Saint Thomas Preservation Hall facts for kids
Saint Thomas Preservation Hall is an old and beautiful building in downtown Wilmington, North Carolina. It used to be a Catholic church with a special design called Gothic revival. Today, it is a popular place for weddings and art events.
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History of Saint Thomas Preservation Hall
The Saint Thomas Preservation Hall has a long and interesting history. It started as a church for the growing Catholic community in Wilmington.
Building a New Church
The church building was finished in 1846. A man named Robert B. Wood helped build it. Father Thomas Murphy was in charge of the church and its community. Later, the church became very important for North Carolina when Father James Gibbons became a special leader there.
A Special Place for Everyone
By 1908, the church community had grown a lot. They bought new land to build a bigger church, which became the Basilica Shrine of St Mary. It was completed in 1912.
An Irish priest named Rev. Christopher Dennen wanted to keep the old Saint Thomas church open. He wanted it to be a place for African American Catholics in the area. With a large gift of $12,000 from Mother Katharine Drexel, this was made possible. A group of priests called the Josephites helped lead the church for many years.
What Happened Next?
After a fire in 1966, the churches of St. Mary's and St. Thomas decided to welcome everyone together. This meant the Saint Thomas Church was no longer needed as a separate church. In 1979, it officially stopped being used as a church. In 1982, a group called the Saint Thomas Historical Trust took care of the building.
Today, the building is used for weddings and art shows. It had a big update in 2004 to make it ready for its new purpose.
Important People Connected to Saint Thomas
Many notable people have connections to the Saint Thomas Preservation Hall.
- Thomas Frederick Price: He became a priest at Saint Thomas. He was the first person born in North Carolina to become a priest.
- Rose O'Neal Greenhow: This famous Confederate spy had her funeral service at Saint Thomas. She was later buried in Oakdale Cemetery.
- Caterina Jarboro: A Black opera singer, she had her baptism at the church.
