Guardian Angels Church (Manistee, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Guardian Angels Church
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Guardian Angels Church c. 1908
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 371-375 Fifth St., Manistee, Michigan |
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| Area | less than 1 acre |
| Built | 1888 |
| Built by | Noud and Kenny |
| Architect | Adolphus Druiding |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 100005180 |
| Added to NRHP | April 14, 2020 |
Guardian Angels Church is a beautiful Roman Catholic church in Manistee, Michigan. You can find it at 371-375 Fifth Street. This special church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2020. It's part of the Divine Mercy Parish, which also includes St. Joseph Church, and both are in the Diocese of Gaylord.
Contents
History of Guardian Angels Church
Early Churches in Manistee
The very first Catholic church in Manistee was Saint Mary, built in 1862. In the 1870s and 1880s, many new people moved to Manistee. This was because the mining and timber industries were growing fast. Many of these new residents were Catholic immigrants from countries like France, Ireland, Germany, and Poland.
Soon, the Saint Mary Church became too small for everyone. Also, people from different European backgrounds sometimes had disagreements. In 1884, the Polish community started their own church, Saint Joseph. This helped with the space problem.
Building a New Church
After the Polish community built their church, German and Irish immigrants also wanted their own parish. So, the Guardian Angels Church was planned in 1888. Father Herman Grimme was chosen to be its first pastor.
Money was collected in the summer of 1888 to build the new church. Adolphus Druiding, a well-known architect for churches in the Midwest, was hired to design it. The company Noud and Kenny was chosen to build the church. Construction started in August 1888.
Construction and Dedication
Bishop Richter of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids laid the first cornerstone in September 1888. The outside of the church was built quickly and was mostly finished by January 1889. Much of the inside was done by May, but the church wasn't officially opened until December 1890.
Sadly, Father Herman Grimme passed away in 1891. Father J.M. Steffes took over as pastor and stayed with the church for 46 years! By 1899, the church had more than 800 members. Because of this growth, a three-story schoolhouse was built in 1892–93. A convent for the Sisters of Mercy was added next door in 1903. A rectory (the priest's house) was built in 1907. By the 1920s, Guardian Angels school had between 150 and 200 students.
What Guardian Angels Church Looks Like
Guardian Angels Church is a beautiful building made of brick. It's designed in the Gothic Revival style. The brickwork is very detailed, with many different patterns and designs.
The Tall Bell Tower
The most noticeable part of the church is its large bell tower in the center. At 180 feet tall, it's the highest building in Manistee! The tower has a clock on all four sides and a big round window called a rose window. On top of the tower is a shingled steeple and a fourteen-foot white cross.
On either side of the bell tower are stepped walls with square towers that have open areas. At the bottom of the main tower, there's a front entrance with two tall wooden doors. Two other single doors are on either side of the main entrance. Above these doors are pretty stained glass windows. All the windows and doors have a rounded arch at the top.
Inside the Church
The church is built in a basilica shape. It has a high altar at one end, surrounded by a large rounded area called an apse. The main part of the church, called the nave, can seat 450 people.
There are six large stained glass windows along each side of the main worship area. There are also six more stained glass windows above the nave. At the back of the church, there's a balcony. This balcony used to have space for 200 more people. Now, it holds a large pipe organ from 1910, which is in a beautiful oak case.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de los Ángeles de la Guarda (Manistee) para niños
- List of churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord
