“Our Lady of the Freeway” some locals call her. This nickname arose because the I-94 freeway service drive replaced Medbury Street, which originally ran along the south side of the Blessed Virgin Mary Statue.
Welcome. We are standing before Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Detroit. This Roman Catholic church has a captivating story. It involves a transformation and a gilded statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Originally, this wasn’t a Catholic church at all. From 1893 to 1896, it was built as St. Joseph’s Memorial Episcopal Church. Mrs. L.R. Medbury provided the funds to erect the church. Malcomson & Higginbotham designed it.
However, in 1906, St. Joseph’s congregation merged with St. Paul’s Cathedral. The building was sold to Father Francis J. VanAntwerp in 1907. Our Lady of the Rosary Roman Catholic Church was then established.
The new congregation made some changes. They extended the nave and added something quite striking. They added an oversized gilded statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It sits atop the south tower’s hipped roof.
The church itself is a massive rock-faced sandstone structure. Its architectural style is Romanesque Revival. The facade features two towers. A tall, square, pyramid-roofed tower stands to the south. A round, conical-roofed tower rises on the north.
Between the towers, the entrance leads into a one-story vestibule. Above the vestibule, a large rose window adds to the church’s beauty.
William Worden, a respected authority on Detroit’s architectural history, noted the church’s floor plan. Originally, it had a Greek cross floor plan with equal arms. The addition made it a Latin cross plan. Unusually, the long arm of the cross has the altar at its end.
The gilded statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary is an eye-catching feature. It proudly proclaims the church’s Catholic identity.
In 2021, the church became the location of Detroit Catholic Campus Ministry. It serves students from several area colleges. These include Wayne State University and the College for Creative Studies.
Our Lady of the Rosary Church joined the National Register of Historic Places on August 3, 1982. This recognizes its historical and architectural significance. Although the interior has been altered over the years, the church retains its stained glass and exterior charm.
So, as you stand before this impressive structure, remember its history. From an Episcopal church to Our Lady of the Rosary. Remember the gilded statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary watching over the city. It stands as a testament to faith and transformation.