Irish Monuments at Saint Raymond's

The Irish Pieta at Saint Raymond's.


Irish names on elaborate monuments.


Kelly's Grave and Corcoran's.


A highly wrought Celtic cross in the ancient style at Saint Raymond's.


Another view of the Celtic cross.


Yet another row of High Celtic Crosses in the ancient style of the Gaelic Order in Ireland.


Irish flag marks a grave at Saint Raymond's.


Three noble Celtic crosses at Ray's.


Also the Irish built the Saint Raymond's Roman Catholic Church.
The genesis of St. Raymond's Parish began in 1842 when Reverend John Hughes obtained property and converted an old wooden barn into a temporary church. Construction of the new Church began in 1843, and it became the first Catholic Church in the Bronx. It was dedicated on the feast of St. Raymond Nonnatus, on August 31, 1845, thus getting its name. In the beginning there was a strong prejudice against the Catholic Church. However, as many Irish immigrants moved into the Bronx in the 1850's, the Church quickly expanded. The original Church could not hold the 2,000 parishioners and at Masses many parishioners had to stand because it was over capacity. On August 4, 1897, ground was broken for the new Church, which could accommodate all parishioners. It was dedicated on October 23, 1898 and still stands today as the current Church of St. Raymond.