St. Joseph Church (Danbury, Connecticut)
St. Joseph is a Roman Catholic church in Danbury, Connecticut, part of the Diocese of Bridgeport.
St. Joseph Church | |
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Location | 8 Robinson Ave Danbury, Connecticut |
Country | United States |
Denomination | Roman Catholic |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Dwyer and McMahon |
Administration | |
Diocese | Bridgeport |
Province | Hartford |
Clergy | |
Bishop(s) | Most Reverend Frank J. Caggiano |
Vicar(s) | Reverend David W. Franklin |
Pastor(s) | Reverend Samuel V. Scott |
Deacon(s) | Deacon Donald Naiman, Ed.D. |
History
In the 1850s the only Catholic parish in Danbury was St. Peter's. In 1870, the Church of St. Peter, a large Gothic revival building was erected on South Main St,[1] about a half mile from the present St. Joseph Church .
Over the next 50 years Danbury's Catholic population had increased to the point where St. Peter Church was not large enough to accommodate the number of faithful wishing to attend mass. In 1905, Bishop Michael Tierney of Hartford established St. Joseph Parish to help with the overcrowding. Fr. John D. Kennedy was the first pastor.[2]
Saint Joseph Parish School was opened on September 7, 1924,[2] and staffed by seven Sisters of Mercy. As of 1975, the school has operated with a lay staff.[3]
The McGivney Council No. 29 of the Knights of Columbus is based at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Its territory covers eight Catholic parishes in the Danbury area.[4]
Architecture
The substantial Romanesque Revival-style church is located in Downtown Danbury. It was designed by the noted church architects Dwyer and McMahon of Hartford, Connecticut. A rose window in the east façade depicts St. Cecilia, patron of music. The window is twelve feet in diameter and directly above the triple arched entrance.[5]
General information | |
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Architectural style | Romanesque Revival |
Town or city | Danbury, Connecticut |
Country | United States of America |
Client | The Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgeport |
Design and construction | |
Architect | Dwyer & McMahon of Hartford, Connecticut |
Music
St. Joseph is home to an Austin Organ, opus 2176, two manuals and 30 ranks.
References
- Lynch, Henry J., "St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church", History of Danbury, Conn., 1684-1896, (James Montgomery Bailey, ed.), Danbury. Burr printing house, 1896, p. 327 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- "Parish History", St. Joseph Church, Danbury
- "History", Saint Joseph School, Danbury
- Knights of Columbus Council 29, Danbury, CT
- Fertitta, Robert. "St. Joseph Church, Danbury, CT", Gallery of Stained Glass