Tempe in Maricopa County, Arizona — The American Mountains (Southwest)

"The Old Church"

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 24, 2011

1. "The Old Church" Marker

Inscription.
Built in 1903 with stone from Tempe Butte and dedicated to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, this church is the oldest in the valley.

For decades it was the only Catholic Church in the area and former Pastors include Bishop James Davis of Santa Fe and Bishop Francis Green of Tucson. It is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

United States Department of the Interior

1980

Erected 1980.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1903.

Location. 33° 25.328′ N, 111° 56.111′ W. Marker is in Tempe, Arizona, in Maricopa County. It is at the intersection of East University Drive and South College Avenue, on the right when traveling west on East University Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 230 East University Drive, Tempe AZ 85281, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Arizona’s Sonoran Desert,

in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area,

and in the Tohono O’odham Nation.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Gadsden Purchase,

and Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Site of Krause Hall (approx. 0.2 miles away); Tempe Hardware Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Site of Goodwin Stadium 1936-1978 (approx. 0.4 miles away); Tempe Bakery/Hackett House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Farmer - Goodwin Mansion (approx. half

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a mile away); Hayden House (approx. 0.6 miles away); Site of Hayden's Ferry (approx. 0.6 miles away); Sallie D. Hayden (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tempe.

Also see . . . Mary College at Arizona State University. University of Mary website homepage (Submitted on December 1, 2019.)

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 24, 2011

2. "The Old Church" Marker

"The Old Church" image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 24, 2011

3. "The Old Church"

Credits. This page was last revised on December 1, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 27, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,051 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 27, 2011, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.