Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church (Minneapolis, Minnesota) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
 Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church
Location in Minnesota
|
|
| 44°59′12.3″N 93°15′27.1″W / 44.986750°N 93.257528°W | |
| Location | One Lourdes Place Minneapolis, Minnesota |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Previous denomination | Universalist |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | First Universalist Church |
| Status | Parish church |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | NRHP |
| Architect(s) | Carl F. Struck (parsonage) |
| Architectural type | Greek Revival; French Provincial; Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1854–1857 |
Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church is a Catholic church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is located on the east bank of the Mississippi River. This church building is the oldest one in Minneapolis that has been used continuously since it was built. It is also part of the St. Anthony Falls Historic District, an important historical area.
Church History
The building that is now Our Lady of Lourdes Church has a long history. It was first built between 1854 and 1857. At that time, it was called the First Universalist Church. The Universalist Society of St. Anthony used it as their meeting hall.
In 1877, a group of Catholic French Canadians bought the church. They renamed it Our Lady of Lourdes. This name honors the Blessed Virgin Mary. She is believed to have appeared to a young girl named Bernadette Soubirous in Lourdes, France. The Minneapolis church was the very first in the United States to be named Our Lady of Lourdes.
Between 1880 and 1883, the Catholic community made big changes to the building. They added a transept (the part of a cross-shaped church that crosses the main part), an apse (a rounded end of a church), and a front bell tower with three steeples. A front entrance area, called a vestibule, was added in 1914.
The church is located near the Pillsbury "A" Mill and the only natural waterfall on the Mississippi River. In 1934, detailed drawings and photos of the building were made for the Historic American Buildings Survey.
The church's school used to speak French until about 1917. Over time, fewer people attended, and by 1945, priests gave sermons only in English. In 1968, the church was almost closed. However, the Minneapolis City Council convinced the church leaders to keep it open. Today, Our Lady of Lourdes is one of many important buildings in the St. Anthony Falls Historic District. This district is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Building Style
The church building has a very interesting mix of architectural styles. The original part of the building was made by the Universalists. They used limestone from nearby Nicollet Island. This first part was built in the Greek Revival style. It looked like an ancient Greek temple. This first building was about 3,000 square feet and cost $15,000 to build.
In the 1880s, when the Catholic community took over, they added new parts. These additions, like the steeple, transept, bell tower, and sacristy (a room for church items), were built in French Provincial and Gothic Revival styles. The round shape of the main worship area, called the nave, was inspired by the Chapel Royale at Versailles in France.
The Church Today
Today, Our Lady of Lourdes Church teaches Catholic beliefs. They focus on the morality and good behavior taught by Jesus. They also teach about the sacraments and prayer. Members of the church believe in helping people who are sick or cannot attend services. The church also offers classes called faith formation for people of all ages.
To help pay for ongoing repairs and improvements to the church, the community makes and sells French Canadian tourtières. These are savory meat pies. The church members have worked to protect the beautiful stained glass windows, the outside of the building, and the Blessed Virgin Mary's grotto (a small cave-like shrine) above the front entrance. They have also fixed up the inside of the church, renovated the rectory (the priest's house), and added carillon bells. You can even take guided tours of the church if you make an appointment. The church's address used to be Prince Street, but now it is called Lourdes Place.
Images for kids
-
The inside of the church in 2015
-
Drawing made for the 1934 HABS
