Church of St. Bridget facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Church of St. Bridget-Catholic
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The Church of St. Bridget from the southeast
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 501 3rd Street South, De Graff, Minnesota |
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| Area | Less than one acre |
| Built | 1901 |
| Built by | E.C. Richmond |
| Architect | Edward J. Donahue |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001768 |
| Designated | August 15, 1985 |
The Church of St. Bridget is a beautiful Roman Catholic church located in De Graff, Minnesota. It's a special place with a long history. The church community, called a parish, started way back in 1876. This was part of a big plan by Archbishop John Ireland to help Catholic families settle in western Minnesota.
The church building you see today was finished in 1901. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it's an important historical site because of its architecture, its role in the community, and its connection to the settlement of the area. It's also special because it was designed by Edward J. Donahue, a famous architect from Saint Paul.
What the Church Looks Like
The Church of St. Bridget is quite large. It is about 115 feet (35 m) long and 50 feet (15 m) wide. It also has a tall bell tower that is about three and a half stories high.
The church's foundation is made from strong granite stones from St. Cloud. Its walls are built with red bricks, and they have special trims made of Kasota limestone. Inside, you can see the wooden beams that support the roof. There's also a fancy oak altar designed in the Gothic Revival style. You can also see large paintings on the walls that show the Stations of the Cross.
A Look at the Church's History
In the late 1800s, Archbishop John Ireland had a big idea. He wanted to help Irish Catholic families move to and settle in parts of western Minnesota. This included areas like Swift County and nearby counties.
De Graff was one of the towns that Archbishop Ireland helped to establish. Other towns he supported included Graceville, Clontarf, Currie, Minneota, Ghent, Iona, Avoca, and Fulda.
The current Church of St. Bridget was designed in 1901. The architect was Edward J. Donohue, who lived in Saint Paul. He designed many other Catholic churches too. The actual building of the church was done by E.C. Richmond from Melrose.
