Saint Mary of Good Counsel Catholic Church (Adrian, Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Saint Mary of Good Counsel Catholic Church
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 305 Division Street Adrian, Michigan |
|---|---|
| Built | 1871 |
| Architect | Gordon W. Lloyd |
| Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000883 |
| Added to NRHP | February 24, 1983 |
Saint Mary of Good Counsel Catholic Church is an active church building located in Adrian, a city in Lenawee County, Michigan. This beautiful church is found at 305 Division Street.
It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 24, 1983. This means it's recognized as an important historical place in the United States. It is also known as a Michigan State Historic Site.
Contents
A Look at the Church's Past
How the Church Began
The first group of Roman Catholic people in Adrian started meeting in the 1840s. Their very first church building was built in 1852. However, this building quickly became too small for everyone.
In 1853, a leader named Father Peter Kindekins bought land to build a new, bigger church. By 1856, this new spot had a wooden church, a house for the priest (called a rectory), a school, and a convent (a home for nuns).
Rebuilding After a Fire
Sadly, all these buildings were completely destroyed by a fire in 1863. It took some time to decide where to build again. Eventually, the church bought the land where the current building stands. This new spot was closer to the center of town.
Designing a New Church
The church leaders hired a famous architect named Gordon W. Lloyd from Detroit to design the new church. Construction started in 1872. The church building you see today was officially opened in 1871.
It is a great example of Romanesque Revival architecture. This style looks back to old Roman buildings with its round arches and strong, solid feel.
Art and Education at the Church
Gordon W. Lloyd also hired an artist named Ignace Schott. Schott created several beautiful murals (wall paintings) of important saints to decorate the inside of the church.
Over the years, the church also focused on education. A new grade school was built in 1912. Later, a high school called Catholic Central High School was built in 1953. The high school closed in 1968, and the grade school closed the next year. Today, the church continues to serve the Catholic community in Adrian.
What the Church Looks Like
Outside the Building
Saint Mary of Good Counsel Catholic Church is made of red-orange bricks. It has stone decorations and a strong sandstone foundation. The building is designed in an Italian Romanesque style.
A square bell tower with a pyramid-shaped roof sticks out from the front of the church. The church also has wooden cornices, which are decorative moldings along the top edges.
There are three main entrances at the front. Each entrance has a round-headed, recessed panel above it. These panels feature beautiful wooden carvings.
Inside the Building
When you go inside, you first enter a main vestibule, which is like a small lobby. There are also two smaller vestibules on the sides. From these areas, three sets of doors lead into the main part of the church, called the nave.
Inside the main area, the church is divided into the nave (the central part where people sit) and side aisles. These sections are separated by four columns, which are tall, round supports.
