Our Lady of the Rosary Church (Detroit) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Joseph's Episcopal Church
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Viewed from across Woodward
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| Location | 5930 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
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| Built | 1883, 1896 |
| Architect | Malcomson and Higginbotham |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| MPS | Religious Structures of Woodward Ave. TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 82002908 |
| Added to NRHP | August 3, 1982 |
The Our Lady of the Rosary Church is a Roman Catholic church in Detroit, Michigan. You can find it on Woodward Avenue. This historic building was first known as St. Joseph's Episcopal Church. It was built between 1893 and 1896. The church is a great example of Romanesque Revival style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. This means it is an important historical place.
A Look Back: The Church's Story
The very first building on this spot was St. Joseph's Memorial Chapel. A woman named Mrs. L.R. Medbury gave it as a gift. It was built in 1883. The chapel was located at the corner of Woodward and Medbury. This street is now called the Edsel Ford service drive.
The chapel was ready for use in 1884. But soon, it became too small for everyone. So, a bigger church was built right next to it. This larger church was finished in 1896. It faced Woodward Avenue.
In 1906, the people who went to St. Joseph's church joined with another church. They merged with St. Paul's Cathedral. The St. Joseph's building was then sold. Father Francis J. VanAntwerp bought it in 1907. That's when Our Lady of the Rosary Roman Catholic Church began.
The new church made some changes to the building. They made the main part of the church, called the nave, longer. They also added a very large, shiny gold statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This statue was placed on top of the south tower's roof.
In 2020, the church started a new role. It became the home for Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry. This group helps students from several local colleges. These include Wayne State University and University of Michigan–Dearborn. It also serves students from the College for Creative Studies and Henry Ford College.
How the Church Looks
The church was built from 1893 to 1896. It is a very large building made of sandstone. The stones are rough, like rocks. It has a special roof shape called a cross-gable roof. The style is Romanesque Revival.
The front of the church, called the façade, has a pointed roof. Two towers stand on either side of this front. The tower on the south side is tall and square. It has a pyramid-shaped roof. The tower on the north side is round. It has a cone-shaped roof.
The main entrance is between these two towers. It leads into a small room called a vestibule. Above this entrance, there is a very large, round window. This type of window is called a rose window.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario (Detroit) para niños
