Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
457 West 51st StreetNew York, NY 10019
212 265 5020
shjnycparish.org
Set amongst apartment buildings on a mostly residential block, the Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a stunning addition to 51st Street. Founded in 1876, it has remained inextricably linked to its Catholic community: it runs an elementary school on 52nd street and operates a food pantry and soup kitchen in conjunction with the City of New York.
Regardless of one’s faith, the church is worth a trip for its beautiful architecture. The red brick exterior is imposing and elegantly designed, and the interior is capacious, with soaring turquoise ceiling and ornate decoration. Though the church holds hundreds of people during its twice-daily masses, it was deserted when I wandered through it around 4 pm allowing me to fully appreciate the interior as the late-afternoon light streamed through the stained glass windows, illuminating the colored panes of glass.