Encyclopedia Of Detroit
St. Hedwig Catholic Church
St. Francis D’Assisi Church was the only Catholic church in southwest Detroit prior to 1903. Another church was needed to service the large number of immigrants from southern Poland. In June 1903, 12 lots were purchased on Junction Avenue between Norton and Rollins Streets to build a church and school. The firm of Kastler and Hunter was chosen as architects for the new buildings. The cornerstone of the church was consecrated in December 1903 and the first services were held in December 1904.
With continued Polish immigration, St. Hedwig’s church and school became too small. In 1911, architect Harry J. Rill designed plans for a new church and a residence with enough space to house 30 Felician Sisters. Construction of a new church building began in 1911, but due to financial constraints only the basement or “Lower Chapel” was finished for the first Mass on November 12. The congregation celebrated Mass in a fully completed church on Thanksgiving Day, November 30, 1916. Later, the parish established a large elementary school followed by a high school. A decrease in enrollment necessitated the closure of the high school in 1990, followed by the closure of the elementary school in 1995.
The interior architecture is all faux marble. In 1917, the Votteler-Holtkamp-Sparling Organ Company of Cleveland, Ohio completed the installation of the pipe organ. The Daprato Statuary Company of Detroit designed the high altar. St. Hedwig and Saints Peter and Paul are featured on the upper tier, the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, on the middle tier, and the tabernacle and lighted angels on the lower tier. At the base is a rendition of the Last Supper. Daprato was also responsible for the side altars, the Stations of the Cross and installation of the stained glass windows. To comply with Vatican II changes, a new marble altar and lectern were installed and consecrated on November 11, 1978. They were designed by Angelo Lanzini of California and made in Italy.
St. Hedwig and St. Francis D’Assisi merged on July 1, 2013 to form St. Francis and St. Hedwig Parish, Detroit.
RELATED ITEMS IN THE COLLECTION
