Church of the Assumption (Saint Paul, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Church of the Assumption--Catholic
|
|
The Church of the Assumption from the southwest
|
|
 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 51 9th Street West Saint Paul, Minnesota |
|---|---|
| Built | 1869-1874 |
| Architect | Joseph Reidl (Reidel), Erd Schlick, and Bahnholzer |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001008 |
| Added to NRHP | February 10, 1975 |
The Church of the Assumption Catholic Church is a very old and important church in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It was officially opened in 1874. This makes it the oldest church still standing in Saint Paul today! You can find it in downtown Saint Paul at 51 West Seventh Street. This special building is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's recognized as a historically important place.
Contents
A New Home for Immigrants
The Church of the Assumption started in 1856. At that time, many people were moving to Saint Paul from Germany. The city's main Catholic church mostly served people from France and Ireland. Services were in Latin, but sermons were in French or Irish languages. Bishop Joseph Crétin saw that the German immigrants needed their own church.
The first church building was a simple stone structure. It had a wooden steeple and was located on West Ninth Street. The first leader of the church was Father George Keller. After Father Keller moved in 1858, priests and brothers from St. John's Abbey helped lead the parish.
Building the Grand Church
By 1869, the first small church was too crowded. A new, bigger building was urgently needed. Archbishop John Ireland ordered the construction of the new church. He wanted the growing number of Catholic German immigrants in the city to have their own parish.
The church was built between 1869 and 1874. It was designed in a plain Romanesque style. This style often uses round arches and strong, thick walls. The building materials came from Lake Superior limestone. It is said that the church was designed to look like the Ludwigskirche in Munich, Germany. The architect, Joseph Reidel, was a special architect for the royal family in Bavaria, Germany.
Inside the Church
The inside of the church looks much like it did in the late 1800s. The statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the main altar came from the very first church building. There are special areas called shrines dedicated to saints like Thérèse of Lisieux. You can also find altars for the Blessed Mother, St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, and St. Lawrence. The church also has beautiful tapestries (woven pictures) that show stories like the Good Samaritan.
Growing the Community
As the Church of the Assumption parish grew, it helped start five other churches. These are sometimes called "daughter churches." They include Sacred Heart, St. Francis de Sales, St. Matthew's, Church of St. Agnes, and Church of St. Bernard. This shows how important the Church of the Assumption was in helping the Catholic community grow in Saint Paul.
