St. Francis Xavier Church (Missoula, Montana) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Francis Xavier Church
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St. Francis Xavier Church at 420 W. Pine St., Missoula, MT
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 Location in Montana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 420 West Pine Street, Missoula, Montana 46.8749,-113.9977 |
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| Area | 0.5 acres (0.20 ha) |
| Built | 1892 |
| Architect | Mr. Blanchard of Portland, Oregon; construction overseen by Patrick H. Walsh |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003176 |
| Added to NRHP | April 28, 1982 |
The St. Francis Xavier Church is a very tall and historic church located in downtown Missoula, Montana. It's the tallest church in Missoula and even in Missoula County, Montana. This amazing building has beautiful paintings that are over 100 years old! A special artist, who was a brother of the Society of Jesus (also known as the Jesuits) and worked as a kitchen helper, painted them in his free time. You can find this church at 420 West Pine Street.
A Look Back: Church History
The first St. Francis Xavier Church was built by a group called the Jesuits in 1881. Later, in 1888, a Jesuit Priest named Father Diomedi arrived. He hired an architect named Mr. Blanchard from Portland, Oregon. A local contractor from Missoula, Patrick Walsh, helped build it.
The church was designed to be very large. It could hold 600 people on the main floor. Another 150 people could sit in the choir loft.
Building the Big Church
When the current church was finished in 1892, it became the biggest church in all of Montana. It's built in a style called Romanesque Revival. This means it has round arches over its windows and doors. You can also see smaller arches along the roofline. The church has small supports called buttresses and a tall bell tower.
A Jesuit brother named Joseph Carignano (1853–1919) painted the inside of the church. He was a very talented artist! He also painted beautiful pictures at the St. Ignatius Mission. The church also has colorful stained glass windows. There's a large pipe organ and a huge church bell. This bell weighs 2,270 pounds and is dedicated to another Jesuit missionary, Father Lawrence Palladino.
See Also
- List of Jesuit sites
