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 Church of St. Joseph, now known as Christ the King Catholic Church, is a special church in Browerville, Minnesota, USA. It was built a long time ago, between 1908 and 1909. This church was built by a group of Polish immigrants who had moved to the area between 1870 and 1900. The building is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. It was recognized for its beautiful design, its role in the settlement of the area, and its religious importance. The church was a very important meeting place for the immigrant community.
Contents
What Does the Church Look Like?
The outside of the church has a tall tower, about 70 feet (21 meters) high. On top of the tower, there's a round part called a drum, surrounded by eight columns. The very top has a special onion dome shape and a cross. You can also see an eagle emblem on the tower. The eagle is a national symbol of Poland.
The church also has a special outdoor area called a Gethsemane rock grotto. This was designed by a famous sculptor named Joseph Kiselewski. Inside, you might find a Black Madonna, which is a traditional Polish cultural object.
A Look Back: The Church's History
Early Settlers in Browerville
People from the Silesia region of western Poland started moving to the Browerville area around 1870. More people came after a train line was built through Todd County in the early 1880s. Many German immigrants also settled in the same area.
In 1884, both the Polish and German groups decided to create a Roman Catholic church together. They built the first Church of St. Joseph that year. By 1890, they also added a school for children.
A Community Divides and Rebuilds
Later, a disagreement happened between the Polish and German groups about how to pay for the school. This led to them splitting up in 1895. The Polish community kept the original church and school. The German community then built their own church on the other side of Browerville's Main Street.
By 1907, the St. Joseph's church community had grown to about 200 families. The old church was becoming too small for everyone. So, the church members decided to build a new, bigger church. Each family helped by giving money towards the cost, which was about $25,000 to $30,000.
Designing and Building the New Church
Victor Cordella, a Polish immigrant, was chosen to design the new church. He was part of an architectural company in Minneapolis. The church's leader, Reverend J.S. Guzdek, had strong ideas about how the new church should look. He didn't want a plain, boxy building. They both wanted a church that would be "lit with a golden light" from special amber stained glass windows.
The company Hirr and Zierton from St. Cloud, Minnesota was hired to build the church. However, many people from the church community helped out. They dug the foundation and even provided the bricks themselves. The first stone of the church was blessed in July 1908. The church was finished and ready for use by Easter the next spring.
Coming Together Again
Over time, the number of people attending the church changed. In 1980, the St. Joseph's church community joined back with the German church community. The combined church was then named Christ the King.
See also
- List of Catholic churches in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Todd County, Minnesota
