St. Paul the Apostle Church (Mechanicville, New York)


St. Paul the Apostle Church is a historic Catholic church in the city of Mechanicville, New York, United States of America. It is presently part of the parish of All Saints on the Hudson.

History

The church is named for Saint Paul the Apostle. Its cornerstone was laid on Sunday, June 2, 1912 by Bishop Thomas M. A. Burke, and it was dedicated on Sunday, October 14, 1917 by Bishop Thomas F. Cusack.

Architecture

The present edifice was designed in the Gothic revival style by the architect, Edward W. Loth, of Troy, New York. The church is in the cruciform shape, with an overall length of 148', and an overall width of 98' across the transepts. The tower stands at 146', and the front gable stands at 79' from grade to apex.

Exterior

The church is a steel and masonry structure clad with Potsdam sandstone in a random ashlar pattern. The trim work is of cast stone, made using the crushings of the aforementioned sandstone.

Interior

The walls are typically of plaster on lath, with a board-and-batten wainscot of oak. The ceiling employs rib vaulting, and is made from plaster, and ornamented with bas-relief with a grapevine and leaf motif. The sanctuary is illuminated by a skylight.

Stained Glass Windows

The stained glass windows were made by the of Rochester, NY, and are reminiscent of the Munich-style of stained glass. They are typically lancet windows with wood tracery, and depict events from the life of Saint Paul.`

Bell

The bell was manufactured by the Meneely & Kimberly foundry of Troy, NY, in the year 1872. It is a bronze bell weighing approximately 1900 lbs. and was moved from the previous edifice to the present church on Tuesday, July 15, 1919. The inscription is in Latin and reads "Uni Trinoque Deo, in Honorem, B. V. M. De Consolatione, SS. Augustini et Monica, Congregatio S. Pauli Apost, Mechanicville, Dicavit, Anno Dni 1872 Philippo Izzo, O.S.A. , Parocho".

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