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St. Thomas of Canterbury Roman Catholic Church

Address

4827 N. Kenmore Ave.

Neighborhood

Uptown

Hours

Sat, Oct 14: 10am - 5pm

Sun, Oct 15: Closed

Photography Permitted

Architect/Year

Joseph W. McCarthy, 1917

Description

St. Thomas of Canterbury stands as the first of three parishes organized by Chicago Archbishop George W. Mundelein. The parish was founded in 1916 at the north end of the “Wilson Avenue District” now known as Uptown. Father Francis O’Brien, the first pastor, set about providing a combination church-school building. Joseph W. McCarthy, one of the most prolific designers of Roman Catholic churches in the United States, was hired to draw up plans for a Neo-Classical structure complete with a colonnade. It was intended as a distinctively American building that symbolizes love of God and love of country. St. Thomas is the sole Catholic Church in Chicago built in this style. Inside the nave, numerous shrines lit through pastel stained-glass windows celebrate the cultural diversity of the neighborhood.

Visitor Experience

Visitors may take self-guided tours of the church interior.