The Église de Notre Dame, or Church of Our Lady, located in Morningside Heights, was established in 1910 as a mission chapel for French-speaking Catholics. In 1914, it was expanded by the architectural firm Cross & Cross. Both the church and its rectory were designated New York City Landmarks in 1967. The church’s striking French neoclassical façade is complemented by an equally remarkable interior, which features a distinctive element—a replica of the Lourdes grotto in France, the site where Saint Bernadette is believed to have seen a vision of the Blessed Virgin Mary in 1858. Despite the unbuilt dome, the church impresses with its stately portico and soaring marble interior, while the rectory’s Renaissance design skillfully fits the narrow site. Commissioned by philanthropist Thomas Fortune Ryan to serve French-Canadian workers, the church blends architectural elegance with cultural and spiritual significance.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places: 5/6/1980 
Designated as New York City Landmarks by Landmarks Preservation Commission in January 1967