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.
St. Thomas the Apostle Church. . 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.
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: Churches & Religion. 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, 83° 44.498′ W. Marker is in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in Washtenaw County. It is in the
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Old Fourth Ward. Marker 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.
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 704 times since then and 21 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.
