St. Ambrose Church (Archdiocese of New York)
St. Ambrose Church is a former Roman Catholic parish church located at 539 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York City. Established in 1897 under the authority of the Archdiocese of New York, the church was designed by architect John Vredenburgh Van Pelt in the Gothic Revival style, reflecting the architectural trends of the late 19th century. The parish served the local Catholic community until its closure in 1938, after which the building was repurposed as Centro Maria, a residence for women operated by the Sisters of Mary Immaculate.[1]
Since its transformation into Centro Maria, the building has continued to serve a unique role in the community, offering temporary housing, job placement assistance, and spiritual support for women from various countries working or studying in New York City. The structure retains its historical and architectural significance as a testament to the city's religious heritage, while its current use highlights the adaptive reuse of ecclesiastical buildings to meet modern community needs.[1]
| St. Ambrose Church | |
| Dedication: | Saint Ambrose |
| Venerated Saints: | |
| Diocese: | Archdiocese of New York |
| Deanery: | Unknown |
| Address: | 539 West 54th Street, New York, NY 10019 |
| Coordinates: | 40.7680667, -73.991639 |
| City: | New York, NY |
| Subdivision: | New York |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | New York County |
| Website: | |
| Founded: | 1897 |
| School: | No |
| Email: | |
History
The Church of St. Ambrose was established in 1897 as a Roman Catholic parish church under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located at 539 West 54th Street in Manhattan, New York City.[1] The church was designed by architect John Vredenburgh Van Pelt in the Gothic Revival style, a popular choice for ecclesiastical architecture during the late 19th century.[1] The parish served the spiritual and communal needs of the local Catholic population until 1938, when the congregation was disbanded.[1]
Following its closure as a parish, the building was repurposed by the Sisters of Mary Immaculate as Centro Maria, a residence for women from various countries coming to New York to work or study.[1] Founded in 1920, Centro Maria continues to operate, providing care, temporary housing, and job placement assistance, while maintaining a chapel where Mass is celebrated.[1] This transition reflects the adaptive reuse of religious structures to address evolving community needs in urban settings.
Special features
- Gothic Revival architecture: The church, designed by John Vredenburgh Van Pelt, features distinctive Gothic Revival elements, characteristic of late 19th-century Catholic ecclesiastical architecture.[1]
- Centro Maria: Since 1938, the building has served as Centro Maria, a residence operated by the Sisters of Mary Immaculate, offering housing and support services for women, a unique ministry in New York City.[1]
- Historical significance: The building’s transition from a parish church to a women’s residence underscores its role in the adaptive reuse of religious structures to meet contemporary community needs.[1]
Related parishes
No specific related parishes are documented in the provided sources for St. Ambrose Church in New York City.[1]