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 From the Ashes - Butte, MT Posted by:  T0SHEA
N 46° 01.019 W 112° 32.157
12T E 381104 N 5097081
From 1933 until 1978 St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church was the major church of the Irish community in Butte. This marker is mounted at the corner of East Gagnon and North Main Streets, off to the side of the church.
Waymark Code: WMWF6Y
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 08/26/2017
Views: 1
Built in 1931-32-33, St. Mary's replaced the earlier wood framed church which burned in August of 1931. Built entirely of brick on a concrete foundation, the façade would be perfectly symmetrical were it not for the large square bell tower/steeple on the northwest corner. The building has all Roman arched windows on the façade and down the sides of the sanctuary, with the exception of a large round window centered above the entry, also with a Roman arched transom filled with stained glass. Windows and belfry vents are also Roman arched to match those of the rest of the building. Brick corbelling and various patterns of multi colored brick help to emphasize the church's facade and make it stand out from its contemporaries on the block.
Further information, below, is from the historical marker at the church.
FROM THE ASHES
CHURCH REBUILT
The building across the street is the second St. Mary's Church. The first burned on Aug. 31, 1931. Bishop George Finnegan came from Helena the same day, conferred with pastor Father James Nolan and other church authorities and authorized construction of a new church, immediately commissioning an architect. Volunteers accomplished a majority of work on the new church. After putting in their shifts in the mines, the men of the parish donated many hours every day to the church's construction. The basement and outer contours of the church were completed for the laying of the cornerstone in less than four months. Masses and other church functions were held in the basement of the church for the next year and a half. The first Mass in the completed church occurred May 21, 1933.
LIFE'S TRANSITIONS
St. Mary's Church served parishioners through a lifetime of transitions - Baptism, Confession, Communion, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Matrimony, and funeral Mass. The church remains in the hearts of those who worshipped there. St. Mary's Parish was combined with St. Lawrence O'Toole Parish in 1978. The Diocese of Helena closed both churches in 1986. The final Mass at St. Mary's was said on June 29, 1986.
From the Historical Marker
Describe the area and history:
The church, though no longer in use as a church, is home to the headquarters of Our Lady of the Rockies Foundation.
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