| St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church and Rectory | |
| Location: | 8363-8383 Townsend Avenue Detroit, Michigan |
| Coordinates: | 42.39°N -83.0244°W |
| Mapframe: | yes |
| Mapframe-Marker: | building |
| Mapframe-Zoom: | 12 |
| Mapframe-Caption: | Interactive map |
| Built: | 1923 |
| Demolished: | January 1992 |
| Delisted: | July 24, 2024 |
| Architect: | Van Leyen, Schilling & Keough |
| Architecture: | Late 19th and 20th century revival |
| Added: | June 29, 1989 |
| Refnum: | 89000785 |
St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church was a church located at 8363 and 8383 Townsend Avenue in Detroit, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989, but was subsequently demolished.[1] and removed from the National Register of Historic Places in 2024.[2]
St. Thomas the Apostle Parish was a Polish-American Roman Catholic parish founded in 1914, at the eastern edge of the east side Polish neighborhoods of Detroit.[1] A church was constructed in 1923, and the parish had both a grade school and a high school.[1] The parish was one of the first to experience changes in population, as the original Polish residents began moving out in the mid-20th century. The parish was closed in 1989,[1] and the church demolished in 1993.[3]
The school currently serves as St. Thomas Assessment Center for troubled youths.[4]
The parish complex at St. Thomas the Apostle comprised six buildings, including the church, rectory, school, and convent.[5]
The church was essentially of Romanesque design, with some Art Deco aspects. It was built of brick laid over Dennison interlocking tile, sitting atop a limestone base. The building was trimmed with limestone and Tuscan glazed faience in various colors.[5] The facade was a series of gable-roof blocks, roofed with Spanish tile. The primary entrance was through a central, side-gable block, sized to match the nave.[5] The entrance was recessed into the center of a projecting porch and surrounded by columned arches. A massive Eucharistic relief was set high in the center of the facade.[5] The church boasted a wealth of decorative art, including stained glass and bronze works.[5]
The rectory was a large, two-story building with a dormer-attic.[5]