When it comes to finding a place of worship, we look for a chapel that’s rich in history and tradition, a place that has stood the test of time and has served the community for generations.
In Michigan, we’ve got one very special place that has been serving Michiganders as far back as 1701. We’re talking about Ste. Anne de Detroit off Fort Street, near the Detroit River in the city of Detroit. Founded July 26, 1701, the parish of Ste. Anne de Detroit is the oldest Catholic church in the state.
Here, let’s learn some more.
Records for baptisms, marriages, and deaths at Ste. Anne’s date back to 1704, a year after the original building was destroyed by a fire.
David Silverman/Flickr
That makes the parish the second oldest in the entire United States.
Andrea_44/Flickr
From 1833 to 1844, Ste. Anne’s was the Cathedral Church for the Diocese of Michigan and all of the Northwest.
GollyGforce - Living My Worst Nightmare/Flickr
The church also boasts the oldest stained glass in Detroit.
By Andrew Jameson - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Today, we know the church for its soaring vaulted ceiling designed in the Gothic-Revival style. That building dates back to 1887.
By Nheyob - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
Pretty awe-inspiring, isn’t it? And to think, Ste. Anne’s is right here in our own back yard. Tell us, have you been? And what are some of your favorite memories here?
David Silverman/Flickr
Andrea_44/Flickr
GollyGforce - Living My Worst Nightmare/Flickr
By Andrew Jameson - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
By Nheyob - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
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