Keely Society: Churches


	Churches

	With 700 eccesiastical structures to his credit, Cathedrals, churches, convents, rectories, schools, and hospitals, these are only a sampling of Patrick Keely's tremendous output of architectual accomplishments. If you would like your Keely structure to be added, please feel free to forward your information and photos.
	Click on the names of the churches to view a picture and read description.
	• Holy Cross Cathedral, Boston, MA • Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Albany, NY • St. Joseph’s Church, Albany, NY • St. John the Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY • Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY • Corpus Christi Church, Baltimore, MD • St. Michael’s Cathedral, Springfield, MA • Immaculate Conception Church, Boston, MA • St. Peter’s Church, Lowell, MA • St. Patrick’s Church, Kent Ave., Brooklyn, NY • Immaculate Conception Church, Boston, MA • St. Mary’s Church, New Britain, CT • St. Anthony-St. Alphonse Church, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY • St. Michael’s Church, Jersey City, NJ • St. Peter’s Church, Rutland, VT • St. Stephen/Sacred Heart Church, Brooklyn, NY • St. Joseph’s Church, Providence, RI • Sacred Heart, Mount Holly, NJ • Church of St. Mary - The Immaculate Conception, Derby, CT • St. Michael's Basilica, Chatham (now Miramichi), New Brunswick • St. John the Baptist, Manayunk, PA • St. Francis Xavier, New York, NY

	Holy Cross Cathedral, Boston, MA A cold wintry snow partly blankets the cathedral and clings to the north buttresses. The rugged exterior belies the soaring gothic interior seen in the splendor of Christmastide interior and exterior views. A close-up of the towers reveals a multiplicity of shapes. The life-size Nativity in the South tower vestibule is a project that the Keely Society has undertaken since Christmas 1999. Given to the president of the Keely Society, it was restored by him. It was crafted by the DaPrato Studio of Charlestown. MA,, in 1952. Used for a few years outside, most of the set languished until 1999. The unique portrayal of the figures suggests that they may have been created by Joseph Sibbel Studios. They parallel Sibbel’s style. They are totally out of character with DaPrato’s creations. The studio often bought other companies and artists models for production.

	Immaculate Conception Cathedral, Albany, NY Repairs continue on the north tower and spire of this cathedral. The multi million dollar restoration project has a deadline of early 2004 for completion. Dedicated in 1852, Keely’s first cathedral was being planned as his first church was being built The John Hardman Stained Glass Studios were partly owned by Augustus W. Pugin. The Cathedral boasts extraordinary Hardman windows. A beautifully restored 1850’s Nativity set was made in Birmingham, England. Unusually, they are created out of potash, residue from the furnaces that made Birmingham famous. They are very heavy.

	St. Joseph’s Church, Albany, NY Almost a scene reminiscent of something from a Dickens novel, heavy snow sweeps clear up and around the ornate sacristy area of this treasure. This grand edifice has changed hands in the last decade since it was closed by the diocese. Its interior stripped of treasures to be recycled in other area churches. It presently is owned by the City of Albany. St. Joseph’s houses a breathtaking carved hammer beam, wood ceiling. Keely completed a few churches with this style beams. This is the finest in design and detail.

	St. John the Baptist Church, Brooklyn, NY The massive Romanesque church of 1888 has its upper nave shuttered and closed. The Side aisle windows were designed by Otto Heinike. Its triforium gallery windows are covered. Its soaring clerestory windows give St. John’s a massive soaring sight from the interior. The magnificence of this Keely interior is illustrated in the nave. This area of the church was closed off more than a decade ago. Great strides have been taken by the parish to restore closed areas of this vast Keely complex of buildings. The church awaits a glorious resurrection. Once you enter the church you will see of spectacular angels carved in marble by Joseph Sibbel that adorn the main altar of the edifice as well as many other wonderful features.

	Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn, NY This simple marker is all that identifies the grave of the “Prince of American Catholic Architects.” That title was given to Keely by Fr. James Fitton, pioneer priest of the New England region. Keely would build Holy Redeemer Church in East Boston, MA.

	Corpus Christi Church, Baltimore, MD A myriad of design fill this south peak on the church the Jenkins Family had built by Keely. When it was completed it was presented to the Baltimore Diocese by the family. This stately Keely structure incorporates numerous marble altars, wainscoating and beautiful Hardman glass and mosaics. The chapel illustrated is dedicated to St. Thomas Aquinas who devotion to the Eucharist inspired him to compose hymns in honor of the Eucharist.

	St. Michael’s Cathedral, Springfield, MA Posses an imposing organ case and balcony, as well as the plaster designs illustrate the versatility of Keely. Some plaster designs mirror those found in Keely’s Immaculate Conception Church on Harrison Ave., three blocks south of the Boston Cathedral. Some of Keely’s ornate plasterwork abounds in this cathedral. Recently restored by the Diocese, the various shades highlight Keely’s interior design work.

	Immaculate Conception Church, Boston, MA The interior plaster work often credited to others is clearly Keely in style, when studies his plaster work in his churches in Manhattan, NY, Springfield, MA, Enfield, CT, and Brooklyn, NY .

	St. Peter’s Church, Lowell, MA This was the last great cathedral size church of Patrick Keely, 1892-1904. It was one of the outstanding churches in the Boston Archdiocese. It stands shuttered and closed after the heavy snowstorm of March 9, 1996. It awaits demolition a few days before the formal foundation of the Keely Society. The interior of this grand edifice was spellbinding to many of its visitors. It boasted ten marble altars, marble statuary, and unique bas-relief scenes from the life of Christ. It’s statuary of the great prophets, pieces especially created by Keely’s master sculptor, Joseph Sibbel. Sibbel created from life studies. The four Latin Doctors of the Church chiseled in marble grace the transepts of St. Patrick’s Cathedral, in New York City.

	St. Patrick’s Church, Kent Ave., Brooklyn, NY This edifice of Keely reflects his early development in the gothic style. It mirrors the simplicity of St Bridgid’s in Manhattan, The Church of St. Nicholas in Manhattan. The latter edifice was demolished around 1956. Interestingly, the roof dormers light windows in the nave wall.

	Immaculate Conception Church, Boston, MA This classical façade was the culmination of design for Keely starting with a very simple design at Immaculate Conception in Brooklyn, NY. A more expressive classical design was used in his construction of Gate of Heaven Church, in South Boston, MA. The latter is the parish hall today.

	Immaculate Conception Church, Boston, MA This classical façade was the culmination of design for Keely starting with a very simple design at Immaculate Conception in Brooklyn, NY. A more expressive classical design was used in his construction of Gate of Heaven Church, in South Boston, MA. The latter is the parish hall today.

	St. Mary’s Church, New Britain, CT A design of Keely from the 1880’s, it reflects a more Victorian touch. The unfinished tower was to have a very imposing and soaring spire. A disastrous fire swept the church a few years after completion. It was completely rebuilt by the Keely firm from the original plans.

	St. Anthony-St. Alphonse Church, Greenpoint, Brooklyn, NY The design used in this façade is similar to the façade of St. Augustine in South Boston, MA. .Over the façade doorways are three bas-relief of Joseph Sibbel.

	St. Michael’s Church, Jersey City, NJ This classical facade includes tiles set into the design. Like many of Keely’s churches, the proposed towers were never built. The tiles could be from the famous Mintton firm in England as Keely used them first in his sanctuary floor in 1855 at St. Joseph’s in Albany, NY. Ties also adorn the similar design of St. James the Greater in Boston, MA.

	St. Peter’s Church, Rutland, VT The handsome exterior of this Keely edifice illustrates a solid, rugged presence. The original steeple of Keely was replaced with a reduced sized, modern look. The roof dormers are unique design, and the interior boasts some fine Morgan Bros. stained glass. It was the Brooklyn firm Keely often used.

	St. Stephen/Sacred Heart Church, Brooklyn, NY This design is similar to St. Augustine, South Boston, MA, and St. Alphonse/ St. Anthony in Brooklyn, NY. The interior was damaged by a fire, but Keely’s mark remains.

	St. Joseph’s Church, Providence, RI This noble Keely structure is celebrating its 150th Anniversary. In the tower vestibule are located some of the smallest gothic windows to be seen in a Keely church. They are less than a foot across. On Sunday, February 23rd 2003, a presentation by Mr. Furey was given entitled, “The Treasure on Fox Hill”, as part of the parish’s year long celebratory events.

	Sacred Heart, Mount Holly, NJ According to one of our readers, this image from an old postcard is of the Keely-designed Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Mount Holly, New Jersey. The church was abandoned by the Sacred Heart Parish and is now in use by another congregation. The church was built in 1872, but the left tower was apparently never completed.