History

Fun Facts

The church of St. Joseph was the 8th parish founded in Brooklyn and the 13th parish founded on Long Island.

The very first parish church was a small, wooden building begun in 1851 and dedicated in 1853.

New York Archbishop John Hughes (1797-1864) dedicated the church of St. Joseph.

It cost $500 to purchase the land for the parish.

Construction on the second church began in 1861.

It was the first church in Brooklyn to have a clock on the bell tower.

The third and current church was dedicated in 1912. It was designed by Francis (Franz) J. Berlenbach, an architect based in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, and took two years to build.

Stained glass windows were designed by Locke Studio of Brooklyn.

The recent restoration was done by Acheson Doyle Partners.

St. Joseph’s Parish was elevated to a Co-Cathedral of the Diocese of Brooklyn on May 13, 2014.

2nd Church of St. Joseph, ca. 1861
2nd Church of St. Joseph, ca. 1861