or Rest Fest), which showcased local music and art with the intention of bringing national attention to local bands, was held at the church. In May 2013, the Historic Albany Foundation announced that St. Joseph's Church would be returned to city ownership. HAF had reportedly spent more than $700,000 on the building. There had been plans to convert the structure into a pub, but local opposition prevented those plans from going forward. As of February 2019, St. Joseph's Church remains under city ownership. Structure St. Joseph's Church is , long, wide, and built of blue limestone trimmed with Ohio sandstone. It contains 14 marble columns and 16 stained glass windows. There are three towers on the church (one large tower in front and two smaller twins in the rear). The main tower is tall and houses 10 bells. There are nine small bells with one large bell. The church bells were cast at the Meneely Bell Foundry in Troy, New York at a cost estimated at $12,000 in 1906. The bells are activated through the pulling of oak levers in a chime room. The ceiling is in a hammerbeam roof–style of wooden beams projecting from the roof and walls carved ornately with angels and religious symbols. The limestone exterior was originally trimmed with Caen stone, but that type of limestone did not weather well and was replaced with Ohio sandstone in 1866. The Protestant Asylum Hill Congregational Church in Hartford, Connecticut was based on the architectural plans for St. Joseph's. Notable pastors Very Reverend John J. Conroy became the second Bishop of Albany in 1865, but retained the pastorship of St. Joseph's until his retirement in 1877. Notes References External links St. Joseph's Church at Abandoned Roman Catholic churches in Albany, New York Roman Catholic churches completed in 1860 19th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in the United States Historic district contributing properties in New York (state) Former Roman Catholic church buildings in New York (state)