| St. Josaphat Church |
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St. Josaphat
Church |
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| Location | Chicago |
|---|---|
| Country | USA |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | St. Josaphat's Parish |
| History | |
| Founded | 1884 |
| Founder(s) | Polish immigrants |
| Dedication | St. Josaphat |
| Dedicated | |
| Consecrated | |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | For Polish Kashubians immigrants |
| Architect(s) | William J. Brinkmann |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Groundbreaking | 1899 |
| Completed | 1902 |
| Construction cost | $125,000 (1902) |
| Specifications | |
| Materials | Brick |
St. Josaphat (Polish: Kościół Świętego Jozafata and in Kashubian as Kòscół Swiãtégò Jozafata) is a historic church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago located at 2311 North Southport Avenue in Chicago, Illinois.
It is a prime example of the so-called 'Polish Cathedral style' of church in both its opulence and grand scale. St. Josaphat's two massive Romanesque belltowers are a hallmark view of the Lincoln Park skyline.
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Founded in 1884 as a Polish 'national' parish for Cassubians — also referred to as Kaszubs or Kashubians — who, although Polish in national orientation, possess their own distinct culture and language marked by the distinct influences of their maritime way of life as well as German culture. The parish served as a chiefly Polish congregation well into the second half of the twentieth century, with half of the 450 families belonging to the parish in 1980 being of Polish origin. The parish now serves a very diverse congregation in a newly prosperous, gentrified neighborhood. The recently renovated church, with its excellent music program and traditional architecture, has become very popular for weddings, with over 65 a year.
The Romanesque church, built at a cost of $125,000 in 1902, was designed by William J. Brinkmann, who also drew plans for the Neogothic masterpiece of St. Michael's in South Chicago.