Rev. Neal Quartier
215 North Salina Street
Syracuse, NY 13217
(315) 474-2363
A
Little Bit of History
The Reverend John McMenomy was named first Pastor of the fourth Catholic Church in Syracuse in September of 1852. After a groundbreaking in 1853, the first mass was celebrated in the basement of what was to become St. John's, on Easter Sunday 1855. The church was constructed with the volunteer help of hundreds of Irish and Polish immigrants who were working on the Erie Canal in Central New York, and when Father Guerdet replaced Father McMenomy in 1867, the exterior remained unpainted, and the steeple had not been completed. But by the end of his term in 1883, Father Guerdet had completed the church, built a new rectory across the street, converted the old rectory at the rear of the church for the Sisters of St. Joseph, and purchased the land at State and Hickory Street for the new St. John's School.
When the Diocese of Syracuse was created in 1887, Bishop Ludden selected St. John's to serve as the first cathedral in his new Diocese. Under his rectors, the Reverend Dr. Lynch and Reverend Michael Cluse, the sanctuary and vestry were enlarged, the school was doubled in size, and the Christian Brother's school was moved from Pearl Street to the northeast corner of State and Willow Streets. By 1904, when the first parish in Syracuse, "Old St. Mary's" was selected to become the new Cathedral, St. John the Evangelist had taken its place as a prominent north side parish. Renovations continued, and in 1907, a third floor was added to the rectory, then in 1916, the altar and sanctuary were redecorated, the "Panels of the 12 Apostles" were completed and the slate roof was relaid.
After the Oswego Canal was filled and the proximity of the railroad became a concern, the rear of the church was reinforced, and steel girders were added to the floor in 1939. During the 1940's, the roof was repaired, the steeple re-gilded, and the exterior brickwork was re-pointed. The 1950's brought new interiors to the church and the rectory, terrazzo floors, new entrance doors, and the basement hall and kitchen. And finally in the 1980's, the gold, brown and purple interior of the church was replaced by the present gray, green and mauve.
The classic Gothic structure and inspiring steeple have graced the city skyline for nearly a century and a half, and the people of St. John's remain fiercely proud of this beautiful building. The nave is enriched with ornamental plaster and carved oak, and is home to magnificent stained glass windows that describe the historical growth of this religious artistry from the traditional 19th century craftsmanship found in the windows of the nave, to the great Tiffany styled Sanctuary window behind the main altar. This masterpiece describing the great mysteries of the Christian world in deep, rich colors comes alive in the splendor of the late afternoon sun.
Although the school has passed into history, many graduates still recall the years when this north side neighborhood included not only St. John's and the original Christian Brother's Academy, but also the public Prescott School.
Still remaining at the intersection are the renovated (former) Nettleton Shoe Factory, and the Archimedes Russell designed (former) rectory with its three story bay windows and bracketed cornices.
The rectory was sold in 2003 to lawyers who are renovating and restoring this magnificent landmark to its original beauty.
The Reverend John McMenomy was named first Pastor of the fourth Catholic Church in Syracuse in September of 1852. After a groundbreaking in 1853, the first mass was celebrated in the basement of what was to become St. John's, on Easter Sunday 1855. The church was constructed with the volunteer help of hundreds of Irish and Polish immigrants who were working on the Erie Canal in Central New York, and when Father Guerdet replaced Father McMenomy in 1867, the exterior remained unpainted, and the steeple had not been completed. But by the end of his term in 1883, Father Guerdet had completed the church, built a new rectory across the street, converted the old rectory at the rear of the church for the Sisters of St. Joseph, and purchased the land at State and Hickory Street for the new St. John's School.
When the Diocese of Syracuse was created in 1887, Bishop Ludden selected St. John's to serve as the first cathedral in his new Diocese. Under his rectors, the Reverend Dr. Lynch and Reverend Michael Cluse, the sanctuary and vestry were enlarged, the school was doubled in size, and the Christian Brother's school was moved from Pearl Street to the northeast corner of State and Willow Streets. By 1904, when the first parish in Syracuse, "Old St. Mary's" was selected to become the new Cathedral, St. John the Evangelist had taken its place as a prominent north side parish. Renovations continued, and in 1907, a third floor was added to the rectory, then in 1916, the altar and sanctuary were redecorated, the "Panels of the 12 Apostles" were completed and the slate roof was relaid.
After the Oswego Canal was filled and the proximity of the railroad became a concern, the rear of the church was reinforced, and steel girders were added to the floor in 1939. During the 1940's, the roof was repaired, the steeple re-gilded, and the exterior brickwork was re-pointed. The 1950's brought new interiors to the church and the rectory, terrazzo floors, new entrance doors, and the basement hall and kitchen. And finally in the 1980's, the gold, brown and purple interior of the church was replaced by the present gray, green and mauve.
The classic Gothic structure and inspiring steeple have graced the city skyline for nearly a century and a half, and the people of St. John's remain fiercely proud of this beautiful building. The nave is enriched with ornamental plaster and carved oak, and is home to magnificent stained glass windows that describe the historical growth of this religious artistry from the traditional 19th century craftsmanship found in the windows of the nave, to the great Tiffany styled Sanctuary window behind the main altar. This masterpiece describing the great mysteries of the Christian world in deep, rich colors comes alive in the splendor of the late afternoon sun.
Although the school has passed into history, many graduates still recall the years when this north side neighborhood included not only St. John's and the original Christian Brother's Academy, but also the public Prescott School.
Still remaining at the intersection are the renovated (former) Nettleton Shoe Factory, and the Archimedes Russell designed (former) rectory with its three story bay windows and bracketed cornices.
The rectory was sold in 2003 to lawyers who are renovating and restoring this magnificent landmark to its original beauty.
