Missoula in Missoula County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)
St. Francis Xavier Church
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 21, 2019
1. St. Francis Xavier Church Marker
Inscription.
St. Francis Xavier Church. . Jesuits arrived in the Missoula Valley in 1841 en route to the Bitterroot, where they established the first Catholic mission in the Rocky Mountains. In 1873, they opened a chapel in Missoula, building the first St. Francis Xavier Church in 1881. Father Diomedi, S.J., who oversaw many major building projects during his career, arrived at St. Francis Xavier in 1888. Described as the sort of man “who sows in whirlwinds and reaps in tornados,” he quickly recognized the need for a larger church. Father Diomedi hired a Portland architect, Mr. Blanchard, to furnish the plans and Missoula contractor Patrick Walsh to oversee construction. Designed to hold 600 people in the sanctuary and another 150 in the choir loft, the 1892 brick edifice was then Montana’s largest church. The cruciform church reflects the Romanesque Revival style, displaying semicircular arches over windows and doors, miniature arches along the eaveline, small buttresses, and a soaring bell tower. The Romanesque Revival style provides large interior expanses, making it particularly suitable for murals. Jesuit lay brother Joseph Carignano (1853-1919), who also painted the frescoes at St. Ignatius Mission, decorated the interior. Painters of the Italian Renaissance greatly influenced the Turin, Italy, native, who employed many of the same devices used by early Renaissance artists: feathery trees, oval female faces, classical costumes, and painted pilasters. Decorative stained glass, a magnificent pipe organ, and a 2,270 pound church bell, dedicated to Jesuit missionary Father Lawrence Palladino, complete the interior.
Jesuits arrived in the Missoula Valley in 1841 en route to the Bitterroot, where they established the first Catholic mission in the Rocky Mountains. In 1873, they opened a chapel in Missoula, building the first St. Francis Xavier Church in 1881. Father Diomedi, S.J.—who oversaw many major building projects during his career—arrived at St. Francis Xavier in 1888. Described as the sort of man “who sows in whirlwinds and reaps in tornados,” he quickly recognized the need for a larger church. Father Diomedi hired a Portland architect, Mr. Blanchard, to furnish the plans and Missoula contractor Patrick Walsh to oversee construction. Designed to hold 600 people in the sanctuary and another 150 in the choir loft, the 1892 brick edifice was then Montana’s largest church. The cruciform church reflects the Romanesque Revival style, displaying semicircular arches over windows and doors, miniature arches along the eaveline, small buttresses, and a soaring bell tower. The Romanesque Revival style provides large interior expanses, making it particularly suitable for murals. Jesuit lay brother Joseph Carignano (1853-1919), who also painted the frescoes at St. Ignatius Mission, decorated the interior. Painters of the Italian Renaissance greatly influenced the Turin, Italy, native, who employed many of the same devices used by early Renaissance artists: feathery trees, oval female faces, classical costumes, and painted pilasters. Decorative stained glass, a magnificent pipe organ, and a 2,270 pound church
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bell, dedicated to Jesuit missionary Father Lawrence Palladino, complete the interior.
Location. 46° 52.483′ N, 113° 59.881′ W. Marker is in Missoula, Montana, in Missoula County. Marker is at the intersection of West Pine Street and North Orange Street on West Pine Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 410 West Pine Street, Missoula MT 59802, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Postcard published by the Post Card Co., Spokane, circa 1908
4. Boys School, Academy, Rectory, St. Francis Church, Missoula, Montana
Credits. This page was last revised on December 19, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 14, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 153 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on January 14, 2020, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 4. submitted on January 14, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.