Church of St. Joseph (St. Joseph, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Church of St. Joseph–Catholic
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The Church of St. Joseph viewed from the northwest
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 12 W. Minnesota Street, St. Joseph, Minnesota |
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| Built | 1869 |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Ethnic Hamlet Churches–Stearns County Catholic Settlement Churches TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003057 |
| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1982 |
The Church of St. Joseph is an old and important Catholic church in St. Joseph, Minnesota. It's part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Cloud. This church was built in 1869 by German immigrants who settled in the area. The tall church tower was finished later, in 1884.
Next to the church is a building called a rectory. This is where the priests live. Both the church and the rectory are very special. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means they are important for their history, their beautiful design, and how they show the settlement of the area. They represent how Catholic immigrant groups settled in small towns, with the church at the center of their community.
History of the Church of St. Joseph
The very first Mass, which is a Catholic church service, happened in this community on October 22, 1854. It was led by a priest named Francis Xavier Pierz. At that time, the town was called Clinton.
A year later, in 1855, the first church building was completed. In 1860, a small school building made of logs was added to it. The community grew, and soon they needed a bigger church.
The new church was planned to be about 66 feet wide and 150 feet long. The bottom half was built with natural stones found in the fields. The top half was made from granite bricks from a nearby quarry.
Construction started in 1869. On June 29, 1871, Bishop Thomas Grace officially dedicated the new building. This was a big moment! It was the first Catholic church in Minnesota made of strong, lasting materials to be officially dedicated.
The rectory, where the priests live, was built in 1874. It used similar fieldstones as the church. Ten years later, in 1884, the tall church tower was finally completed. Then, in 1888, a passageway was built to connect the church and the rectory. It matched the style of the other buildings.
See also
- List of Catholic churches in the United States
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Stearns County, Minnesota
