Church of St. Joseph (Browerville, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Church of St. Joseph |
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| Alternative names | Christ the King Catholic Church |
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Church of St. Joseph--Catholic
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The Church of St. Joseph from the southeast
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 720 N. Main Street, Browerville, Minnesota |
| Area | 2.25 acres (0.91 ha) |
| Built | 1908–09 |
| Built by | Hirr and Zierton |
| Architect | Boehme and Cordella |
| Architectural style | Baroque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 85001996 |
| Designated | September 5, 1985 |
The historic Church of St. Joseph (now called Christ the King Catholic Church) is a special church in Browerville, Minnesota. It was built a long time ago, between 1908 and 1909. Polish families who came to live in the area built this church. It's important because it shows how immigrant communities built their new homes and kept their faith. The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
What the Church Looks Like
The church has a tall tower, about 70 feet high. On top of the tower is a round part called a drum, with eight columns around it. The very top has an onion dome, which looks like an onion, and a cross. The tower also has an eagle symbol, which is important to Polish people.
Inside the church, there is a special rock garden called a Gethsemane grotto. A famous artist named Joseph Kiselewski designed it. You can also see a Black Madonna, which is a traditional Polish cultural item.
History of the Church
Early Settlers and First Church
In the 1870s, families from Silesia, a region in western Poland, started settling in the Browerville area. More people came after a train line was built in the early 1880s. Many German families also moved to the area.
Both Polish and German groups worked together to start a Roman Catholic church in 1884. They built the first Church of St. Joseph that year. In 1890, they added a school for children.
A New Church for a Growing Community
By 1907, the St. Joseph's church had grown to about 200 families. The old church was too small for everyone. The community decided to build a new, bigger church. Each family helped pay for the new building. It was expected to cost between $25,000 and $30,000.
Victor Cordella, a Polish immigrant, was chosen to design the new church. He was an architect from Minneapolis. Reverend J.S. Guzdek, the church's leader, worked closely with Cordella. They wanted a church that would be "lit with a golden light" from special amber stained glass windows.
Building the New Church
The company Hirr and Zierton from St. Cloud, Minnesota was hired to build the church. However, many people from the church community helped too. They dug the foundation and even made the bricks themselves.
The first stone of the church, called the cornerstone, was blessed in July 1908. The church was finished and ready for Easter the next spring.
Joining Together
Over time, fewer people attended the church. In 1980, the St. Joseph's parish joined with the German parish again. The combined church was named Christ the King.
See also
- List of Catholic churches in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Todd County, Minnesota
