Church of St. Francis Xavier

The Church of St. Francis Xavier in New York is a Roman Catholic parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York. Dating back to 1851, it is the oldest Catholic parish in the city. The magnificent Neo-Gothic building was built in 1873-75 designed by renowned architect Patrick Charles Keely and is the fifth church to occupy the site. The interior features choir loft, a ceiling of stained glass windows and marble statues that capture the essence of the Catholic faith. The stained-glass windows depicting scenes from the Gospels is an impressive sight. The Parish has their own museum with over 200 years of treasures, stories and artwork that tell the story of the parish and its influence in the city of New York. Visitors to the Church of St. Francis Xavier can take a tour of the building, which includes a viewing of the 19th-century murals by John LaFarge.