ST. MARY'S ITALIAN CHURCH
Summary
St. Mary’s Italian Church, built in 1925, was at the heart of Salem’s Italian American community for most of the 20th century. The church was placed on the Most Endangered List in 2003, when the Archdiocese of Boston closed it. In 2009 a threat arose when the owners proposed creating housing in the church that would have required the removal of the interior features. Community efforts curtailed that attempt. However in Spring of 2012 the church was sold and the new owners removed or demolished all interior historic fabric. Both the building and the adjacent historic landscape are areas of concern. It is currently considered Endangered.
St. Mary’s Italian Church, built in 1925, was at the heart of Salem’s Italian American community for most of the 20th century. The church was placed on the Most Endangered List in 2003, when the Archdiocese of Boston closed it. In 2009 a threat arose when the owners proposed creating housing in the church that would have required the removal of the interior features. Community efforts curtailed that attempt. However in Spring of 2012 the church was sold and the new owners removed or demolished all interior historic fabric. Both the building and the adjacent historic landscape are areas of concern. It is currently considered Endangered.
History and Significance
St. Mary’s Italian Church on Margin Street in Salem was completed in 1925, and is said to be modeled after the Church of Santa Chiara in Assisi, Italy. Until early 2012, its elaborate interior boasted significant architectural features including stained glass and ecclesiastical fixtures, as well as paintings completed in 1950 by Professor Mose Franceschi of Florence, Italy. In addition to its architectural significance, St. Mary’s also has historical significance as the center of religious and social life of Salem’s Italian community for nearly a century.
St. Mary’s Italian Church on Margin Street in Salem was completed in 1925, and is said to be modeled after the Church of Santa Chiara in Assisi, Italy. Until early 2012, its elaborate interior boasted significant architectural features including stained glass and ecclesiastical fixtures, as well as paintings completed in 1950 by Professor Mose Franceschi of Florence, Italy. In addition to its architectural significance, St. Mary’s also has historical significance as the center of religious and social life of Salem’s Italian community for nearly a century.
Description and History of Threat
Closed by the Archdiocese of Boston in January of 2003, the Church was nominated to the Most Endangered list that year. The Salem Mission purchased it in 2004. With encouragement from Historic Salem, the Salem Mission and the Archdiocese agreed to allow the beautiful stained glass windows to remain after the sale.
In 2008, the Director of the Salem Mission suggested that a sale of the Church was an imminent possibility. But in 2009 the Salem Mission proposed that St. Mary’s Church be converted to transitional housing for the homeless. Because this proposal would result in the certain destruction of the integrity of the church interior, it has received intense neighborhood and community opposition. The Salem Historical Commission as well as the Mayor and City Councilors have expressed strong objections to the proposed conversion. In early 2010, the Salem Mission – now known as Lifebridge – did not receive the $2.9 million it had applied for by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.
In February 2010 St. Mary’s Italian Church was listed for sale,
St. Mary’s Italian Church was sold by Life bridge in March 2012 to The Gateways of Peace to the Nations Apostolic Ministries for $375,000. The Salem-based church uses the building for worship services and other educational programming; a continuation the building’s original function.
Unfortunately, in keeping with their Pentecostal beliefs, the new owner has removed all religious iconography from the interior of the building. Statuary and wall murals painted in the 1950s by Francheski have been donated to a Catholic Church in Lawrence; others have been painted-over. All of the stained-glass windows have been removed and given to the Archdiocese of Boston for future use, although the condition of some of the windows may prevent preservation. The imported Italian marble altars were destroyed.
In 2012 a rock grotto located in the side yard with a statue of the Virgin Mary and Saint Bernadette were damaged by members of the Pentecostal denomination currently occupying the church. The Bernadette statue was beheaded and the statue of Mary damaged by hammer blows. Salem Community Arts Center paid to have these two statues, as well as significant stone work from the grotto, removed and stored. Lifebridge then had the rest of the grotto taken down and a vegetable garden was established on the site.
Salem Community Arts Center is currently working to raise funds to have the Grotto rebuilt in another location
Closed by the Archdiocese of Boston in January of 2003, the Church was nominated to the Most Endangered list that year. The Salem Mission purchased it in 2004. With encouragement from Historic Salem, the Salem Mission and the Archdiocese agreed to allow the beautiful stained glass windows to remain after the sale.
In 2008, the Director of the Salem Mission suggested that a sale of the Church was an imminent possibility. But in 2009 the Salem Mission proposed that St. Mary’s Church be converted to transitional housing for the homeless. Because this proposal would result in the certain destruction of the integrity of the church interior, it has received intense neighborhood and community opposition. The Salem Historical Commission as well as the Mayor and City Councilors have expressed strong objections to the proposed conversion. In early 2010, the Salem Mission – now known as Lifebridge – did not receive the $2.9 million it had applied for by the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development.
In February 2010 St. Mary’s Italian Church was listed for sale,
St. Mary’s Italian Church was sold by Life bridge in March 2012 to The Gateways of Peace to the Nations Apostolic Ministries for $375,000. The Salem-based church uses the building for worship services and other educational programming; a continuation the building’s original function.
Unfortunately, in keeping with their Pentecostal beliefs, the new owner has removed all religious iconography from the interior of the building. Statuary and wall murals painted in the 1950s by Francheski have been donated to a Catholic Church in Lawrence; others have been painted-over. All of the stained-glass windows have been removed and given to the Archdiocese of Boston for future use, although the condition of some of the windows may prevent preservation. The imported Italian marble altars were destroyed.
In 2012 a rock grotto located in the side yard with a statue of the Virgin Mary and Saint Bernadette were damaged by members of the Pentecostal denomination currently occupying the church. The Bernadette statue was beheaded and the statue of Mary damaged by hammer blows. Salem Community Arts Center paid to have these two statues, as well as significant stone work from the grotto, removed and stored. Lifebridge then had the rest of the grotto taken down and a vegetable garden was established on the site.
Salem Community Arts Center is currently working to raise funds to have the Grotto rebuilt in another location
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