The first Roman Catholic families entered New York during the administration of Governor Thomas Dongan, but they were not allowed to establish their system of worship until after the Revolution. They first worshipped in a public building in Vauxhall garden, situated on the Hudson river between Warren and Chambers streets. Their first church edifice was on the site of the present St. Peters church in Barclay street, mass being first performed within its walls November 4, 1786. No other Catholic church was erected for more than thirty years. St. Peter's was rebuilt of granite on a greatly enlarged scale in 1836, and still remains a substantial monument of the denomination. Its front is ornamented with six massive Ionic columns, and a monument of St. Peter with the keys. In 1815 they erected "St. Patrick's cathedral," on the corner of Mott and Prince streets, and in 1826 they purchased of the Presbyterians a small edifice on Sheriff street, between Broome and Delancey. About the same time they purchased a church edifice from the Episcopalians in Ann street pear Nassau, which was destroyed by fire in 1834, when the society divided, one section building the "St. James' church" on James street, the other purchasing a building of the Presbyterians on Chambers street, which they named the "Church of the Transfiguration." In 1833 they erected "St. Joseph's church" in Barrow street; in 1840 they purchased the Universalist church in Duane street, and in 1841 they purchased the "Second avenue Presbyterian church." The Catholics have purchased nearly every church offered for sale in the city for many years past, their communicants being composed largely of the laboring classes, and occupying sections where Protestant churches have found it difficult to sustain themselves. This sect has wonderfully increased on Manhattan during the last fifty years, not to any considerable extent from the conversion of Americans, but from the very extensive immigration of foreigners to this country, many of whom linger in the cities. They have now forty churches on the island, most of which are large, and their services are usually crowded without any regard to time, season, or weather.

The late Archbishop Hughes projected the largest and richest enterprise in church architecture ever undertaken in New York. He laid the corner-stone of the immense "St. Patrick's Cathedral, " on Fifth avenue, between Fifty-first and Fifty-second streets in 1858, since which the work of construction has slowly progressed. The extreme length of the structure is 332 feet with a general breadth of 132, and at the transept of 174 feet. The foundation is of Maine granite and the side walls of Westchester marble. The style of the building is decorated Gothic, with two lofty spires, and when completed is expected to be the finest architectural monument of its kind on the continent.

The labors and sacrifices of the Catholics for the advancement of their church interests are proverbial. Their excessive liberality amounts to almost a crime (1 Tim. v. 8), giving so extensively that when overtaken by sickness or misfortune vast numbers of them fall at once a burden upon the city charities. Being also a unit in politics they have found ways and means unknown to the Protestant denominations.