The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1908-04-03
LOCAL CATHOLIC CHURCH
IS A VERY FINE EDIFICE

The members of the st. Phillip.
congregation are pardonably prouc
of the fine Catholic church which
was recently dedicated in this city
with appropriate ceremonies. The
church is undoubtedly one of the
best religious edifces in this part Of
the state and is splendid addition
to the many fine structures in this
city.
The history of the Catholic
church in Bemidji commences
almost with the organization of the
village, and antedates the advent of
the railroad, by nearly two years.
Rev. Father Murphy, who was
stationed at Crookston, made oc-
casional visits to Bemidji in 1897,
and held services wherever a suit
able place could be found, in pri-
vate houses, store buildings, and
occasionally, over the present store
building of Charles Nangle.
In 1898 the erection of the build
ing on West Third street, now used
as an auxiliary school building, was
commenced, and completed the fol-
lowing year, and was named St.
Philips church. The lumber was
donated and enough cash was raised
to buy the furnishings, the chief
contributors among the few Catholic
families being Nangle, Thome,
O'Leary, Meyer, Doran and Nc
Lernan. The non-Catholic citizens
were then, as later, liberal contrlbu-
tors.
As Bemidji increased in popula-
ton, the congregation grew rapidly,
and in the spring of 1905, it was de-
cided to sell the church building and
site and erect new structure in a
more central location, and site was
secured on the corner of Seventh
street and Beltrami, facing the court
house square, 75x15o feet, one of the
most beautiful church sites in the
city. The Townsite company gener-
ously donated one lot, Messrs.
Thome and Mayer another, and the
third was purchased.
Father O'Dwyer suce eeded Father
Murphy as pastor in the fall of 1905,
and immediate steps we're taken
looking to the erection of church
building in keeping with the increas-
ing wealth of the parish and the
reputation of Bemidji as thriving,
hustling city.
Excavating was commenced in
October, 1906, and the foundation
was completed before cold weather.
In the spring of 1907, work was
commenced on the super-structure,
and the church was completed and
ready for occupancy October 18th.
The building is handsome
Gothic structure 42x80 feet, built
Of Twin City pressed brick, backed
with thing and cut stone trimmings,
surmounted by tower IFS feet
high from the sidewalk to the top
of the Cross.
The windows, fourteen in num-
Der, are beautiful Cathedral glass,
one in front and one behind the
altar, being magnificent works of art
and are 6x2O feet in size. The
windows were donated by members
of the congregation and by the
Ladies Aid, and too much credit
cannot be given the latter organi-
cation for it's noble work for the
church.
The interior is furnished in a
style in keeping with the beauty of
the interior. The seats are oak,
beautifully carved, as is also the
altar rail. The high altar is work
of art and must be seen to be fully
appreciated. It was built by A. F.
Panchot, one of the best altar build
ers in the west. The seating capac-
ity is 500, including the gallery,
which is separated from the choir
loft, the latter being an entirely new
feature in church architecture.
No little credit is due to the build
ing committee which had the work
in charge, consisting of Messrs.
O'Leary, Gould, Russell, Decaire,
Danaher and Tuomy; and to the
trustees, Messrs. O'Leary and
T'home. To Father O'Dywer, how.
ever, belongs the great credit fol