St. Joseph's Catholic Church (Krebs, Oklahoma) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Joseph's Catholic Church |
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| 34°55′57″N 95°43′06″W / 34.9326°N 95.7184°W | |
| Location | 290 NW Church Street, Krebs, Oklahoma |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Active |
| Founded | 1886 |
| Founder(s) | Dom Isidore Robot |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Eclectic |
| Years built | 1903–1907 |
| Administration | |
| Parish | St. Joseph's |
| Diocese | Tulsa |
St. Joseph's Catholic Church is an old and important Catholic church located in Krebs, Oklahoma. The first church building was made of wood in 1886. Sadly, it burned down in 1902. A new church, made of brick, was built between 1903 and 1907. This new building was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1980, which means it's recognized as a special historic site.
History of St. Joseph's Church
The story of this church began in 1885. Two priests from a group called the Benedictines, Father Isidore Robot and Brother Dominic Lambert, came to the area. They built a small house and a chapel where St. Joseph's Cemetery is now. At that time, this area was part of the Choctaw Nation.
After a church service, people decided to build a proper church and a school. A church made of wood and a two-room school building were finished in 1886. This was the very first church-run school in what is now Oklahoma. It was managed by a group of nuns called the Sisters of Mercy. Father Robot passed away in 1887, and Father Bernard Murphy became the first official pastor of the church.
On December 13, 1902, the church and the house where the priests lived (called the rectory) were destroyed by fire. But the community didn't give up! They started building the new church you see today in 1903. It was completed in 1907. The new rectory was finished a bit earlier, in 1906.
The only part of the old church that could be saved was its bell. This original bell was put into the bell tower of the new building. In 1965, the inside of the church was changed a lot. These changes were made to fit new ways of doing church services, which were decided at a big meeting called Vatican II. A new small chapel was added to the church in 1978.
What the Church Looks Like
The paperwork to get the 1903 church listed as a historic place described its style as "eclectic." This means it has a mix of different architectural styles. The outside of the church is made of red brick. A tall bell tower, called a campanile, stands above the main entrance. This tower holds the original bell from the first church.
The outside of the church also has some features that look like old Roman buildings, known as Romanesque elements. These include the bell tower, the arched openings, a small round window, and other arched windows around the front of the building. Even with all the changes inside, the outside of the church still looks the same as it did when it was built.
However, the inside of the church was changed quite a bit during the renovation in 1966. Here are the main changes that happened:
- The altar, which is a special table used in church services, was made to look simpler.
- Old paintings were taken down and stored away.
- The walls were painted a light, creamy color called ivory.
- The ceiling was painted white.
