1081 Nostrand Ave 
1913-14, William J. Ryan

Established in 1898, the parish of Saint Francis of Assisi leased a plot of land on Nostrand Avenue from the Lefferts family and built their first church building. By the early 1900s, a rectory and parish hall had been added to the complex, followed by a convent for the Sisters of St. Joseph. In 1909, a school was opened on Maple Street to host 250 students. The congregation continued to grow, and construction of a new and larger church began in 1913. A second school was built in 1937, with the previous buildings converted into a chapel and parish hall. In 1980, it was merged with the neighboring St. Blaise church. Sociocultural changes in the area are reflected in the makeup of St. Francis' congregation, as it remains a significant place for the community. Among its most popular events is the annual Guyanese Mass, organized by former pastor Rev. Msgr. Paul W. Jervis to raise funds for his native Guyana.