St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church (Detroit)

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St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and Rectory
St Thomas the Apostle Detroit 1989.jpg
St Thomas the Apostle, 1989
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church (Detroit)
Interactive map
Location8363-8383 Townsend Avenue
Detroit, Michigan
Coordinates 42°23′24″N83°1′28″W / 42.39000°N 83.02444°W / 42.39000; -83.02444 Coordinates: 42°23′24″N83°1′28″W / 42.39000°N 83.02444°W / 42.39000; -83.02444
Built1923
ArchitectVan Leyen, Schilling & Keough
Architectural styleLate 19th and 20th century revival
DemolishedJanuary 1992
NRHP reference No. 89000785 [1]
Added to NRHPJune 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, [1] but was subsequently demolished. [2]

Contents

History

Parking lot/field where the church once stood St Thomas the Apostle Detroit DEMOLISHED.jpg
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. [2] A church was constructed in 1923, and the parish had both a grade school and a high school. [2] 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, [2] and the church demolished in 1993. [3]

The school currently serves as St. Thomas Assessment Center for troubled youths. [4]

Description

St. Thomas School St Thomas School.JPG
St. Thomas School

The parish complex at St. Thomas the Apostle comprised six buildings, including the church, rectory, school, and convent. [5]

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. [5] 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. [5] 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. [5] The church boasted a wealth of decorative art, including stained glass and bronze works. [5]

The rectory was a large, two-story building with a dormer-attic. [5]

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References

  1. 1 2 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. April 15, 2008.
  2. 1 2 3 4 St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church Profile 1985 from PolishAncestry.com
  3. "Church Meets Wrecking Ball". Detroit Free Press. January 3, 1992.
  4. St. Thomas Assessment Center from Holy Cross
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and Rectory from the state of Michigan