The Detroit News
(TNS)
Detroit officials are investigating what sparked a fire that burned through a historic, century-old church building for more than four hours Tuesday.
The Detroit Fire Department received a call at 12:34 a.m. about a blaze at the site of the former St. Agnes Catholic Church, at the corner of Rosa Parks and LaSalle Gardens, said Corey McIsaac, the DFD director of media relations.
Within four minutes, the department was at the scene and Fire Chief David Nelson called a second alarm, activating more crews, McIsaac said.
While they managed to preserve the "structural integrity" of the vacant building, she added, its old rectory next door was rendered a total loss.
Due to the condition of the building, firefighters were not able to get inside, McIsaac said. "They did an awesome job, and due to their hard work and great work, they were able to preserve the structure of the church building."
There were no injuries to residents or firefighters Tuesday night, according to the department.
The St. Agnes Catholic Church has long been considered a community landmark, drawing figures such as Mother Teresa, who visited the building twice, once in June 1979 and once June 1981, and established a convent for the Missionaries of Charity Sisters at 1969 LaSalle Gardens, according to the Archdiocese of Detroit.
The St. Agnes Parish was established in 1913 by Bishop John Foley and the spot celebrated its first Mass in 1914 in a frame house a few blocks away from the current site. Construction on the 1,500-seat site designed by the firm Van Leyen, Schilling, Keough & Reynolds started in May 1922, according to the archdiocese.
The church was blessed in June 1924 in a ceremony led by Bishop Michael J. Gallagher. St. Agnes Parish was closed in 1989 and the Martyrs of Uganda Parish was established at the site that year, the AOD said.
The Martyrs of Uganda Parish was closed in 2006, and the property was sold in 2009.
Holly Fournier, the AOD's media and public relations manager, told The Detroit News: "The Archdiocese of Detroit has had no connection to the property since then and has no information about current ownership or plans for the site."
In 2022, the Detroit City Planning Commission approved a recommendation to the City Council to approve a rezoning request to redevelop the 5-acre site, according to Historic Detroit.
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