Historic Detroit

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St. Aloysius Catholic Church - Photos

St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church is unique among Detroit churches in a few ways.

Its ornate front facade is sandwiched between two buildings on Washington Blvd.

Its most unique feature is the three-level sanctuary

A large semicircular "well" in the main floor allows everyone seated on the lower level to see the priest and the main altar.

The old church only seated 728 people but with the new three-level design it was able to seat about 2,100 people

The church's three entrances have solid bronze doors with sculpted tympana.

A tympan can be see above each of the entrance doors, depicting the Creation, the Crucification and the Pentecost. This image shows the Creation.

A tympan can be see above each of the entrance doors, depicting the Creation, the Crucification and the Pentecost. This image shows the Crucification above the left entrance door, with the frieze underneath showing devotional worshipers.

A tympan can be see above each of the entrance doors, depicting the Creation, the Crucification and the Pentecost. This image shows the Pentecost.

The twelve apostles, most holding symbols of their martyrdom, stand in their niches above each side door - all behind pigeon-proof screens.

Six apostles above the right side entrance door.

Front facade detail

Symbols of three of the evangelists, here the ox of Saint Luke

Symbols of three of the evangelists, here the lion of Saint Mark

Symbols of three of the evangelists, here the eagle of Saint John

Detail shot of church patriarchs from two of the doorway arch capitals

Detail shot of church patriarchs from two of the doorway arch capitals

A rooftop angel points to a scroll of Divine Law

Another rooftop angel pointing to a scroll of Divine Law on the left side of the roof with the David Stott building in the background.

The cross high above the main entrance as seen with a telephoto lens

The cross, high above the main entrance, looked at from a different angle