Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church (Mobile, Alabama) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church
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Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church in 2008.
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 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mobile, Alabama |
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| Built | 1907 |
| Architect | Diboll & Owen; Chamblin, G.A. |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| MPS | Historic Roman Catholic Properties in Mobile Multiple Property Submission |
| NRHP reference No. | 91000841 |
| Added to NRHP | July 3, 1991 |
Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church was an old and important church building in Mobile, Alabama, United States. It was a Catholic church that served the people of St. Joseph's Parish. This parish was the third oldest in Mobile. It started in 1857 to help Catholic families who lived far from the main church downtown. St. Joseph's Parish served its community for almost 160 years before it closed in 2018.
Contents
The Church's Early Years
In 1857, Bishop Michael Portier chose a Jesuit priest named Father Peter Ismand to be the first leader of St. Joseph's Parish. Father Ismand was well-liked. He helped soldiers during the Civil War. He also worked hard during a time when many people were sick with Yellow Fever.
Sisters of Mercy Arrive
In 1884, a group of nuns called the Sisters of Mercy came to Mobile. They helped the St. Joseph's Parish community. They visited people who were sick, poor, or in prison. They also started St. Joseph's School. This school later became known as the Convent of Mercy Academy. The convent moved to a new place in 1969.
Building a New Church
More and more people joined the parish. This meant they needed a bigger church building. Land was bought on Springhill Avenue. The Jesuits from Spring Hill College were put in charge of building the new church. They built it near the city hospital in 1858.
The new parish was mostly made up of people who had moved from Germany. A beautiful new church was planned in the Gothic style. It had a tall main hall and amazing stained glass windows. The first stone was laid on August 8, 1907. The church was finished in less than a year. It was officially opened on August 4, 1908.
Church Groups and Recognition
In 1907, Father Linus Schuler helped start several groups at the church. These included the Altar Society and the Holy Name Society.
In September 1908, a local newspaper called the Mobile Daily Register wrote about the new church. They said it was "one of the handsomest churches in the state." The paper noted that the church had no columns inside. This made the whole interior feel "entirely open." The church could seat up to 800 people.
The Jesuits continued to manage the church for many years. They also set up a fund to help support the parish. In 2009, the Jesuits handed over the church's management to the main Catholic group in Mobile, called the Archdiocese.
Church Design and Style
The architects who designed the church were Diboll and Owen from New Orleans. The builder was G. A. Chamblin from Mobile.
The church building is a great example of the Gothic Revival style. This style looks like old medieval churches. The church is 60 feet wide and 100 feet long. It is made of brick and has a tall tower that is 120 feet high.
Outside Features
The front of the church has a large tower. This tower has two wooden doors at the bottom. Above the doors are special arched windows. The tower also has strong supports called buttresses. It has three stained glass windows on the second floor and three vents on the third floor.
The sides of the church have large stained glass windows. These windows are also separated by buttresses. The parts of the church that stick out on the sides, called transepts, also have tall windows and a large stained glass window above. There is a copper cross on top of each transept.
Inside the Church
You enter the church through the tower. Double wooden doors and stained glass windows lead into the main area, called the sanctuary. Inside, there is a large main hall, called a nave. It has four rows of benches for people to sit. There are no columns holding up the arches inside. The walls are covered with marble. Beautiful stained glass windows, brought from Germany, are placed between pictures showing the Stations of the Cross.
Lights hang along each side of the main hall. A marble rail separates the main area from the altar. The altar area has fancy columns with gold tops. The marble altar itself has a carving of the Last Supper. The main altar is also made of marble with detailed carvings.
Each transept has a large round stained glass window. Below these windows are small areas with statues. Above the main entrance, there is a small balcony with organ pipes. This balcony does not have seats.
Why the Church Closed
In 2017, the Archdiocese of Mobile decided to close St. Joseph Church for good. The church had been open for 109 years. Many church members were upset by this decision. They felt that the church's leader, Archbishop Thomas Rodi, had sold the church and taken its old artworks and money.
Records showed that the church had over $2 million in its special fund. It also had more money coming in than going out. Despite this, the decision to close was made. In 2018, St. Joseph Church was closed and sold. The money from the sale went to the Archdiocese. Many of the church's artworks were moved to a new church called St. Ignatius Church, which was being built at that time.
National Recognition
Saint Joseph's Roman Catholic Church was important because it kept its original look and materials. Some parts of the tower were damaged by Hurricane Frederic in 1979. However, the rest of the outside and inside of the church stayed mostly the same.
The church was a great example of the Second Gothic Revival style in Mobile. Its beautiful design and good quality materials were common for Catholic churches in the city. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 3, 1991. This means it was recognized as an important historical place.
