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 located at 812 Poplar Street in Macon, Georgia. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 14, 1971. This important church stands right in the middle of Downtown Macon, taking up an entire city block. It is managed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah.
The church is known for its impressive height. Its two towers are the tallest "twin towers" in Macon. They also make it the 3rd tallest building in the city, reaching about 61 meters (200 feet) to the very top! Inside, the church is just as amazing. It has 60 colorful stained glass windows that tell stories from the Bible. You can also see a beautiful white Carrara marble altar and pulpit, and a huge organ with 1,000 pipes that makes wonderful music.
A Look Back: The Church's Story
The idea for Saint Joseph Catholic Church began with a small group of about 50 Catholic members and their first priest, Father James Graham. This was back in 1841. At that time, they bought a Presbyterian church building. This became the very first Catholic church in Macon, which had only become a city 17 years earlier.
Over the years, the number of Catholic families in Macon grew. By 1865, the church building was too small for everyone. Father James O'Neill, who was the priest then, bought another Presbyterian church. This one was on Fourth Street.
Building a Grand New Church
For many years, priests were sent from the Bishop of Savannah to lead Saint Joseph's Church. Then, in 1887, a group of priests called the Jesuits came from New Orleans to Macon. They took over Saint Joseph's Church and also a school called Pio Nono College. This school was named after Pope Pius IX (Pio Nono means Pius Ninth in Italian). You can still find a street in Macon called Pio Nono Avenue today!
In 1888, the Jesuits decided to build a much grander church. They wanted a building that would truly honor God. They chose the spot where the church stands today. The foundation for the new church was laid in August 1889.
The basement of the church was finished first and used for services starting in June 1892. It took 14 more years to complete the entire church. Finally, on November 15, 1903, the magnificent Saint Joseph Catholic Church was officially dedicated. Six bishops from different parts of the country attended the special 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." This shows how beautiful and impressive the new church was considered to be.
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