The Fertile Field
The story of Incarnation Parish begins with the story of Washington Heights.
Technically, (in 1958), Washington Heights begins at about 137th Street, and continues along the two
heights spanning Broadway to 200th Street. Located right at the heart of Washington Heights,
Incarnation Parish covers the section which is bounded to the south by 170th Street and on the north
by 181st Street, its territory extends, river to river.
In the last quarter of the nineteenth century the growth of the neighborhood took on great speed. This
was partly due to the development of the transportation system. By 1893 the Third Avenue Railroad
had a branch running all the way to 186th Street along Tenth Avenue (Amsterdam Avenue). The
Seventh Avenue surface line also ran to Washington Heights by this time.
The Hudson River Railroad had a stop at 162nd Street and another at Fort Washington Point, to which
Depot Lane led from Broadway paralleling 177th Street.
The construction of the High Bridge as a link to the Croton Aqueduct for the City’s water supply, was an
early factor in the development of the Heights. In 1889 the most modern bridge in the country, the
Washington Bridge, was built with a resulting influence on the development of the area.
The Most Reverend John Farley, Archbishop of New York saw in the growth of the City and its
surrounding areas the need for new parishes in many places. One of the areas that needed more priests
was the rapidly growing neighborhood of Washington Heights.
Until the foundation of St. Elizabeth’s in 1869, the most northerly parish on Manhattan Island was
Annunciation on 131st Street. The area of St. Elizabeth’s extended from 160th Street north to the tip of
the island river to river.
This area increased in population especially the southern portion and became St. Rose of Lima Parish
in 1901. For the next seven years the area that is now Incarnation was divided between St. Elizabeth’s
and St. Rose of Lima.
By 1901 the subway ran from Brooklyn Bridge to 145th Street. At this time the original New York
Yankee Ball Park stood where the Presbyterian Medical Center was later to be constructed.
The Heights was a part of a growing New York City, and the Church was growing too.
The story of Incarnation Parish begins with the story of Washington Heights.
Technically, (in 1958), Washington Heights begins at about 137th Street, and continues along the two
heights spanning Broadway to 200th Street. Located right at the heart of Washington Heights,
Incarnation Parish covers the section which is bounded to the south by 170th Street and on the north
by 181st Street, its territory extends, river to river.
In the last quarter of the nineteenth century the growth of the neighborhood took on great speed. This
was partly due to the development of the transportation system. By 1893 the Third Avenue Railroad
had a branch running all the way to 186th Street along Tenth Avenue (Amsterdam Avenue). The
Seventh Avenue surface line also ran to Washington Heights by this time.
The Hudson River Railroad had a stop at 162nd Street and another at Fort Washington Point, to which
Depot Lane led from Broadway paralleling 177th Street.
The construction of the High Bridge as a link to the Croton Aqueduct for the City’s water supply, was an
early factor in the development of the Heights. In 1889 the most modern bridge in the country, the
Washington Bridge, was built with a resulting influence on the development of the area.
The Most Reverend John Farley, Archbishop of New York saw in the growth of the City and its
surrounding areas the need for new parishes in many places. One of the areas that needed more priests
was the rapidly growing neighborhood of Washington Heights.
Until the foundation of St. Elizabeth’s in 1869, the most northerly parish on Manhattan Island was
Annunciation on 131st Street. The area of St. Elizabeth’s extended from 160th Street north to the tip of
the island river to river.
This area increased in population especially the southern portion and became St. Rose of Lima Parish
in 1901. For the next seven years the area that is now Incarnation was divided between St. Elizabeth’s
and St. Rose of Lima.
By 1901 the subway ran from Brooklyn Bridge to 145th Street. At this time the original New York
Yankee Ball Park stood where the Presbyterian Medical Center was later to be constructed.
The Heights was a part of a growing New York City, and the Church was growing too.
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Celebrating 100 years of Prayer and Service 1908-2008
| The Church of the Incarnation A Roman Catholic Church | New York City |
Church of the Incarnation 1290 St. Nicholas Avenue New York, New York 10033 212-927-7474 |
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