St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Mountain Island, North Carolina) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
St. Joseph's Catholic Church
|
|
![]() |
|
Location | Off NC 273, near Mount Holly, North Carolina |
---|---|
Area | 1.8 acres (0.73 ha) |
Built | 1844 |
Architectural style | Greek Revival |
NRHP reference No. | 79001709 |
Added to NRHP | June 7, 1979 |
St. Joseph's Catholic Church is a very old and special church located near Mount Holly, North Carolina. It was one of the first Catholic churches ever built in North Carolina, especially the first one west of Raleigh. This church was built for Irish miners who came to the area to work. After many years of not being used, people worked hard to fix it up. Today, it is a smaller church connected to Queen of the Apostles Church in Belmont.
Contents
The Church's Story
How St. Joseph's Church Began
In the 1830s, a man named Chevalier Riva de Finola started gold mines nearby. Many Irish people came to work in these mines. At first, they prayed together at de Finola's home. But in 1835, the mines closed, and he left.
A bishop named John England sent a missionary priest, Father T.J. Cronin, to help the miners in 1838. Father Cronin quickly started raising money to build a church. In 1841, a miner named William Lonergan gave six acres of land for the church. He was buried there in 1842, making it the first burial in St. Joseph's Cemetery. Father Cronin also died in 1842, and his body was moved to St. Joseph's in 1843.
Building and Early Years
The simple wooden church was finished in 1843. It was named after Saints Mary and Joseph. Another missionary priest, Father J.J. O'Connell, dedicated the church. Sadly, many early church records were lost in a big fire in Charleston in 1861.
Father O'Connell returned to be the main priest from 1870 to 1877. In 1871, he bought a large piece of land. This land was later given to a group of monks called Benedictines. They arrived in 1876 and started what is now Belmont Abbey.
A Time of Neglect and Renewal
After Father O'Connell left, regular church services stopped. Other churches were built, and the American Civil War caused many problems. People moved away, and the church became empty. The whole group of church members eventually moved to the Abbey. For a long time, the church was not taken care of.
In 1974, a man named Francis Galligan led an effort to raise money to fix the church. It was rededicated in 1975 by Bishop Michael Joseph Begley. In 1979, the church was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is an important historical site. Since 1993, a small group of volunteers has helped look after the church.
In 2001, a statue of Saint Joseph was moved to the church grounds. It used to be at St. Joseph's Hospital in Asheville.
What the Church Looks Like
Church Design
St. Joseph's Catholic Church was finished in 1844. It is built in a style called Greek Revival. This means it looks a bit like old Greek temples. The church is made of wood and covered with white clapboard. It has a sloped roof and a front porch with four columns.
Inside the Church
Inside, the church has a simple layout with an aisle down the middle. It has wooden trim and details. Even today, about 70 percent of the window glass is original. The floor is also made of the original wooden planks.
The church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.