Abandoned churches of Detroit

[Retroit]

That's been my observation as well, Pam. That is why I found the comments of krapug1 and Onthe405 somewhat puzzling. If there are not as many black Catholics as krapug1 thinks there should be, it is probably because when black Americans first converted to Christianity, there were not very many Catholic churches in the south, where most blacks lived. Many blacks you find in Catholic Churches came from the Caribbean, where Catholicism is/was more prevalent. If krapug1 was insinuating that the Catholic Church is racist, how would he explain the Catholic evangelizing efforts in Africa?

As for why aren't there more blacks, gays, divorcées, etc. in the Catholic Church, could it not be because they don't want to be there and not because the Catholic Church does not want them there? Last time I checked, Christ died for all people. At least that's what I hear on Sunday.

And I don't think it is too onerous for a church to have a few basic rites of initiation. Otherwise, what is the purpose of belonging to a church?

Sorry for the treadjack, but I didn't start it.

[Zacha341]

Well stated...

That's been my observation as well, Pam. That is why I found the comments of krapug1 and Onthe405 somewhat puzzling. If there are not as many black Catholics as krapug1 thinks there should be, it is probably because when black Americans first converted to Christianity, there were not very many Catholic churches in the south, where most blacks lived. Many blacks you find in Catholic Churches came from the Caribbean, where Catholicism is/was more prevalent. If krapug1 was insinuating that the Catholic Church is racist, how would he explain the Catholic evangelizing efforts in Africa?

As for why aren't there more blacks, gays, divorcées, etc. in the Catholic Church, could it not be because they don't want to be there and not because the Catholic Church does not want them there? Last time I checked, Christ died for all people. At least that's what I hear on Sunday.

And I don't think it is too onerous for a church to have a few basic rites of initiation. Otherwise, what is the purpose of belonging to a church?

Sorry for the treadjack, but I didn't start it.

[DetroitZack]

Getting back to Detroit's abandoned churches.....
I was in this one a few years ago.

[terryh]

Where was that church Zack? What did you discover in the church?

[DetroitZack]

Where was that church Zack? What did you discover in the church?

This one is at Fischer and Chapin. When I was in it is was pretty trashed unfortunately. I will try to dig up the pictures. It's sad how much stained glass is missing.

[kathy2trips]

Where was that church Zack? What did you discover in the church?

I thought that looked familiar. I've always been fascinated by that church, in my mom's old neighborhood at the corner of Chapin and Fischer. It was formerly St. Thomas Lutheran Church, which is now in Eastpointe. http://www.stl-eastpointe.org/history.html

I'd be very sad, if I belonged to that church.

[detroit48212]

Visit www.forgottendetroit.com, then click the album for saint cyrils. St. Cyril was a large church on St. Cyril street in Zipcode 48213, a street parallel, to Van Dyke, one block west, north of Harper and ended at Grinnell[[about 1/2 mile s of E.McNichols). The Catholic church closed in 1989, relocated in Sterling Heights. The building was sold to two other denominations/congregations prior to it's permanent closing & then eventual demoliton a few years ago. The website I suggest has photos of the enormous beautiful structure in various years of abandonment plus demolition photos.Lots & lots of good photos. I grew up in the area, attended St. Cyril grade & high school & discovered the suggested website while searching for info on the old neighborhood on the internet. The old Eastown theatre, which is still standing, is in the same area as the old St. Cyrils, albeit several blocks southeast but in walking distance. That whole area was a gem in it's day, lots of good retail, everything & anything in walking distance. Too bad so many old neighborhoods like it in Detroit didn't survive and evolve like old suburban neighborhoods such as downtown Royal Oak, Ferndale, even Hamtramck.

[stinkbug]

Visit www.forgottendetroit.com, then click the album for saint cyrils. St. Cyril was a large church on St. Cyril street in Zipcode 48213, a street parallel, to Van Dyke, one block west, north of Harper and ended at Grinnell[[about 1/2 mile s of E.McNichols). The Catholic church closed in 1989, relocated in Sterling Heights. The building was sold to two other denominations/congregations prior to it's permanent closing & then eventual demoliton a few years ago. The website I suggest has photos of the enormous beautiful structure in various years of abandonment plus demolition photos.Lots & lots of good photos. I grew up in the area, attended St. Cyril grade & high school & discovered the suggested website while searching for info on the old neighborhood on the internet. The old Eastown theatre, which is still standing, is in the same area as the old St. Cyrils, albeit several blocks southeast but in walking distance. That whole area was a gem in it's day, lots of good retail, everything & anything in walking distance. Too bad so many old neighborhoods like it in Detroit didn't survive and evolve like old suburban neighborhoods such as downtown Royal Oak, Ferndale, even Hamtramck.

I completely agree with you on that last part.

The question is, what can Detroit still do to make its remaining neighborhoods attractive like RO, Ferndale, and yes, even Hamtramck?

[Zacha341]

Reduce the level of crime and theft will go along way to make Detroit's neighborhoods more attractive. Having your car stolen during service or a dinner [[it happens) or the "thought" of getting mugged is not engaging for visitors/ residents. I live in the city and these issues are a daily matter...

I completely agree with you on that last part.

The question is, what can Detroit still do to make its remaining neighborhoods attractive like RO, Ferndale, and yes, even Hamtramck?

[DetroitZack]

Lets get this thread back on topic guys.

Visit www.forgottendetroit.com, then click the album for saint cyrils. St. Cyril was a large church on St. Cyril street in Zipcode 48213, a street parallel, to Van Dyke, one block west, north of Harper and ended at Grinnell[[about 1/2 mile s of E.McNichols). The Catholic church closed in 1989, relocated in Sterling Heights. The building was sold to two other denominations/congregations prior to it's permanent closing & then eventual demoliton a few years ago. The website I suggest has photos of the enormous beautiful structure in various years of abandonment plus demolition photos.Lots & lots of good photos. I grew up in the area, attended St. Cyril grade & high school & discovered the suggested website while searching for info on the old neighborhood on the internet. The old Eastown theatre, which is still standing, is in the same area as the old St. Cyrils, albeit several blocks southeast but in walking distance. That whole area was a gem in it's day, lots of good retail, everything & anything in walking distance. Too bad so many old neighborhoods like it in Detroit didn't survive and evolve like old suburban neighborhoods such as downtown Royal Oak, Ferndale, even Hamtramck.

Thanks for posting this! And welcome to the forum. I wasn't aware that this church existed, I bet it was pretty nice in its day. It's too bad what happene to it along with the neighborhood.

[kryptonite]

I am a Protestant and to a degree must protest some of the anti-Catholic rhetoric posted. I recall that by 1980 probably 80+% of historically white Protestant churches had already left Detroit for the suburbs. A few Lutheran and Episcopalian churches remained in the neighborhoods and some old Protestant churches Dowtown and Midtown were left operating. The only remaining synagogues in 1980 were Temple Israel in Palmer Park, which closed around mid-1980 [[I could be wrong on the name and the closing date) and the Downtown Synagogue.

And don't overly criticize the congregations that exited the city. I have attended Lutheran churches in Detroit with security guards patroling the parking areas and had a friend who had her car stolen from an east side church parking lot once and the same car broken into and nearly stolen a second time.

There is more to churches leaving Detroit than just racism and population loss. There are many factors involved in the exodus, just as with the population of white, and now black residents leaving the city en masse.
To bash the Detroit archdiocese for closing so many churches is really not fair, the Catholic churches operated in the Detroit neighborhoods long after the Protestant, Orthodox and Jewish congregations left the city.

[stinkbug]

I am a Protestant and to a degree must protest some of the anti-Catholic rhetoric posted. I recall that by 1980 probably 80+% of historically white Protestant churches had already left Detroit for the suburbs. A few Lutheran and Episcopalian churches remained in the neighborhoods and some old Protestant churches Dowtown and Midtown were left operating. The only remaining synagogues in 1980 were Temple Israel in Palmer Park, which closed around mid-1980 [[I could be wrong on the name and the closing date) and the Downtown Synagogue.

And don't overly criticize the congregations that exited the city. I have attended Lutheran churches in Detroit with security guards patroling the parking areas and had a friend who had her car stolen from an east side church parking lot once and the same car broken into and nearly stolen a second time.

There is more to churches leaving Detroit than just racism and population loss. There are many factors involved in the exodus, just as with the population of white, and now black residents leaving the city en masse.
To bash the Detroit archdiocese for closing so many churches is really not fair, the Catholic churches operated in the Detroit neighborhoods long after the Protestant, Orthodox and Jewish congregations left the city.

Excellent post.

[Mackenzie68]

Can anyone tell me what happened to the congregation of Grace Methodist Church? It was on West Chicago just west of Wyoming. There is no clue that it was ever there, but I remember some good times in the sixties.

The other nearby church to me was Ward Memorial Presbyterian on Plymouth Road. I know that they relocated to Livonia and now have a huge campus in Northville. And I found out that they first met in Parker School. I met a man who had the job of helping them set up for Sunday services when he was a boy living on Manor.

[DetroitZack]

Here is the First Unitarian Church at 2870 Woodward [[intersection of Woodward and Edmund). It was built in 1890.



This picture is from 1906. I wonder when the house next to it was demolished.

[Whitehouse]

Here is the First Unitarian Church at 2870 Woodward [[intersection of Woodward and Edmund). It was built in 1890.



This picture is from 1906. I wonder when the house next to it was demolished.

I think the answer is in the church. The church seems to be notably smaller in the current state. There are some windows missing on the side so I expect this chuch suffered the same fate as many other buildings along woodward. Getting smaller in the name of progress. The streets were widened some time ago and I think that house was demolished in the process... If the lines in fromt of the church in the old picture are railtracks then that was the center of the road. Well, judging by the current size of Woodward the church must have been "adjusted" accordingly.

[windsor_shane]

does anyone know where this is?

[ddaydetroit]

Shane that is a great picture what website is that from?

[Lorax]

does anyone know where this is?

That's the former Abyssinian Church on Woodward. I'm sure it's a goner at this point with the weather breaching the interior.

[Whitehouse]

That's the former Abyssinian Church on Woodward. I'm sure it's a goner at this point with the weather breaching the interior.

It's got a wiki.

The exterior looks in a really good shape if you ask me.

And about the First Unitarian Church at 2870 Woodward, posted above, the remodelling happened in 1936. So that could be also the year in which the house next door disappeared.

[Zacha341]

Yeah, I've walked up to this church. The brick and stone work is exquisite! Too bad it is abandoned. I wonder how these churches are heated. Probably out of date expensive coal converted furnaces.....

Here is the First Unitarian Church at 2870 Woodward [[intersection of Woodward and Edmund). It was built in 1890.



This picture is from 1906. I wonder when the house next to it was demolished.

[JLeurck]

Anyone have any background on this big church at 12th and Webb? I know it is the former Visitation Parish RC church, and that the Archdiocese closed back in '89, but nothing else of its history. Did any other denomination try to make a go of it, or has it sat there totally abandoned for the last 20 years? I imagine there was a school at one time to the left of the church. Looks huge. Is this anyone's old parish?

[Ocean2026]

Lorax is correct- there are more interior pics from that church linked on this thread. Is it a goner? Has anyone gone inside? What neighborhood would that be?

[windsor_shane]

this is the site i got it from.

http://www.opacity.us/

[Pam]

For anyone who wants to go look at some of the many churches that are still open:

http://www.detroithistorical.org/mai...ic_houses.aspx

http://detroit1701.org/Religion.htm

http://aodonline.org/AODOnline/Paris...=SearchOptions

[DetroitZack]

Thanks for posting that, Pam. I've always loved that detroit1701 website. This kinda gives me an idea for a new thread. Churches currently in use, I go have exterior AND interior photos. What do you all think?