St. Joseph's Church Complex (Cumberland, Rhode Island) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Joseph's Church Complex
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 Location in Rhode Island
Location in the United States
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| Location | Cumberland, Rhode Island |
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| Built | 1872 |
| Architect | F.E. Page |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000007 |
| Added to NRHP | August 12, 1982 |
St. Joseph Church is a Catholic church located in Cumberland, Rhode Island. It is part of the Diocese of Providence. The church is famous for its historic buildings at 1303 Mendon Road.
The complex includes a beautiful Gothic Revival style church. It also has two older wooden buildings from the late 1800s. These buildings are covered with clapboard siding. The church and its related buildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. It is officially known as the St. Joseph's Church Complex.
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The Church's Story
St. Joseph's Parish began in 1872. The first church was built on the same spot where the current church stands. At that time, it was the only Catholic church between Valley Falls and Woonsocket.
The church was a very important religious and social center. It served many Irish, French Canadian, and Italian mill workers. These workers lived in nearby areas like Ashton and Berkeley.
By 1888, the number of people in the parish grew a lot. This growth meant a new, larger church was needed. The new church replaced the original one. However, the rectory (where the priest lives) and the parish hall were kept.
Experts from the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission say the current church is one of the best wooden Late Victorian religious buildings in Rhode Island. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The church also had a big restoration project in 1995 to fix it up carefully.
Building Design and Style
The beautiful St. Joseph's Church was designed around 1888-1890. The architect was F.E. Page. It has an interesting, uneven design with two spires. The church is built in the Gothic Revival style.
The main part of the building is tall and rectangular. It has a pointed roof at the end. At the back, there is a round, hip-roof apse. This is a special curved part of the church.
Smaller side sections, called aisles, go around the back of the church. They connect to a separate chapel. One of the church's towers is three stories tall. It has lancet windows (tall, narrow windows) and decorative stone bands. The top of this tower has a pointed broach spire.
The other tower is four stories tall. It has large, decorative Gothic windows with tracery (stone patterns). This tower is topped by an octagonal belfry and a spire.
The Rectory and Parish Hall
The St. Joseph's Rectory was built around 1872. It is two to three stories tall. It has a special shape that looks a bit like a cross. This building is a great example of a bracketed style house.
It features a veranda (porch) that wraps around the building. It also has carved brackets and jigsaw work decorations. The inside of the rectory has been changed over time.
The original parish hall was also built around 1872. It was quite simple. This old hall has been removed. A new, modern building has been constructed at the back of the property.
Images for kids
See also
