St. John the Martyr's Church

St. John the Martyr's Church was a Catholic building located at a corner site on East 72nd Street, designed by architect R.H. Robertson in 1887 with neo-Gothic features and ornamental details. The interior held artworks by notable painters and housed a significant collection of religious artifacts brought from Rome.

The parish acquired the building from Presbyterians in 1904 and made it their home under Reverend John T. Prout's leadership. Ten bells, a gift from a local banker, were installed in 1905 and rang to mark special occasions.

The church contained valuable artworks, including paintings by Albert Zimmermann and Alphonse Mucha, plus a reliquary holding over 60 certified religious artifacts from Rome.

The building sits at a noticeable corner location, making it easy to spot from the street as you walk the neighborhood. Visitors should know the structure is no longer active as a church and can only be viewed from the outside today.

Between 1887 and its closure, the building underwent no major restoration, meaning many original Victorian-era architectural details remained intact throughout its life. This makes it a rare example of unaltered church architecture from that period in the city.

Location: Manhattan

Inception: 1887

Architects: R. H. Robertson

GPS coordinates: 40.76880,-73.95910

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:26