St. Gregory's R. C. Church
Interior, St. Gregory's Church, Brooklyn Avenue and St. John's Place: two women wearing hats kneeling at altar holding two seven-candle candelabras, two small floral bouquets, three rectangular documents, crucifix, and life-size statue of Virgin Mary; Behind altar is tiled (?) wall; votive candles on stand at far right. Caption: "...perpetual prayer to Our Lady."
Brooklyn Public Library(Church: Frank J. Helmle, 1915-16; School: Helmle & Corbett, 1921; Rectory: Helmle & Corbett, 1922) This magnificent church has a strong presence in the neighborhood due to its richly decorated, seven-story campanile. Frank J. Helmle, was a prominent Brooklyn architect who also designed the Prospect Park Boathouse (1905), the Shelter Pavilion in Monsignor McGolrick Park (1910), and the Brooklyn Central Office, Bureau of Fire Communications (1913). Harvey Wiley Corbett, with whom Helmle collaborated on the church’s school and rectory, is well-known for his work in developing designs for setback, streamlined skyscrapers. The design of St. Gregory is inspired by Rome’s oldest basilicas, the fifth-century San Clemente and Santa Maria in Trastevere. While its bell tower dominates the rear of the church, the front is graced with a portico entrance of Ionic columns topped by a setback story that features a wheel window and shell niches housing sculpted figures. The school and rectory are far simpler, designed in the neo-Classical style to complement the church
Historic Districts Council