Church of St. Agnes (Saint Paul, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Church of Saint Agnes--Catholic
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The Church of Saint Agnes from the northwest
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 535 Thomas Avenue West Saint Paul, Minnesota |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre |
| Built | 1901 |
| Architect | George J. Ries, John Fischer |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002125 |
| Added to NRHP | November 19, 1980 |
The Church of Saint Agnes is a beautiful Catholic church located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. This church was started as a parish in 1887. The building you see today was finished in 1912. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980 because of its special history and design.
Contents
A Church for New Neighbors
The Church of Saint Agnes began in 1887. Archbishop John Ireland wanted a church for German-speaking immigrants. These families were moving to the Frogtown area of St. Paul. They came to find jobs with the Great Northern Railway.
The very first church building was designed by George Bergmann. He was a St. Paul architect and also part of the church community. This first building was completed in 1888. However, after about ten years, the church community grew too big. They needed a much larger space. So, more land was bought for a new, bigger church complex.
Designing a Grand Church
Work on the current church building started in 1897. James Trobec led this project. He later became a bishop himself. Two architects, Hermann Kretz and George Ries, submitted designs. George Ries's design was chosen.
Ries based his design on a monastery in Austria called Stift Schlägl. The church's style is called Baroque. This fancy, detailed style was well-known to immigrants from Austria and southern Germany. The design also shows ideas from Beaux-Arts, which focuses on balance and order.
Building and Features
Construction began in 1897 with the basement. Church services were held in the basement while money was raised for the rest of the building. In 1909, after about $200,000 was collected, work on the main structure continued. The church was finally completed in 1912.
The church has a unique onion-domed bell tower. It stands 205 feet tall! This tower is placed at the back of the church, which is unusual. At the front, a grand staircase leads up to a terrace. There are three large entrance doors. The middle door has a beautiful window. On each side of this window are statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Above the main entrance, there's a triangular section called a pediment. It holds a statue of Saint Agnes, who is the church's patron saint.
Both the church and its tower are covered in Indiana limestone. A famous architecture critic, Larry Millett, called the Church of Saint Agnes "The monument in Frogtown." He also said it was "one of St. Paul's finest churches."
Dedication and Details
The Church of Saint Agnes was officially dedicated in 1912. Archbishop John Ireland led a four-hour service. Thirty-two priests joined him. Inside, you can see brass chandeliers. These were saved from the old Minnesota State Capitol building.
Beautiful stained glass windows were added in 1930. A marble altar was also installed then. The altar features a mosaic artwork. This mosaic shows the Crucifixion of Jesus with the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint John.
