St. Aloysius Catholic Church
1234 Washington Boulevard
Detroit, MI 48226
St. Aloysius is a Roman Catholic Church located in central Downtown Detroit about 1/4 mile walk west of Campus Martius Park. The current church is the second building located at this site. The first structure was originally the Westminster Presbyterian Church which had its first service in 1861.
In 1873, the Archdiocese of Detroit bought the
church, renamed it St. Aloysius, and held the first service on August 23rd of
the same year. Then in April 1930 the
original structure was razed and a new church was constructed. The first service of the new church was held
four months later.
The current
church is built of solid granite combines Italian and French Romanesque
architecture. Its location is unique in
that it is between two large multistory buildings that tend to dwarf the
church.
Inside, in
front of the main alter is a 'Well' which is similar to older European
churches, at least the ones I have visited in Italy and southern Germany.
Typically there are tombs and/or a grotto in the Well. I don't believe there are any tombs located
in St. Aloysius's Well.
Seating is on
the smaller size compared to the other Churches in Detroit due to the Well and
that the alter used for masses is located in front of the Well. However, a cool piece of architecture is that
there is an upper balcony that runs along both sides of the church as well as
the back choir/organ area.
If one wants
to check out this excellent example of neo Romanesque architecture, St.
Aloysius has masses at 4:00 PM on Saturdays and 11:30 AM on Sundays.
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