St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church (Detroit, Michigan) facts for kids
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St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Parish Complex
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| Location | 1491-1515 Baldwin Street, 1480 Townsend Street Detroit, Michigan |
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| Built | 1912 |
| Architect | Van Leyen & Schilling; Peter Dederichs |
| Architectural style | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Romanesque Revival, Baroque Revival, Prairie School |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000488 |
| Added to NRHP | June 09, 1989 |
The St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church is a beautiful church in Detroit, Michigan. It stands at the corner of Baldwin Avenue and St. Paul Avenue. The main church building is at 1515 Baldwin Street. Other important buildings, like the rectory (where priests live) and the school, are nearby. This whole group of buildings was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. This means they are special and important to history.
Contents
History of St. Charles Borromeo Church
How the Church Began
In the late 1850s, many Belgian Catholic families moved to Detroit. They settled in neighborhoods on the east side of the city. To help these families, a church parish was started in 1886. It was named after Saint Charles Borromeo. At first, a simple wooden church was built for the community.
Growing with the City
As Detroit grew, so did the St. Charles Borromeo parish. Soon, people from many other countries joined the church. These included families from France, Germany, Ireland, Scotland, and England. By 1920, there were more than 3,000 people in the church community! In the 1930s, the school also welcomed many children from Syrian and Italian immigrant families.
Building the Complex
The current church buildings were constructed in the early 1900s. In 1912, the two-story rectory and the school were designed. The architects were Van Leyen & Schilling. A few years later, in 1918, Peter Dederichs was chosen to build the main church. He designed it in a style called "Romanesque." Just four years after it was finished, the church was made even bigger. This was to make space for the growing number of people attending.
The Church Today
The St. Charles Borromeo Church is still used for worship today. While the people who attend might be different, the church continues to serve its community. The rectory is still used by priests. The old school building has been changed into modern apartments.
Design and Architecture
What the Buildings Look Like
The St. Charles Borromeo complex has four buildings. Three of them are very important historically. These are the church itself, the rectory, and the school.
The church is built with special red-brown bricks. It sits on a white stone foundation. The design of the church is called Romanesque Revival. It also has parts that look like the Arts and Crafts style. The church is shaped like a Latin Cross, which is a common church design. It is about 92 feet wide and 180 feet deep.
Details of the Church's Front
The front of the church has two towers that are not exactly the same. They both have red tiled roofs. The main entrance is under a tall, arched structure. This arch has columns on each side. Above the entrance, there is a large round window called a rose window. You can see decorative patterns above the arches and green tiles in other areas. The brick columns around the main arch show influences from the Prairie School or Arts and Crafts styles.
Inside the church, the main altar is designed in a Baroque style. The large organ was built in two parts. This was done so it would not block the beautiful rose window above the main entrance.
The School and Rectory Design
The school and rectory buildings were designed in the Prairie style. This style is known for its strong horizontal lines and open spaces. They also have some elements from Byzantine design.
Images for kids
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The St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Parish Complex.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de San Carlos Borromeo (Detroit) para niños
