The east side was once a Catholic stronghold, and St. Elizabeth's was one of a number of churches that popped up in the late 19th and early 20th centuries to serve the faithful.

St. Elizabeth's Parish was organized in 1884 after the Rev. Anton Svensson, assistant pastor at St. Joseph's, was designated to lead the new congregation by the Rt. Rev. Caspar Borgess, bishop of the diocese. Work began right away to raise funds to erect a church to serve the newly founded congregation on land donated by Fannie Van Dyke. This first church was dedicated June 21, 1885, at East Canfield and McDougall streets.

In 1890, the parish had grown to more than 400 families, and had outgrown the church. During a meeting of the congregation on July 27, 1890, it was decided by a unanimous vote to build a new church next to the old at a cost of $30,000, or about $1.1 million in 2025, when adjusted for inflation.

Ground was broken for the new St. Elizabeth Catholic Church on March 30, 1891. Designed by Donaldson & Meier, its cornerstone was laid on May 3, 1891, by the Rev. Bishop John S. Foley. It would be dedicated on Feb. 14, 1892.

The building is built of plain and molded pressed red brick with dark buff sandstone trimmings. The front of the church, facing west on McDougall, features twin towers on either side. The 50-by-90-foot auditorium is vaulted and flanked by 36-by-70-foot transepts. It features massive polished columns 19 feet high, and the sanctuary reaches a peak of 37 feet above the floor.

The vaulting of the nave and transept is groined in full bays, the side walls pierced with deep circular arches, connecting the same with barrel vaults springing from pillar to pillar over the aisles. These barrel vaults are set transversely of the building, forming deep niches for beautiful, rich stained-glass windows. The stained glass was donated by various societies and members of the parish.

Much of its surrounding neighborhood has struggled for decades, and most of the Catholic families moved out long ago. The aging building suffered significant water damage, peeling paint and other wear and tear that its paltry collection boxes struggled to keep up with. Nevertheless, the parish remained open, serving families in the community and beyond.

In early 2026, however, it was announced that the church would be closed and merged with the Nativity of Our Lord at 5900 McClellan in Detroit. The final Mass at St. Elizabeth was to be celebrated Feb. 22, 2026.