St. Brigid's Church is saved
May 20, 2008 -- St. Brigid's Church, which was built by and for Irish Famine immigrants in Lower Manhattan in 1848-9, has been saved by an anonymous $10 million donation to the Archdiocese of New York.
The landmark structure has been at the center of a high-profile 3-year battle between Archdiocese officials, who'd closed the church in 2001, and former parishioners and conservationists who wanted it saved. Prominent members of the Irish-American community -- including writers, artists, actors and musicians -- were amongst those who rallied to the St. Brigid's cause. According to an Archdiocese statement today, St. Brigid's will reopen as a parish church after its restoration. In addition to the $10 million for the church building, the donor also gave $8 million to help with St. Brigid's School and other schools in the Catholic system and a further $2 million to set up an endowment to help meet parishioners' spiritual needs.
City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, one of several public representatives who've backed the Committee to Save St. Brigid's, is scheduled to speak at a press conference in front of the church on Avenue B, at 8th Street, this afternoon.
This story appeared in the issue of November 18-24, 2009
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