Saint Joseph's Catholic Church (Macon, Georgia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saint Joseph Catholic Church
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | 812 Poplar St., Macon, Georgia |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1889, 1892 |
| Architect | Cornelius S.J. Otten |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000269 |
| Added to NRHP | July 14, 1971 |
Saint Joseph Catholic Church is a beautiful and historic building in Macon, Georgia. You can find it at 812 Poplar Street. This special church was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on July 14, 1971.
The church stands right in the middle of Downtown Macon. It takes up a whole city block! The Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah manages the church.
Saint Joseph Catholic Church has two tall towers. They are the tallest twin towers in Macon. In fact, they make the church the third tallest building in the city. The towers reach about 200 feet (61 meters) high. Inside, you'll see 60 amazing stained glass windows. These windows tell stories of faith. The church also has a white marble altar and pulpit. An organ with 1,000 pipes adds to the beauty and sound of the church.
The Church's Amazing Story
The current church building is designed in the Neo-Gothic style. This means it looks like old Gothic churches from the Middle Ages. Building this church was a big dream for 50 Catholic church members and their first priest, Father James Graham.
Back in 1841, this small group of Catholics bought a Presbyterian church. This became the first Catholic parish in Macon. Macon itself had only become a city 17 years earlier. After Father Graham, 12 other pastors led the church. The church grew, and by 1865, it was too small. Father James O'Neill, the pastor then, bought another Presbyterian church. This one was on Fourth Street.
The Bishop of Savannah sent priests to St. Joseph's Church for many years. Then, in 1887, he asked a group of priests called Jesuits to come from New Orleans. They came to lead St. Joseph's and to run Pio Nono College. This school was started by the church in 1876. You can still see a street in Macon called Pio Nono Avenue. It's named after Pope Pius IX, because "Pio Nono" is Italian for "Pius Ninth."
In 1888, the Jesuits decided to build a grander church. They wanted a building that truly honored God. They chose the spot where the church stands today. Father Joseph Winkelried, S.J., became the pastor and helped finish the plans. The foundation for the new church was laid in August 1889.
On June 16, 1892, the church's basement was blessed. Church services were held in the basement until 1903. Finally, 14 years after construction began, the main church building was officially opened. This special event happened on November 15, 1903. Six bishops from different parts of the country attended the ceremony. The local newspaper, the Macon Telegraph, wrote about the dedication. They said, "If architecture may be fittingly described as frozen music, St. Joseph's Church, to be dedicated today, is a symphony."
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