Sainte Anne Church (Mackinac Island) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sainte Anne Church |
|
|---|---|
| Ste. Anne Catholic Church | |
.jpg)
Image of the church in October 2023
|
|
| 45°51′01″N 84°36′41″W / 45.8504°N 84.6114°W | |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 1670 (355 years ago) |
| Founder(s) | Claude Dablon |
| Architecture | |
| Years built | 1874 (151 years ago) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Diocese of Marquette |
|
Sainte Anne Church
|
|
|
U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
|
 |
|
| Part of | Mackinac Island (ID66000397) |
|---|---|
| Significant dates | |
| Designated NHLDCP | October 15, 1966 |
.jpg)
Sainte Anne Church is a Roman Catholic church located on Mackinac Island in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is a very old church with a rich history.
The first church was started in 1670 by a Jesuit missionary named Claude Dablon. The oldest church records still exist from 1695. Over the years, the church moved a few times. It moved from Fort de Buade to Fort Michilimackinac around 1708. Then, it moved from Fort Michilimackinac to Mackinac Island in 1781. For many years, the church used a historic log building. The church building you see today was built in 1874. The land for it was given by a former fur trader named Magdelaine Laframboise. On December 20, 1990, the church was named a Michigan State Historic Site.
Contents
History of Sainte Anne Church
Early Days: The Jesuit Mission
The church began as a mission run by the Society of Jesus. Jesuit priests served the church from forts like Fort de Buade and later Fort Michilimackinac. In the 1740s, many Odawa (Ottawa) people, who were a main focus of the mission, moved away. They left the sandy area around Fort Michilimackinac to find better farmland. They settled in new places like L'Arbre Croche along Lake Michigan.
The church at Fort Michilimackinac then mostly served people who traveled a lot. These included many fur traders and voyageurs. These travelers often looked to Saint Anne as their special protector. Because of this, the church and its community became more and more known as Sainte Anne de Michilimackinac.
In 1765, the Jesuit Order was stopped from operating in North America. This meant the Jesuits could no longer lead this church or other missions in the Great Lakes area. But the church kept going thanks to dedicated members, many of whom were women. Even without a priest, these members kept the church alive. They even kept a special room ready for a priest, just in case one returned. During this time, the church building was taken apart and moved. This happened in 1780–1781, when the British ordered it moved from Fort Michilimackinac to Mackinac Island. This became its new, permanent home.
Growing in the American Frontier
In 1796, Mackinac Island became part of the United States. This happened because of the Jay Treaty with Great Britain. The island was a busy place for the fur trade. More Americans came to the island as its trade and harbor grew. At first, the new American military leaders did not pay much attention to the Catholic faith. This caused the church's lay leadership to fall apart for a while.
In 1803, Father Gabriel Richard visited the church. He found that the altar had been disrespected. After the War of 1812, a well-known local fur trader helped save the church. Her name was Madeline La Framboise, and she was Ojibwe. She worked with visiting priests to bring the church back to life. She also gave land for the church to be built on.
As more people settled in the area, the Catholic Church set up a new system for Catholic life in Michigan Territory. In 1830, Father Samuel Charles Mazzuchelli became the first resident priest at Sainte Anne de Michilimackinac in 65 years. In 1853, the church became part of what is now the Diocese of Marquette. As the population and economy grew, the old log church was taken down in the 1870s. A new church, made of timber, was started in 1874 and finished in the 1880s. This is the church building still used today.
Sainte Anne Church Today
As the church's 300th anniversary of its records came closer, Sainte Anne Church was recognized. In 1992, it was named a registered Michigan historic site. A special marker was placed at the church to show its importance.
The parish of Sainte Anne de Michilimackinac is one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in North America. This is known because its church records have been kept continuously for so long. Today, there is a museum on the ground floor of the church. It shows and explains items from the church's long history.
