History

The cathedral was conceived as a memorial to Alexander Turney Stewart (1803-1876), a prominent Irish-American merchant who became one of the wealthiest individuals in American history. Stewart was born in Lisburn, Northern Ireland, and immigrated to New York in 1818. He built a retail empire that included the famous "Iron Store" in Manhattan, which was considered America's first department store.

In 1869, Stewart purchased approximately 7,000 acres of the Hempstead Plain for $55 per acre, creating what would become Garden City. This planned community represented one of the earliest suburban developments in the United States, complete with imported trees, landscaping, and railroad connections to New York City. Garden City was a forerunner of the garden city movement of urban planning as articulated by Ebenezer Howard a generation after Stewart's village was founded.

Following Stewart's death in 1876, his widow Cornelia Clinch Stewart decided to build a church in his memory to serve as a mausoleum for her husband's earthly remains . In consultation with Abram N. Littlejohn, the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Long Island, she agreed to make the memorial church the diocesan cathedral, moving the center of Episcopal life in the newly formed diocese from Brooklyn to Garden City.

The cathedral was designed by architect Henry Harrison of New York City, with Rev. Dr. Th. Stafford Drowne planning the windows and James L'Hommedieu of Great Neck serving as builder. Groundbreaking occurred in 1876, with the cornerstone laid in 1877.

On Tuesday, June 2, 1885 the Cathedral was consecrated by Bishop Littlejohn with eight other bishops and clergy from around the country present as Mrs. Stewart, accompanied by the Stewart executor Judge Henry Hilton, presented the deed of conveyance and a bond of $300,000 as an endowment for the care and maintenance of the building. The project included not only the cathedral but also the Cathedral School of St. Paul for boys, the Cathedral School of St. Mary for girls, and a 32-room Bishop's House. St. Paul's School, dedicated in 1879, eventually accommodated 300 boys on its 40 acre site, while the Cathedral School of St. Mary was built in 1892.

Today, the Cathedral is home to one of the largest worshipping congregations in the diocese. We gather for regular Sunday and weekday masses, as well as special liturgies and feast day commemorations throughout the year. This historic architectural landmark serves as a vibrant center for worship and ministry. We invite you to explore our website to learn more about the many worship opportunities and ministries that call this sacred space home.