Sacred Heart Church (Detroit) facts for kids
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Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Convent and Rectory
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Façade of Sacred Heart Church
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| Location | 1000 Eliot Street Detroit, Michigan |
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| Built | 1875 |
| Architect | Peter J. Diederichs |
| Architectural style | Italianate, Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80001926 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 6, 1980 |
The Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Convent and Rectory is a historic church building in Detroit, Michigan. It's located at 1000 Eliot Street. This special place was recognized as a Michigan State Historic Site in 1975. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
History of Sacred Heart Church
Sacred Heart Church was built in 1875. It was the third German Roman Catholic church in Detroit. The church was started to serve the German people living in Detroit. It offered not only a church but also primary and secondary schools for the community.
The church continued to serve mostly German families until after World War I. Around that time, many African American families moved to Detroit. They settled near Hastings Street. Slowly, the German population began to move out of the area.
In 1911, some new African American Catholic residents started a small chapel. It was located at old St. Mary's. By 1914, their group had grown. They moved to a church at Eliot and Beaubien that used to be Episcopalian. The church grew very quickly.
In the late 1930s, the group asked to move to the nearby Sacred Heart Church. They liked that Sacred Heart had a school building. So, in 1938, Sacred Heart changed from a German church to an African American church. About 1500 people were part of the church at this time. They quickly started using the school at Sacred Heart. The first high school class graduated in 1945.
After World War II, a new highway, Interstate 75, was built. It went through the area where many African American church members lived. This caused them to move from their homes. In 1957, the church closed its high school. Eight years later, in 1965, its primary school also closed. However, the church still holds weekly services today.
Architecture of the Church
The Sacred Heart Church is made of red brick. It has a special design called Italianate architecture. The front of the church sticks out towards the street. It has a triangular shape at the top, called a pediment.
The church's bell tower and spire are made of wood. They are painted a cream color. This color stands out against the deep red brick walls. There are six sections on both sides of the church. Each section has two-story windows. The seventh section on each side holds the sacristy and other service rooms.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón (Detroit) para niños
- Archdiocese of Detroit
