Today, I visited the Church of Saint Vincent de Paul in order to take some photos. The church has been extensively remodeled since I was last here.
The Exterior of the Church of Saint Vincent de Paul
The Church of Saint Vincent de Paul has been remodeled several times in the past. The exterior of the existing building is essentially the same as it was in 1957 was the church was significantly enlarged.
Stained Glass Depiction of “The Poor Widow”
One of many stained glass windows in the church, this scene depicts a scene from the Gospel of St. Luke, as described in the window itself: “This poor widow hath cast in more than they all” St. Luke XXI, 3. The window is dedicated “To the Glory of God and in loving memory of Rev. John J. McDonald”.
Church Interior, Facing the Entrance
From 1957-1985, a choir loft with an organ graced the space above the entrance doors. In the remodeled church, the choir loft was removed, and the organ relocated to the altar area.
Church Interior, Facing the Altar
In the remodeled church, the pews were removed and replaced with chairs that surround the altar on three sides. The existing worship space was cut in half from the space present from 1957-1985 and approximates the worship space in the church in 1908, when the existing building was dedicated.
Before I left the church, I was presented with two books: a jubilee book to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the church, and a book celebrating the first 65 years of the Vincential Institute, two volumes I was very happy to receive.
For other posts on the Church of St. Vincent de Paul, see:
For posts on the Vincentian Institute, see:
For posts on the Pine Hills Branch of the Albany Public Library, see:
Copyright © 2007 by Stephen J. Danko
Steve,
Thank you for the wonderful pictures of the stained glass! One wonders why these gems were left in place when the rest of your wonderful old parish church has so been so brutally reckovated to a protestanized shadow of it’s former self. It must have really hurt to see such wanton destruction as you had previously known the church in her full Catholic glory. I always notice that when these horrible remuddlings take place, the parish never post the “before” pictures. Do you have any?
Pax,
Dave Lanfranchi
Southern California
I was doing a research for a recent stained glass window and accidentally came across you blog.It was so nice to see the beautiful stained glass windows in Saint Vincent de Paul Church and the way you cherish memory and tradition. Keep up!
Mary Christmas!
Plamen Petrov,Chicago,IL