still stands.
Most Holy Redeemer parish still stands, however. Founded in 1844 by German Redemptorists, this church was once called “The German Cathedral of Lower East Side.”
Many German Catholics faced a lack of religious support in the city, prompting the arrival of the Redemptorist Order in 1832. Over time, the Redemptorists worked to serve the German community, including founding Saint Nicholas Church in 1841, but they encountered significant challenges, including "Trusteeism," a lay management system that hindered the church's governance.
In 1844, Father Gabriel Rumpler established a new church, the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer, in response to overcrowded conditions and continued issues with Saint Nicholas. He purchased land on East Third and Fourth Streets, and by 1844, the first temporary church was dedicated. Despite a growing anti-immigrant sentiment, including opposition to Irish Catholics, German immigration surged in 1848/49, increasing the demand for church services.
Construction on a larger, permanent church began in 1850 under Father Rumpler's leadership but was completed by his successor, Father Joseph Mueller. The church was consecrated on November 28, 1852, and became known as the "German Cathedral." It was celebrated as a testament to the hard work and faith of the immigrant German community. The church's design was grand, featuring Byzantine-style architecture and intricate details. The opening was a major event in the city, and it became a symbol of Catholic devotion and immigrant solidarity in the Lower East Side. The story of the church for the next century is quite long and contain smany important details, so we will turn the reader now to a block of text taken from the parish’s own website for all interested in a detailed history:
New York City was growing and moving uptown at the turn of the century. Twenty-third Street was now the city's shopping center. The improvement of transit facilities gave impetus to the scheme to annex Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and parts of the Bronx to New York City in 1874. Jimmy Walker, who would become mayor of New York City, attended La Salle Academy which was a business school at this time. There were still 2,000 farms in the city, and more than 1.5 million New Yorkers lived in slums. The area bordered by the East River, East 14th Street, Third Avenue, the Bowery, and Catherine Street was the most populated area in the city. Although the composition of the immigrants coming into the United States was gradually changing at the turn of the century, Germans and their descendants still made up the majority of the population of the country. Prejudice against German immigrants still ran high, and the and the Germans of Most Holy Redeemer kept mostly to themselves, revolving life around the church and school. A bowling alley and shooting gallery opened on September 23, 1901, and a bowling club was organized. Notes written by the rector of the church in 1901 show that the parishioners and also the priests and brothers enjoyed many activities together. Neighboring church communities which were also comprised of immigrants joined with Most Holy Redeemer in holding events. "The Italians attached to Saint Brigid's Church, 8th Street and Avenue B, had an entertainment in our hall tonight. Admission 10 cents. Reserved seats 15 cents. The audience...seemed to enjoy the performance very much." Diaries of our church for the same year also show community outings to Plum Beach, Saint Joseph Orphan Asylum, and Long Island Sound. The parishioners of the church mourned in unison the death of President McKinley; on September 19, 1901, the church bells tolled from 3,00 pm to 4,00 pm and services were held. But not all Germans in the city were Catholic; many were Protestant, particularly Lutheran. Many parishioners of Most Holy Redeemerhad relatives and friends who belonged to The German Lutheran Church of Saint Mark, located on Sixth Street. Saint Mark's held its annual outing on June 15, 1904, and the congregation of Saint Mark's and their friends and relatives who were parishioners of Most Holy Redeemer boarded the General Slocum.The excursion boat slowly made its way up the East River with 1,600 happy passengers. Just as the General Slocum neared Hell Gate in the East River, a fire broke out. The captain made a decision to press on to the nearest island rather than head toward the shore. The rapidly spreading fire and the error in the captain's judgment caused the deaths of 1,200 passengers. The whole city listened to the news in horror, and the details of the tragedy spread even around the world. There was no house in the neighborhood that did not have at least two coffins, and one house had as many as twenty-seven. A Solemn Requiem Mass held at Most Holy Redeemer was attended by Protestants as well as Catholics. Although the Mass was celebrated at 5,30 am, the church was crowded to overflowing. The following Sunday the tragedy of the General Slocum was the topic of the sermons in every church of the diocese. Even William II, Emperor of Germany, sent a message of sympathy to President Theodore Roosevelt. Although the General Slocum disaster was not forgotten, other events of the period brightened life in the city. One particular event in 1904 changed the life of the citizens of New York City. On October 27, a subway was opened from City Hall to 145th Street, a distance of nine miles. Archbishop Farley blessed the new subway, and Mayor McClellan delivered a moving speech. By nightfall that evening, 35,000 passengers had the thrill of riding the subway. The heralding of the subway system in New York City, coupled with sad memories of the General Slocum disaster, also changed life at Most Holy Redeemer. The German parishioners who could not forget the horrible tragedy of the summer excursion moved away from the parish. The subway gave others the mobility to discover areas of the city out of their locale and then the opportunity to settle in those less populated neighborhoods or "suburbs". As a result, church records of Most Holy Redeemer show a marked decline of the parish by 1908. The first years of the 20th century brought many changes to life in the United States and New York City. Indeed, life was changing around the world. The Industrial Revolution had created a new class of people - those working in factories, even children, for pennies a day. The industrialization of society depleted workers from the agricultural industry and left it debilitated. These low paid factory workers migrated to overcrowded cities and many areas of cities around the world turned to ghettos. On March 25, 1911, a tragic event took place not far from Most Holy Redeemer Church. The Triangle Waist Co. was located at 22 Washington Place near Greene Street, one block east of Washington Square Park. A fire broke out at the end of the day in the factory, and in only ten minutes 441 workers died. Unsafe working conditions prevented the factory workers from escaping from the building. This horrible episode in history sparked union activities in the city and throughout the United States. An unrest circulated among this new class of workers in the United States, and also among the farmers in other parts of the world. The discernment with their lives led workers to revolt in thought and then in action around the world. New York's Lower East Side, where most of the city's laborers lived, became a hotbed of "liberal" ideas. Marxist activities were formulated around the Tompkins Square Park neighborhood and carried out in other parts of the city. There were early signs of union activities spurred on by the deplorable conditions in factories. Although the parish of Most Holy Redeemer sat in the middle of the fomenting revolution, the German, and now increasingly Italian, congregation for the most part did not join in. In 1912, the year that the Titanic sank, Father Joseph Schneider, rector of Most Holy Redeemer, was appointed Provincial of the Baltimore Province. Although the parishioners were unhappy to see him go, they were jubilant because of the honor given him. Father Schneider had the reputation of a builder, and before his departure from Most Holy Redeemer, he planned many renovations and alterations. Father Lieberth, who succeeded Father Schneider as rector, carried out these extensive plans which took six years to complete. The front of the church, which had been of common red brick, was covered with polished granite and smooth, white Indian limestone.The great tower was redesigned in the Romanesque style and lowered from 250 feet to 232 feet. The cupola of iron tiles was covered by copper, and on the top of the cupola a richly gilded cross was placed. The bells were reset. New light oak wood pews replaced the old solid black walnut ones. The sanctuary murals of the Ascension and Pentecost were retouched, and two other murals, Emmaus and Peter and John at the Temple, were added. The company of Zundel from Long Island designed the present stained glass windows. Of course, none of these wonderful renovations, alterations, and refurbishings could have been done without the generous support of the parishioners. In each stained glass window the name of the parishioner whose contribution made the work possible was memorialized. Plaques engraved with the names of generous donors had been set alongside altars throughout the church. One parishioner in particular, Mr. Rebeschung, a handyman and electrical mechanic, was experimenting with another idea. On January 11, 1914, he strung wires from the sacristy to the bell tower in an attempt to ring one of the bells by means of electricity. He proceeded to the sacristy, pressed a button, and to his excitement his experiment worked. His next task was to coordinate the bells so that they could be rung together, and he was successful. Mr. Rebeschung earned the title of the inventor of this system of electric bellringing, and Most Holy Redeemer became the first church or building in the world to have this system…
At this time World War I was ravaging Europe. Fortunately, the United States, for the most part, was unaffected. However, there was a growing prejudice against German-Americans. Dachshunds were kicked on the street and then were renamed Liberty Pups. Sauerkraut was renamed Liberty Cabbage. German language lessons were banned in schools. This distrust and hatred were felt by the Germans of Most Holy Redeemer. The Jaeger Society worked hard during World War I to defend German-Americans against bigotry and to protect church property. Father Joseph Schmidt was pastor of the church during the war. Because of partly successful bombings at Saint Patrick's Cathedral and Saint Alphonsus on Canal Street and because arson was again rampant, Father Schmidt took all possible precautions to protect the church. The war also brought other difficulties, including food and fuel shortages. There were various kinds of rationings and social activities to aid war victims such as Liberty Bond drives, the Catholic War Drive, and clothing drives. The parish participated in all of these projects. Throughout the dark days of the war there were also bright times. In 1916 a celebration commemorating the Golden Jubilee of the restoration of the picture of Perpetual Help was held, as well as the American Catholic Federation Convention. Most Holy Redeemer served as host to a group which attended the convention. Another celebration was held, this one in honor of Father Elias Schauer who celebrated the Diamond Jubilee of his profession. Father Schauer first came to Most Holy Redeemer in 1864, shortly after his ordination. Ten years later he was made Provincial, and during his term he opened many houses in the United States and Canada. He returned to Most Holy Redeemer at the age of 72 and became the faithful chronicler of parish events. In 1915 the parish started to decline noticeably. Each year the congregation decreased in numbers. There have been many opinions about what contributed to the decline. Some say the Slocum disaster caused the beginning of the decline. Others feel that World War I had much to do with it - many men of the parish never returned home. Another cause of the decline was the Spanish influenza. A theory put forth by a Redemptorist historian was that because of the "undesirable element of Socialists and Communists into the neighborhood, nearly all the descendants of the old German families have moved elsewhere." The most probable cause was that the latest wave of immigrants were non-Catholic. Although the congregation declined, the Redemptorists at Most Holy Redeemer continued to minister to the parishioners and were kept busy in many ways. Confessions, communions, baptisms, and marriages were more numerous…
Unfortunately, the peace that the United States experienced for just a short twenty years was abruptly interrupted by World War II on December 7, 1941. Although first hostilities and then war had been ravaging Europe for several years, America had not been touched. But by 1941 the United States began fighting both a Pacific front against the Japanese and a European front against the Germans and Italians. The war took its toll on Most Holy Redeemer in many ways. The congregation of the church still remained German with many Italians, and these two groups of Americans were discriminated against during the war. Also many parishioners were called to serve in the war which left families without husbands, fathers, and brothers for several years. Some men never returned home. Women parishioners started working in factories and taking on other jobs that were traditionally done by men. Many of these jobs were to support the war effort such as making clothing and parachutes for the armed forces. The congregation of Most Holy Redeemer also supported the war effort in other ways. The church participated in bond drives as it had done in World War I, and the Cadets and the Band joined each neighborhood block in raising the block flag in honor of the men from the block who were serving in the war. The Church, as well as its parishioners, was affected by fuel and food rationing…
In October 1954 the status of the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer was changed. The church had been a national parish to care for German-speaking people anywhere, but in 1954 it became a diocesan territorial parish with defined boundaries: from the south side of Fourth Street to the east side of First Avenue to the west side of Avenue B to the north side of Stanton Street to the west side of Clinton Street to the east side of Allen Street.
This concludes our discussion of the historic German parishes of the Big Apple. In Part II we will take a look at some surviving examples of German Catholic culture in New York, New York.
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