St. Hedwig's Roman Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholicchurch located at Linden and S. Harrison Streets in Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware. St. Hedwig's serves as the only architecturally visible anchor or centerpiece for the Wilmington Polish community.[2] The parish operated St. Hedwig's High School from 1960 to the 1970s.[3] It was built in 1904, and is a cruciform shaped church constructed of soft gray brick (concrete block with brick veneer) with details in limestone. It is in the late Gothic Revival style. The front facade features a set of three double doors flanked by 80' spires terminating in cross gable spires. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.[1]
Polish settlers first began to arrive in Wilmington about 1880. Initially the religious needs of the Catholic immigrants were met by German Benedictines at Sacred Heart Parish on Tenth Street, where a separate Mass was said for them starting in 1887. That same year, the Poles organized the St. Joseph's Society. A parish was formed, attended by the Benedictines. In 1896, upon the recommendation of Archbishop Michael Corrigan of New York, Father John S. Gulcz was appointed the first resident pastor. Gulcz was born in Poznan, Poland and came from New York to serve the Polish community of Wilmington. He set about organizing the construction of a new church building to replace the small one established by the Benedictines.[4]
In the early twentieth century the Felician Sisters oversaw the education of over 500 pupils in the parish school.[4]
In 1956, the parish began the annual May Polish Festival.
Architectureedit
The church was designed by Brilmaier & Sons of Milwaukee, whose work in Brooklyn, Gulcz had admired. Built in 1904, it is in the late Gothic Revival style. The building has a cruciform shape and is constructed of soft gray brick (concrete block with brick veneer) with details in limestone. The front facade features a set of three double doors flanked by 80' spires terminating in cross gable spires. The only church in the State of Delaware with twin towers, it was, upon completion, the largest Catholic church in Wilmington.[5]
^Patricia A. Maley (March 1982). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: St. Hedwig's Roman Catholic Church". and Accompanying 22 photos
^Priscilla M. Thompson (August 1984). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Public School No. 19".
^ abLaforte, Remigius. "The Diocese of Wilmington", The Catholic Church in the United States of America: Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness, Pope Pius X. Volume 3: The Province of Baltimore and the Province of New York,(New York City: The Catholic Editing Company, 1914), p.222
^"About Our Parish", St. Hedwig Church, Wilmington, Delaware
March 13, 2024
hedwig, roman, catholic, church, this, article, based, partially, entirely, public, domain, works, government, especially, from, national, register, historic, places, thus, require, cleanup, help, rewriting, from, neutral, viewpoint, meet, wikipedia, standards. This article is based partially or entirely on public domain works of the U S government especially from the National Register of Historic Places and thus may require cleanup You can help by rewriting it from a neutral viewpoint to meet Wikipedia s standards and expanding the article by adding verifiable content from reliable sources The talk page may contain relevant discussion December 2018 St Hedwig s Roman Catholic Church is a historic Roman Catholic church located at Linden and S Harrison Streets in Wilmington New Castle County Delaware St Hedwig s serves as the only architecturally visible anchor or centerpiece for the Wilmington Polish community 2 The parish operated St Hedwig s High School from 1960 to the 1970s 3 It was built in 1904 and is a cruciform shaped church constructed of soft gray brick concrete block with brick veneer with details in limestone It is in the late Gothic Revival style The front facade features a set of three double doors flanked by 80 spires terminating in cross gable spires It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 1 St Hedwig s Roman Catholic ChurchU S National Register of Historic PlacesSaint Hedwig s around 1914Show map of DelawareShow map of the United StatesLocationLinden and S Harrison Sts Wilmington DelawareCoordinates39 44 25 N 75 33 58 W 39 74028 N 75 56611 W 39 74028 75 56611Area0 3 acres 0 12 ha Built1904ArchitectBrilmaier A Architectural styleGothic RevivalNRHP reference No 82001024 1 Added to NRHPNovember 12 1982 Contents 1 History 2 Architecture 3 Gallery 4 ReferencesHistory editPolish settlers first began to arrive in Wilmington about 1880 Initially the religious needs of the Catholic immigrants were met by German Benedictines at Sacred Heart Parish on Tenth Street where a separate Mass was said for them starting in 1887 That same year the Poles organized the St Joseph s Society A parish was formed attended by the Benedictines In 1896 upon the recommendation of Archbishop Michael Corrigan of New York Father John S Gulcz was appointed the first resident pastor Gulcz was born in Poznan Poland and came from New York to serve the Polish community of Wilmington He set about organizing the construction of a new church building to replace the small one established by the Benedictines 4 In the early twentieth century the Felician Sisters oversaw the education of over 500 pupils in the parish school 4 In 1956 the parish began the annual May Polish Festival Architecture editThe church was designed by Brilmaier amp Sons of Milwaukee whose work in Brooklyn Gulcz had admired Built in 1904 it is in the late Gothic Revival style The building has a cruciform shape and is constructed of soft gray brick concrete block with brick veneer with details in limestone The front facade features a set of three double doors flanked by 80 spires terminating in cross gable spires The only church in the State of Delaware with twin towers it was upon completion the largest Catholic church in Wilmington 5 Gallery edit nbsp Entrance detail November 2010References edit a b National Register Information System National Register of Historic Places National Park Service March 13 2009 Patricia A Maley March 1982 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination St Hedwig s Roman Catholic Church and Accompanying 22 photos Priscilla M Thompson August 1984 National Register of Historic Places Inventory Nomination Public School No 19 a b Laforte Remigius The Diocese of Wilmington The Catholic Church in the United States of America Undertaken to Celebrate the Golden Jubilee of His Holiness Pope Pius X Volume 3 The Province of Baltimore and the Province of New York New York City The Catholic Editing Company 1914 p 222 About Our Parish St Hedwig Church Wilmington Delaware Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Hedwig 27s Roman Catholic Church amp oldid 1145181439, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
