[2][1] The first priest to minister to the German-speaking Catholic residents of Manhattanville, was Fr D. F. Hartmann, assigned by the archdiocese in 1859.

[1] However, the city Landmarks Preservation Commission interprets the church as an example of the Rundbogenstil design.

"[4] Its German style reflects the heritage of the original parishioners, and is also in keeping with the rural nature of the area at the time of construction.

[1] As part of the alteration, the window over the entrance became a niche for a statue of St. Joseph holding the infant.

[1] The parish school was among 27 in the Archdiocese of New York closed by Archbishop Dolan on January 11, 2011.