The Most Holy Redeemer Church is located at 1721 Junction Street in Southwest Detroit, Michigan, within the West Vernor–Junction Historic District.[1] The church was once estimated as the largest Roman Catholic parish in North America.[1][2] West Vernor–Junction Historic District is adjacent to Mexicantown and contains a growing Mexican community and resurgent neighborhood.
The parish was founded in 1880[3] by Redemptorist father Aegidius Smulders, a former chaplain in the Confederate army.[4] Initially the parish served a congregation predominantly of Irish immigrants, many of whom worked in the tobacco factories. Services were held at first, above Patrick Ratigan's general store on West Jefferson Avenue and later in what was then known as Paddy McMahon's Saloon. Church services were held on the first floor, while the second served as a residence for priests.[5] The first church building, a wood-frame structure designed by Redemptorist Brother Thomas, and known as the Little Church on Sand Hill, was dedicated in 1881. A second larger Gothic style church was built in 1896 during the tenure of pastor Benedict Neithart.
As Irish and German residents moved to the suburbs, people of Latin American descent from the Corktown area of Detroit took their place.[5] A mass in Spanish was instituted in 1960. In 1999, The Redemptorists turned the parish over to the Archdiocese of Detroit.[4] The parish school was started by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1882.[6] Sisters of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT) arrived at Most Holy Redeemer Parish in August 2017 to work in the school and serve the parish.[7] SOLT Seminarians are also in residence at the parish, studying at the nearby Sacred Heart Major Seminary.
Architectureedit
Built in 1921, the present church and was dedicated on April 1, 1923. Designed by the firm of Donaldson and Meier, it was constructed in the Roman basilica style with a Romanesque façade. The church seats about 1,400.[4] A campanile was constructed around 1924 in memory of parishioners who died in World War I.[8]
The stained glass double lancet aisle windows were designed by Charles Jay Connick. Those in the south aisle depict the parables of Jesus, those on the north side, the miracles. The clerestory windows are by the Detroit Stained Glass works.[8] The Pewabic mosaic floor tile is by Mary Chase Perry Stratton.[9]
As in the other Southwest Detroit neighborhoods, such as Springwells Village, West Vernor Highway is the main commercial thoroughfare. Churches, parks, recreation centers, and theaters anchor neighborhoods such as the West Vernor-Junction intersection that Holy Redeemer parish dominates.
^Vinyard, JoEllen McNergney. For Faith and Fortune: The Education of Catholic Immigrants in Detroit, 1805-1925, University of Illinois Press, 1998, ISBN9780252067075, p. 62.
^Dorweiler, Karla. "SOLT sisters arrive in southwest Detroit hoping to make an impact.", The Michigan Catholic, November 1, 2017
^ abTutag, Nola Huse and Hamilton, Lucy. "Holy Redeemer Church", Discovering Stained Glass in Detroit, Wayne State University Press, 1987 ISBN9780814318751
^Kirkham, Pat. Women Designers in the USA, 1900-2000, Yale University Press, 2002, ISBN9780300093315, p. 349
^Cristo Rey ready to 'rise'. Retrieved on March 1, 2010.
Further readingedit
Godzak, Roman (2000). Archdiocese of Detroit (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. ISBN9780738507972.
Godzak, Roman (2004). Catholic Churches of Detroit (Images of America). Arcadia Publishing. ISBN0738532355.
Godzak, Roman (2000). Make Straight the Path: A 300 Year Pilgrimage Archdiocese of Detroit. Editions du Signe. ISBN2746801450.
Tentler, Leslie Woodcock with foreword by Edmund Cardinal Szoka (1992). Seasons of Grace: A History of the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit. Wayne State University Press. ISBN0814321062.
Tutag, Nola Huse with Lucy Hamilton (1988). Discovering Stained Glass in Detroit. Wayne State University Press. ISBN0-8143-1875-4.
May 04, 2024
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The Most Holy Redeemer Church is located at 1721 Junction Street in Southwest Detroit Michigan within the West Vernor Junction Historic District 1 The church was once estimated as the largest Roman Catholic parish in North America 1 2 West Vernor Junction Historic District is adjacent to Mexicantown and contains a growing Mexican community and resurgent neighborhood Most Holy Redeemer ChurchU S Historic districtContributing propertyLocation1721 Junction StreetDetroit MichiganCoordinates42 19 2 N 83 6 7 W 42 31722 N 83 10194 W 42 31722 83 10194Built1921ArchitectDonaldson and MeierArchitectural styleRenaissance RevivalPart ofWest Vernor Junction Historic District ID02001503 MPSWest Vernor Highway Survey Area Detroit Michigan MPSAdded to NRHPDecember 12 2002 Most Holy Redeemer Church Sanctuary Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 Description 4 In popular culture 5 See also 6 References 7 Further readingHistory editThe parish was founded in 1880 3 by Redemptorist father Aegidius Smulders a former chaplain in the Confederate army 4 Initially the parish served a congregation predominantly of Irish immigrants many of whom worked in the tobacco factories Services were held at first above Patrick Ratigan s general store on West Jefferson Avenue and later in what was then known as Paddy McMahon s Saloon Church services were held on the first floor while the second served as a residence for priests 5 The first church building a wood frame structure designed by Redemptorist Brother Thomas and known as the Little Church on Sand Hill was dedicated in 1881 A second larger Gothic style church was built in 1896 during the tenure of pastor Benedict Neithart As Irish and German residents moved to the suburbs people of Latin American descent from the Corktown area of Detroit took their place 5 A mass in Spanish was instituted in 1960 In 1999 The Redemptorists turned the parish over to the Archdiocese of Detroit 4 The parish school was started by the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary in 1882 6 Sisters of the Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity SOLT arrived at Most Holy Redeemer Parish in August 2017 to work in the school and serve the parish 7 SOLT Seminarians are also in residence at the parish studying at the nearby Sacred Heart Major Seminary Architecture editBuilt in 1921 the present church and was dedicated on April 1 1923 Designed by the firm of Donaldson and Meier it was constructed in the Roman basilica style with a Romanesque facade The church seats about 1 400 4 A campanile was constructed around 1924 in memory of parishioners who died in World War I 8 The stained glass double lancet aisle windows were designed by Charles Jay Connick Those in the south aisle depict the parables of Jesus those on the north side the miracles The clerestory windows are by the Detroit Stained Glass works 8 The Pewabic mosaic floor tile is by Mary Chase Perry Stratton 9 Description editThe parish contains a longstanding elementary school along with the Detroit Cristo Rey High School which has operated since 2008 inside of the building of the former Holy Redeemer High School 10 As in the other Southwest Detroit neighborhoods such as Springwells Village West Vernor Highway is the main commercial thoroughfare Churches parks recreation centers and theaters anchor neighborhoods such as the West Vernor Junction intersection that Holy Redeemer parish dominates In popular culture editThe Hollywood movie The Rosary Murders 1987 starring actors Donald Sutherland and Charles Durning prominently featured the church and the neighborhood See also editArchitecture of metropolitan Detroit Roman Catholic Archdiocese of DetroitReferences edit a b Most Holy Redeemer Parish History Archived 2018 12 16 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on April 15 2009 Most Holy Redeemer Church Pewabic org Retrieved April 12 2011 Mass Mob at Most Holy Redeemer in Detroit welcomes all Detroit Free Press April 15 2016 a b c Collum Marla O Most Holy Redeemer Roman Catholic Detroit s Historic Places of Worship chap 28 Wayne State University Press 2012 a b Most Holy Redeemer Church The Pluralism Project Harvard University 2006 Vinyard JoEllen McNergney For Faith and Fortune The Education of Catholic Immigrants in Detroit 1805 1925 University of Illinois Press 1998 ISBN 9780252067075 p 62 Dorweiler Karla SOLT sisters arrive in southwest Detroit hoping to make an impact The Michigan Catholic November 1 2017 a b Tutag Nola Huse and Hamilton Lucy Holy Redeemer Church Discovering Stained Glass in Detroit Wayne State University Press 1987 ISBN 9780814318751 Kirkham Pat Women Designers in the USA 1900 2000 Yale University Press 2002 ISBN 9780300093315 p 349 Cristo Rey ready to rise Retrieved on March 1 2010 Further reading editGodzak Roman 2000 Archdiocese of Detroit Images of America Arcadia Publishing ISBN 9780738507972 Godzak Roman 2004 Catholic Churches of Detroit Images of America Arcadia Publishing ISBN 0738532355 Godzak Roman 2000 Make Straight the Path A 300 Year Pilgrimage Archdiocese of Detroit Editions du Signe ISBN 2746801450 Tentler Leslie Woodcock with foreword by Edmund Cardinal Szoka 1992 Seasons of Grace A History of the Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit Wayne State University Press ISBN 0814321062 Tutag Nola Huse with Lucy Hamilton 1988 Discovering Stained Glass in Detroit Wayne State University Press ISBN 0 8143 1875 4 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Most Holy Redeemer Church Detroit amp oldid 1169256033, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
