St. Joseph's Polish Catholic Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Joseph Church |
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St. Joseph Polish Catholic Church
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| 39°55′49″N 75°6′36″W / 39.93028°N 75.11000°W | |
| Location | 1010 Liberty Street, Camden, New Jersey |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Founder(s) | Polish immigrants |
| Dedication | St. Joseph |
| Dedicated | May 1914 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | George I. Lovatt, Sr. |
| Architectural type | Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals |
| Groundbreaking | 1913 |
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St. Joseph's Polish Catholic Church
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| Location | 1010 Liberty Street, Camden, New Jersey |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1913-1914 |
| NRHP reference No. | 03001307 |
| Added to NRHP | December 18, 2003 |
St. Joseph's Polish Catholic Church (in Polish: Kośćiół Świętego Józefa) is a historic Roman Catholic church. You can find it at 1010 Liberty Street in Camden, New Jersey, United States. It is one of two churches in Camden named St. Joseph. The other is St. Joseph Pro-Cathedral. This church is an important part of the local history.
Contents
History of St. Joseph's Church
How the Church Began
The story of St. Joseph's Church started in 1891. A group of Polish immigrants wanted a place to worship. They officially formed their church community, called a parish, on October 24, 1892.
At first, the parish rented a building on Broadway to use as their church. Later, they bought land at Tenth and Liberty Streets. By 1895, they had built a new place that served as both a church and a school.
Building the Main Church
The beautiful church you see today was designed by George I. Lovatt, Sr.. He was an architect from Philadelphia. He designed the church in the Baroque style, which is known for being grand and detailed.
Construction on the main church building began in 1913. It was finished and officially opened in May 1914. The church cost about $100,000 to build back then. In 1923, the inside of the church was painted, which cost another $15,000. Over the years, many people donated special stained-glass windows to remember loved ones.
Architecture and Design
Outside the Church
The outside of St. Joseph's Church is covered in gray Vermont granite. This makes the building look strong and impressive. The entrance is in the tower and is designed in a Romanesque style.
The church building has a special shape called "cruciform." This means it looks like a cross when you view it from above. The tower holds three large bells. They are named Mary, John, and Adalbert. These bells were officially dedicated on December 2, 1917.
Inside the Church
When you step inside, you'll notice the main aisle, called the nave, which is 63 feet (about 19.2 meters) long. At the front, there's a rounded area called an apse. Above the main altar, there's a half-rounded dome called a cupola.
There are also two smaller altars on the sides of the main altar. Above the main entrance, there's a choir loft where singers perform. The church is quite large and can seat up to 1,000 people.
See also
