Our Lady of the Rosary Church (Detroit) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
St. Joseph's Episcopal Church
|
|
Viewed from across Woodward
|
|
| Location | 5930 Woodward Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
|---|---|
| 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 Catholic church in Detroit, Michigan, located on Woodward Avenue. It was first built as St. Joseph's Episcopal Church between 1893 and 1896. This historic building is known for its Romanesque Revival style. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 3, 1982, recognizing its importance.
Contents
History of the Church Building
The very first building on this site was St. Joseph's Memorial Chapel. It was a gift from Mrs. L.R. Medbury and was built in 1884. The chapel was located at the corner of Woodward and Medbury, which is now the Edsel Ford service drive.
Soon, the chapel became too small for the growing church community. So, a larger church was built facing Woodward Avenue. This bigger church was finished in 1896.
New Ownership and Changes
In 1906, the St. Joseph's church community joined with another church, St. Paul's Cathedral. The St. Joseph's building was then sold in 1907 to Father Francis J. VanAntwerp. He established the Our Lady of the Rosary Roman Catholic Church there.
The new church community 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 on top of the south tower's roof.
Serving Students Today
Since 2021, the church has also become home to the Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry. This ministry helps students from several local colleges. These include Wayne State University, University of Michigan-Dearborn, the College for Creative Studies, and Henry Ford College.
Architecture and Design
The church building was constructed between 1893 and 1896. It is a very large building made of rough, rock-faced sandstone. It has a cross-gable roof, which means the roof has gables (triangular sections) on all four sides. This style is typical of Romanesque Revival buildings.
Towers and Entrance
The front of the church has two towers on either side of the main entrance. The tower on the south side is tall and square, with a pyramid-shaped roof. The tower on the north side is round and has a cone-shaped roof.
The main entrance is located between these two towers. It leads into a small, one-story entry area. Above this entrance, there is a large, beautiful rose window.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Rosario (Detroit) para niños
