St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral Becomes Basilica

The corner stone of Old St. Patrick’s – the city’s first Cathedral Church – was laid on June 8,1809. It was dedicated on May 14,1815 and became Basilica on December 5, 2010.

Designed by architect Joseph Francois Mangin, St. Patrick’s has great dignity and character in its restrained simplicity. Near the west wall stands the huge marble altar surrounded by an ornately carved, gold leaf reredos.

St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral is located in “The Heart of Old New York” in the rapidly changing neighborhoods of Little Italy, Chinatown, and SOHO. Today’s parish is very strong and regularly celebrates liturgies in English, Spanish as well as Chinese at Most Holy Crucifix. St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral has served this community for almost 200 years and looks forward to serving it for as many to come.

In 1966, St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral was one of the first sites to be named a New York City landmark by the New York City Landmarks Commission. St. Patrick’s, St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral School and St. Michael’s are also listed on the National Registry of Historic Landmarks.

The Baptism scene in The Godfather was filmed here, as was the scene in The Godfather, Part III in which Michael Corleone receives an honor from the church. A scene in Mean Streets was set in the cathedral’s walled graveyard.