Old Fourth Ward in Ann Arbor in Washtenaw County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

St. Thomas the Apostle Church

Photographed by Joel S., January 12, 2012

1. St. Thomas the Apostle Church Marker

Inscription. In 1831 Father Patrick O'Kelly came from Detroit to minister to the Irish Catholics in the Washtenaw area. He offered his first mass in Ann Arbor on July 12, 1835, in a home located on land bounded by Detroit, Kingsley and Fifth Streets. St. Thomas parish took more permanent form in 1840, when under the leadership of Father Thomas Cullen it purchased land on Kingsley Street near Division Street and built Ann Arbor's first brick church. It established a parochial school in 1868. The church site was purchased in 1883. The present church, begun in 1896 under Father Edward D. Kelly, was dedicated in 1899. Its granite field stone and Bailey bluestone were donated and hauled to the site by parishioners and area farmers. The first hospital to serve the community and two additional Ann Arbor Catholic parishes emerged from St. Thomas parish.

Erected 1985 by Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L1181.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1901.

Location. 42° 17.087′ N,

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83° 44.498′ W. Marker is in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in Washtenaw County. It is in the Old Fourth Ward. It is at the intersection of East Kingsley Street and Elizabeth Street, on the left when traveling east on East Kingsley Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 530 Elizabeth Street, Ann Arbor MI 48104, 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.

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: St. Andrew´s Episcopal Church (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Michigan Central Railroad Depot (approx. 0.2 miles away); Schools and Churches (approx. ¼ mile away); Harris Hall (approx. ¼ mile away); Carnegie Library (approx. ¼ mile away); From Industry to Parks (approx. ¼ mile away); The Agricultural Works and Lower Town (approx. ¼ mile away); Early Power and Transportation

St. Thomas the Apostle Church with marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel S., January 12, 2012

2. St. Thomas the Apostle Church with marker

(approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ann Arbor.

St. Thomas the Apostle Church image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Joel S., January 12, 2012

3. St. Thomas the Apostle Church

Photographed by Joel S., January 12, 2012

4. St. Thomas the Apostle Church

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2012, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 1,138 times since then and 60 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on January 17, 2012, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.