Saint Joseph's Catholic Church (Glen Arbor, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saint Joseph's Catholic Church
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5899 County Road 669, Maple City, Michigan |
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| Nearest city | Glen Arbor, Michigan |
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1884 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th-century vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 91001997 |
| Added to NRHP | January 22, 1992 |
Saint Joseph's Catholic Church is a historic church building. It is located at 5899 County Road 669, near Maple City, Michigan, and east of Glen Arbor, Michigan. The church was built in 1884. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. This means it is a special place recognized for its history and importance.
Contents
History of Saint Joseph's Church
In 1853, a group of families from Bohemia (a region now part of the Czech Republic) moved from Chicago to an area near Good Harbor Bay. These families were Catholic. At first, priests would visit them only a few times a year. They held church services in people's homes.
One of these visiting priests was Ignatius Mrak. He had already started a mission nearby in Peshawbestown. Father Mrak later became a very important leader in the church, serving as a Bishop. He retired in 1878.
Building the Church
In 1884, Father Mrak returned to the Bohemian community. He helped them create a committee to build a church. Construction of the church started that same year. The building was finished in 1886. In 1888, Bishop Henry Richter officially dedicated the church. He was from the new Diocese of Grand Rapids.
Saint Joseph's Church was always a "mission church." This means it never had a priest living there full-time. It was, and still is, the only church in the quiet area of Cleveland Township.
Changes Over Time
Over the years, the church had some updates. In 1899, a tower and a bell were added. In the 1940s, small rooms were built onto the back of the church.
In 1951, Saint Joseph's became a mission of Saint Rita's Church in nearby Maple City. The Catholic community used Saint Joseph's until 1970. At that time, the Saint Joseph parish joined with Saint Rita's. The church building is still owned by the parish today. It is used for church services twice a year and sometimes for weddings.
What the Church Looks Like
The Saint Joseph Catholic Church is a simple, traditional building made of wood. It has clapboards on the outside, which are overlapping wooden boards. The roof is made of metal and has a pointed shape called a gable. The church sits on a foundation made of concrete blocks.
Outside Features
In the middle of the front, there is a three-part tower. The top part of the tower holds a bell and has a pyramid-shaped roof. At the back of the church, there are two small additions. These were built in the 1940s.
Each side of the church has four windows. These windows have a special design at the top and are divided into four smaller panes. The main entrance door is at the bottom of the tower. Above the door, there is a small diamond-shaped window.
Inside the Church
When you go inside, you first enter a small area called a narthex. This area has wooden walls. Beyond that is the main part of the church, called the nave. It has a flat ceiling with a raised center, like a tray. At the very back is a curved area called the apse.
The main altar, which is very decorative, is against the back wall of the apse. There are two wooden doors on either side of the altar area. One door leads to a small room for confession. The other door leads to a closet for the priest.
See also
- List of churches in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gaylord
