St. Barnabas' Church

The Church of St. Barnabas is a Roman Catholic parish church under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located at Martha Avenue near East 241st Street in The Bronx, New York City. The parish was established in July 1910 by the Rev. Michael A. Reilly, separated from the Bronx parish of St. Frances of Rome. It is one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese.BuildingsThe church building was built 1911. The Italianate church was dedicated by Cardinal John M. Farley in November 1911. When opened, it accommodated 700. A temporary school was opened in 1911, with 200 students, staffed by seven Sisters of Charity nuns. Opposite the church, a convent for the Sisters of Charity was opened in January 1913 at a cost of $8,000 (which in 1914 still had a debt of $5,500). In 1914, the parish numbered around 1,000, and the property was valued at $100,000, with a debt of $59,500. The chapel and high school building were erected during the pastorship of Msgr. George McWeeney (1947-1965). During the 1980s, up to 22 masses were celebrated in the parish each week. The rectory, parish center and high school chapel were renovated during the pastorate of Msgr. Timothy S. Collins (1986-1994).MusicThe church has had at least four organs over its 100-year history. The first was installed by the Estey Organ Company of Brattleboro, Vermont around 1911. The second was created by George S. Hutchings of Boston, Massachusetts in 1890, installed around 1948 and restored in 1988. The third was installed by Jaeckel Organs, Inc. of Duluth, Minnesota in 1985. The Peragallo Pipe Organ Company of Paterson, New Jersey installed the present organ in 2009.