St. George's Syrian Catholic Church, Syrian Catholic church in Lower Manhattan, United States.
St. George's Syrian Catholic Church is a five-story building with a white terra-cotta neo-Gothic facade decorated with a colorful relief showing Saint George battling the Dragon. The structure stands on Washington Street between Rector and Carlisle Streets in Lower Manhattan.
The building was originally constructed in 1812 as a three-story boarding house before George E. Bardwil purchased it in 1925 and converted it into a Syrian Catholic church. This transformation reflects the arrival and growth of Syrian and Lebanese communities settling in Manhattan.
This place served as the spiritual center for Syrian and Lebanese immigrants who made this neighborhood their home and gathered here to worship. Today it stands as a reminder of a community that scattered across the city, drawing visitors who want to experience that shared past.
The church is located in Lower Manhattan and is easy to reach on foot, making it worthwhile to explore the surrounding neighborhood to discover other historic sites in the area. While the exterior can be viewed anytime, it is best to check beforehand whether interior visits are possible.
This structure remains the last surviving physical reminder of Manhattan's Little Syria neighborhood, which faded away following construction of the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel. It stands as a quiet monument to a once-thriving district that has nearly vanished from the urban landscape.
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