St. Mary Roman Catholic Church (Detroit) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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St. Mary Roman Catholic Church
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Location | 646 Monroe Street Detroit, Michigan |
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| Architect | Peter Dederichs |
| Architectural style | Pisan Romanesque |
| Part of | Greektown Historic District (ID82002902) |
| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1982 |
St. Mary Roman Catholic Church, often called "Old St. Mary's Church," is a very old church in Detroit, Michigan. It is one of the oldest Roman Catholic churches in the city. A German architect named Peter Dederichs designed the church. It was built for German families who lived in Detroit in the 1800s. You can find it at 646 Monroe Street, right in the middle of the Greektown Historic District in downtown Detroit. People call it "Old St. Mary's" so it isn't confused with other churches named St. Mary's nearby.
The first church building was put up in 1841. Later, a school was built in 1868. This was the first of the buildings you see today. The rectory (where the priests live) was built in 1876. The current church building was finished between 1884 and 1885. A convent (where nuns lived) was added in 1922. The convent was taken down in the early 2000s. A new community center was built in its place. It looks similar to the first church from 1841.
Since 1893, priests from a group called the Spiritans or Holy Ghost Fathers have led St. Mary Parish.
Contents
History of St. Mary's Church
The church started in 1834. It was created by Father Martin Kundig for German-speaking Catholic immigrants. These families had moved to this part of Detroit. The first church was built in 1841. The land for the church was sold for just one dollar! Antoine and Monica Beaubien, who were early French settlers, sold the land. They also gave four bells for the new church.
The first stone for the current church building was placed in 1884. The church was finished in 1885. Peter Dederichs, the architect, was born in Germany and was a member of the church. He also designed another church nearby called Sacred Heart Church.
In the early 1900s, Father Joseph Wuest, who was the pastor, had three special cave-like areas built behind the church. These are called grottos.
- One grotto is a Baptistry. It shows the scene of Jesus being baptized.
- Next to it is a copy of the Shrine of Lourdes from France. There is an altar inside this grotto where Mass is held every week. Older church members say Father Wuest collected the rocks for this grotto during a trip to Lourdes, France.
- The third grotto is on the other side of the church. It shows the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane the night before Jesus was crucified.
A man named Rev. John A. Lemke was born in Detroit in 1866. He was baptized at St. Mary's. He later became the first Roman Catholic priest of Polish background to be ordained in the United States. He passed away in 1890.
St. Mary's School History
St. Mary's school opened in 1844. At first, regular teachers taught there. In 1852, a group called the Christian Brothers started teaching the older boys. The School Sisters of Notre Dame then taught the girls and younger boys. The school building was replaced in 1855. The building you see today was built in 1868. The school stayed open until 1966.
In 1979, the church, school, and rectory were named Michigan Historic Sites. Special markers were put up at all three buildings.
Church Architecture and Design
The church is made of red brick. It is built in the Romanesque style, which looks like old Roman buildings. It also has some Venetian touches. The front of the church has two tall towers. Between them is a large round window called a rose window. The rectory and the former convent also used this Romanesque-Venetian style.
The church is about 176 ft (54 m) long. The main open area inside, called the nave, is 80 ft (24 m) wide. It reaches a height of 90 ft (27 m).
Inside the church, you will see ten shiny granite columns. These columns separate the main part of the church from the side aisles. Each column is made from one single piece of granite. They were actually meant for the Michigan State Capitol building in Lansing. But for some reason, they were not used there. The church bought all ten columns for a very good price. This made the total cost of building the church about $81,210.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María (Detroit) para niños
- Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit
- Architecture of metropolitan Detroit
- Greektown Historic District
