1759 Castle Hill Ave
1897-98, George H. Streeton

In 1842, Bishop John Hughes purchased land in Westchester Village to establish a church and parish school. The area was then farmland, and an old barn was used as a temporary church while funds for a new building were raised. Another plot was added to establish a cemetery, and both were dedicated in 1845 during the feast of St. Raymond Nonnatus, giving the parish its name. Over the next few years, St. Raymond's grew significantly, and by 1850 it had at least nine new mission chapels in The Bronx under its tutelage. Their expansion continued, and in 1865 a large piece of land was added to build a Catholic Protectory. This institution was created to provide housing and education to orphaned Catholic children, also offering training in trades and domestic work. The Protectory remained in operation for over 70 years, with facilities designed in the Victorian Gothic style. In 1938, the property was sold to the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for the construction of Parkchester. During the second half of the 1800s residential development continued in The Bronx, increasing the number of St. Raymond's parishioners. A new cemetery was established, and plans began for a new church. Architect George H. Streeton was commissioned to design this Byzantine Revival structure, which was completed in 1898. A new building for the elementary school was completed in 1909, while construction of a new convent and rectory was halted until 1931 due to the First World War. The opening of Parkchester prompted St. Raymond's to expand their educational programs further, opening a larger elementary school in 1951 and establishing new high schools for girls and boys in 1960 and 1962, respectively. Both the church and its schools have evolved over the years to reflect the neighborhood's demographic and cultural changes, remaining a community staple. Photos: (top) Exterior of St. Raymond's, courtesy of Bronx Catholic (bottom) Exterior of St. Raymond's Academy for Girls, by Hugo L. González.