Manchester in Washtenaw County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Saint Mary Church

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, March 3, 2021

1. Saint Mary Church Marker

Inscription. The first Catholic church in the Manchester area was built by German settlers in Freedom Township in 1839 and dedicated to Saint Francis de Borgia. In 1863, Father Edward Van Lauwe was appointed pastor of Saint Dominic in Clinton, and Manchester was one of his missions. In 1870 thirty-five Irish families built the Church of the Assumption on Macomb Street in Manchester. Father Edwin Fisher, pastor of Clinton and its missions, became resident pastor at Manchester in 1909. In 1911 local craftsmen built this Neo-Gothic-inspired church from fieldstones collected by farmers and salvaged from the foundation of the hotel that had stood on the site. It was dedicated in January 1912. Father Fisher designed the church and erected similar fieldstone churches at his missions in Blissfield, Tecumseh and Brooklyn.

Erected 1992 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1830.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Religion & Religious Structures • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1912.

Location. 42° 8.931′ N, 84° 2.546′ W. Marker is in Manchester, Michigan, in Washtenaw County

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

. It is at the intersection of West Main Street and Macomb Street, on the right when traveling west on West Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 210 W Main St, Manchester MI 48158, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Michigan

and in Greater Detroit.

It is also in the American Midwest

and on the Great Lakes.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Veteran's Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Manchester Township Library / James A. Lynch House (within shouting distance of this marker); George Washington (within shouting distance of this marker); Manchester's Village Green (within shouting distance of this marker); The German Church (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Founding Members of Immanuel United Evangelical Church (about 300 feet away); Manchester's Old Burying Ground (about 600 feet away); Fountain-Bessac House (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Manchester.

Also see . . . Our Parish: Pictures & History. A detailed history that was prepared for designation of St. Mary’s Church as a Michigan historic site in 1992.

"The stones were hauled up the wall by a gin-pole assembly. This involved a horse pulling a rope over a pulley mounted on a pole, down to a wheelbarrow loaded with stone, thus raising the stone to the level of the stone mason’s work."

(Submitted on April 1, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan.)

Saint Mary Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, March 25, 2021

2. Saint Mary Church

Above front entrance

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, March 3, 2021

3. Saint Mary Church

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, March 3, 2021

4. Saint Mary Church

Detail of the fieldstone used to construct church discussed on the marker

Stained glass window image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, March 3, 2021

5. Stained glass window

Each window contains a different emblem and inscription, and is equipped with a revolving ventilator

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, March 3, 2021

6. Saint Mary Church

East side of church showing stained glass and fieldstone

Photographed by Joel Seewald, September 4, 2022

7. Saint Mary Church

West side of the church.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 22, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 1, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 504 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on April 1, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. 7. submitted on September 10, 2022, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.