St. Monica's Church, Roman Catholic church in Jamaica, Queens, United States
St. Monica's Church is a brick basilica with Romanesque Revival design, featuring a four-story tower positioned at its center entrance. The structure now operates as a childcare facility located on the York College campus.
Construction began in 1856 when the cornerstone was set under Reverend Anthony Farley's leadership and master mason Anders Peterson's craftsmanship. The building served religious purposes for many decades before transitioning to its current use.
The building shifted from a place of worship to a childcare center, keeping its original architecture visible while serving the community in a new way. You can still see how the space is used differently now, yet the building's character remains the same.
The site is located on York College campus and is accessible to visitors, though it primarily functions as a childcare facility. The exterior and tower are best viewed from the campus grounds, and it's helpful to know you are visiting an active institution.
The structure was built without interior support columns, originally allowing 500 people to gather in one open space. This bold engineering choice created a rare column-free interior that was impressive for its time.
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