St. Joseph Catholic Church (San Antonio, Texas) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Joseph Catholic Church |
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Aerial view of St. Joseph Catholic Church, surrounded by the Shops at Rivercenter
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 St. Joseph Catholic Church
Location in Texas
St. Joseph Catholic Church
Location in the United States
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| 29°25′25″N 98°29′11″W / 29.4236°N 98.4864°W | |
| Location | 623 E. Commerce St., San Antonio, Texas |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| History | |
| Status | Parish church |
| Dedication | Saint Joseph |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Architect(s) | G. Friesleben, Theodore Giraud |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1868 |
| Completed | 1876 |
| Specifications | |
| Number of spires | one |
| Administration | |
| Archdiocese | San Antonio |
The St. Joseph Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic church in San Antonio, Texas. It is located right in the middle of downtown. This beautiful building was the fourth Catholic church built in the city. Its style is called Gothic Revival, which means it looks like old European cathedrals.
This church is famous for being a "holdout" building. This means that when a big shopping mall was being built around it, the church leaders said no to selling their land. So, the mall had to be built right around the church! It's like the church stood its ground.
A Look at the Church's History
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The land where St. Joseph Catholic Church stands today has a long history. It might have been the second spot for the Alamo before it moved in 1724.
The church building itself started with its first stone laid in 1868. It was finished in 1871. This church was very important for the many German immigrants who came to San Antonio.
In the 1870s, a friar named Henry Pfefferkorn painted amazing murals inside the church. These paintings showed scenes like the Annunciation and the Assumption. In 1898, a tall steeple was added to the church. Then, in 1902, beautiful stained glass windows were brought all the way from Munich, Germany, and installed.
The Church That Stood Its Ground
In 1944, a big department store called Joske's wanted to buy the church's land. They wanted to build a large shopping center. But the people of the church all said no! They did not want to move.
Because the church refused to sell, Joske's had to build their store around three sides of the church. This is why locals sometimes called it "St. Joske's." It's a great example of a building that stayed put even when everything else changed around it.
In 1981, the church went through a big restoration to make it look new again. Today, St. Joseph Catholic Church is a home for many different cultures. It is also a popular place for tourists to visit. You can hear Spanish-language masses with mariachi music, and a German singing group called the San Antonio Liederkranz performs once a month.
See also
