St. Thomas the Apostle's Church (Detroit, Michigan)

For the church of the same name in Los Angeles, California, see St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church (Los Angeles).
For the former church of the same name in Wilmington, North Carolina, see St. Mary Catholic Church (Wilmington, North Carolina).
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and Rectory
Parking lot/field where St Thomas the Apostle once stood
Location: 8363-8383 Townsend Ave., Detroit, Michigan
Built: 1923
Architect: Van Leyen, Schilling & Keough
Architectural style: Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals, Other
Demolished: c. 1994
Governing body: Private
NRHP Reference#: 89000785[1]
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,[1] but was subsequently demolished.[2]

History

St. Thomas the Apostle Parish was a Polish-American Roman Catholic parish founded in 1914, at the eastern edge of the prodominently Polish sections 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 fist 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 soon after.[2]

The school currently serves as St. Thomas Assessment Center for troubled youths.[3]

Description

The parish complex at St. Thomas the Apostle comprised six buildings, including the church, rectory, school, and convent.[4]

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.[4] 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.[4] 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.[4] The church boasted a wealth of decorative art, including stained glass and bronze works.[4]

The rectory was a large, two-story building with a dormer-attic.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2008-04-15. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
  2. ^ a b c d St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Church Profile 1985 from PolishAncestry.com
  3. ^ St. Thomas Assessment Center from Holy Cross
  4. ^ a b c d e f Saint Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and Rectory from the state of Michigan
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