Although the skyline of the city has changed with the competition to build the tallest building in Grand Rapids, one item remains the same – the many steeples of the churches that are the foundation of our ancestors who settled along the banks of the Grand River.
Each of these represents our past and the immigrants that settled in our area to give Grand Rapids the nickname “Furniture City”.
In this series you will follow the Steeple Chase throughout this great city and view the awe inspiring architecture of our forefathers. The distinct architectural styles represent the great churches of Europe from which these immigrants fled to find a new life in the United States.
This is not meant to promote any one religion, but to show how all have blended together within the City of Grand Rapids to make this one great place to live.
St. Mary’s
To meet the needs of the growing German population of Grand Rapids, St. Mary’s parish was established in 1857. The current Gothic-style church, with its 200 feet tall steeple which is easily seen from US-131, was erected in 1873.
Made with white bricks and sandstone trimmings imported from Ionia, Michigan, the interior of the church still reflects the original details – predominant pillars capped with fleur de lis and olive leaf designs and numerous stained glass windows. In addition to the architectural features, the church also houses several historic statues of interest.
The church is also home to an E. M. Skinner electro-pneumatic pipe organ which was donated to the church during the late 1920’s. The Opus 686 contains 1,476 pipes ranging in size from 20” in diameter and 16’ tall to ¼’ in diameter and under an inch tall.
(source: http://stmarygr.org/index.htm)