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St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church (Detroit) facts for kids

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St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and Rectory
St Thomas the Apostle Detroit 1989.jpg
St Thomas the Apostle, 1989
Location 8363-8383 Townsend Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
Built 1923
Architect Van Leyen, Schilling & Keough
Architectural style Late 19th and 20th century revival
Demolished January 1992
NRHP reference No. 89000785
Added to NRHP June 29, 1989

St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church was a church located at 8363 and 8383 Townsend Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, but was subsequently demolished.

History

St Thomas the Apostle Detroit DEMOLISHED
Parking lot/field where the church once stood

St. Thomas the Apostle Parish was a Polish-American Roman Catholic parish founded in 1914, at the eastern edge of the east side Polish neighborhoods of Detroit. A church was constructed in 1923, and the parish had both a grade school and a high school. The parish was one of the first to experience changes in population, as the original Polish residents began moving out in the mid-20th century. The parish was closed in 1989, and the church demolished in 1993.

The school currently serves as St. Thomas Assessment Center for troubled youths.

Description

St Thomas School
St. Thomas School

The parish complex at St. Thomas the Apostle comprised six buildings, including the church, rectory, school, and convent.

The church was essentially of Romanesque design, with some Art Deco aspects. It was built of brick laid over Dennison interlocking tile, sitting atop a limestone base. The building was trimmed with limestone and Tuscan glazed faience in various colors. The facade was a series of gable-roof blocks, roofed with Spanish tile. The primary entrance was through a central, side-gable block, sized to match the nave. The entrance was recessed into the center of a projecting porch and surrounded by columned arches. A massive Eucharistic relief was set high in the center of the facade. The church boasted a wealth of decorative art, including stained glass and bronze works.

The rectory was a large, two-story building with a dormer-attic.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Iglesia de Santo Tomás Apóstol (Detroit) para niños

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