Our History

Transfiguration Church is a Roman Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of New York and has been, since its foundation in 1896, committed to the care of the Carmelite Fathers and Brothers of New York Province of St. Elias.

Transfiguration Parish is a community of Christian believers faithful to our Catholic tradition and a pilgrim people entrusted to the Carmelites. Through our participation in public worship we are nourished by the Word and the Body of the Lord. We are called to share what we have received by evangelization and by good works to those in need.

The Carmelites had come from Ireland in 1889, to begin the Parish of Our Lady of the Scapular on Manhattan’s east side, as well as providing care for the sick at Bellevue Hospital. Edward Southwell was the leader of this small group of Carmelites and he saw the opportunity for advancing the Order and Church in the United States.Southwell sought an additional Parish from Michael Corrigan, the Archbishop of New York, who offered him a new Parish in Tarrytown in 1894. The record is not clear about the rationale for this decision, but tradition holds the Parish was founded to care for the servants working on the large estates in Tarrytown and the surrounding area.

Father Simon Byrne,

First Pastor, 1903-1909

Post World War II

Transfiguration School was constructed from 1948-1950. The school helped strengthen the community and the Church. The Transfiguration School still stands today, with an annual enrollment of approximately 200 students.
Since the Parish community was expanding in the late 1950′s, Father Wholley contracted architect Robert Green to draw plans for the enlargement of the sacristies and the completion of the rear outside wall of the original Church. While there were many other repairs required during this period, it soon became apparent the old church was becoming outdated and a new building was necessary to help serve the community.

In the 1960′s, Tarrytown was experiencing tremendous growth and prosperity. General Motors and Chrysler opened training centers and the whole community began to prosper spiritually and economically. The original Church was unable to absorb the influx from the community and the Church structure was slowly deteriorating due to a lack of repairs and maintenance. Father Carmel Lynn spearheaded the idea of constructing a new Church adjacent to the original.

The Property

The Tarrytown property formerly known as the Cleveland Estate was transferred to the Carmelite Order in 1896. The old estate originally served as a mission, rectory and country retreat.
In 1898, the original Transfiguration Church was built and dedicated by Archbishop Corrigan and Reverend Edward Southwell. It became an instant cornerstone of the community. The Church was constructed in blue stone with an open timbered ceiling and a choir of medieval character. In 1902, Reverend Simon Byrne was the first Pastor to be officially appointed by the Carmelites and the Archbishop of New York to the Transfiguration Church.

Outside, the streets are unpaved. Inside are the stained glass windows that would eventually be incorporated into the new church.

Construction of the New Church

Based on a letter dated January 15, 1964, it is known the Board of Consultors approved a new Church and Rectory on the site of the old building. At this time, there was no debt in the Parish.
A building campaign with a goal of $225,000 was initiated and parishioners generously donated an amount exceeding the goal. The new Church was constructed at a cost of $726,000 leaving a balance of $476,000 that was borrowed from the Archdiocese of New York, but soon repaid by its parishioners.

Architect Robert Green was the mastermind behind the design that was recognized for being ahead of its time. Transfiguration Church was the first “Church-in-the-round” in New York. Green’s visually appealing, yet practical design has since paved the way, becoming the inspiration for many similar structures throughout North America and Europe. The new Church was completed just before Christmas of 1967. It seated 750 parishioners and in its first year ministered to 2,557 parishioners and 346 students.

Our Pastors

Denis O’Conner, O. Carm., 1909-1916; Edward Southwell, O. Carm., 1916-1922; Kilin Lynch, O. Carm., 1934-1943;  Anthony John Whalley, O. Carm., 1943-1961; Carmel Lynn, O. Carm., 1961-1967;  Very Reverend Thomas McGinnis, O. Carm., 1967-1972; Reverend John M. Ryan, O. Carm., 1972-1981; Very Reverend Matthias J. DesLauriers, O. Carm., 1981-1985.

 Reverend Michael T. Driscoll, O. Carm., 1985-1993; Alfred Isacsson, O. Carm., 1993-2002; Lucian Beltzner, O. Carm., 2002-2012; Reverend John Horan, O. Carm., 2012-2013; Reverend Raymond Maher, O.Carm., 2013 -2016  Reverend Emiel Abalahin, O.Carm. 2016- 2022; and Reverend Francis Amodio, O.Carm. 2022- Present.