St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church Doorway - Spokane, WA
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T0SHEA
N 47° 41.562 W 117° 24.046
11T E 469927 N 5282223
This large Catholic Church, in the central area of north Spokane, is one of the newer Roman Catholic Churches in Spokane, having been completed in 1950.
Waymark Code: WMJQ0H
Location: Washington, United States
Date Posted: 12/15/2013
Views: 1
Founded in 1906 as a Jesuit parish, the first parish church, located at the corner of Byrne Avenue and Standard Street, opened in November of that year, with the first Mass being celebrated on November 25, 1906. In 1918 land for a new church was acquired at the corner of Standard and Providence streets. Lack of funds, then the Great Depression, then World War II delayed construction until 1949. In that year the cornerstone for this church was finally laid by Bishop Charles White, with construction being completed in 1950.
This is actually the secondary entrance to the sanctuary, but is much more attractive than are the primary doors. Recessed within a portico with a shallow arched entryway, the doors themselves are of oak slabs, each supported by three very long strap hinges. Above the doors is a stone header with bas-relief floral designs carved into it. The portico is topped with a carved stone cornice with an Episcopal Shield below.
This large red brick church has walls almost twenty feet high, the roof rising another twenty feet to its peak. At the southeast corner of the sanctuary is a very large square steeple of the same red brick. It has angled corners and rises about thirty five feet to a somewhat smaller brick buttressed octagonal stone bell tower, another twenty or so feet tall. Its flat top is surmounted by a Celtic style cross. A covered brick walkway connects the church to the adjacent rectory.