St. Elizabeth's Convent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Elizabeth's Convent
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Housing unit at the Katharine Drexel Shrine, April 2012
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1663 Bristol Pike, Cornwells Heights, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 8 acres (3.2 ha) |
| Built | 1892 |
| Architect | Burns, Charles; Et al. |
| Architectural style | Spanish-French Mission |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002352 |
| Added to NRHP | March 21, 1978 |
St. Elizabeth's Convent was a special place in Cornwells Heights, Pennsylvania. It was a historic Catholic convent, which is a home for a community of religious women called nuns or sisters. This convent was located in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania, in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
From 1892 until 2017, St. Elizabeth's Convent was the main home, or motherhouse, for the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament. This group of sisters was started by a very important person, St. Katharine Drexel. She founded the order to help Native American and African American people.
The convent complex also included the Saint Katharine Drexel Mission Center and National Shrine. St. Katharine Drexel was buried in a special room, called a crypt, inside the chapel there. Later, her crypt was moved to the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Philadelphia. This new location became her shrine.
History of the Convent
Building the Convent
The buildings at St. Elizabeth's Convent were constructed in 1892. There are three main buildings that are important to its history. They were built in a beautiful style called Spanish-French Mission. This style often features curved gables and red tile roofs.
The most important building was the convent itself. It had a chapel attached to it, which is a small church. There was also a bell tower, which is a tall structure holding bells. The other important buildings were a utility building and a laundry building.
National Recognition
Because of its history and unique architecture, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This list includes places that are important to the history of the United States.
Changes Over Time
The convent closed its doors and was sold in 2017. However, the chapel was kept as a place where people could still worship. The Drexel shrine, which honored St. Katharine Drexel, was also moved. It was rebuilt at the Philadelphia cathedral, where it continues to be a place of pilgrimage.
Gallery
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Entrance to the Katharine Drexel Shrine, April 2012
