St. Ladislaus Roman Catholic Church (Chicago)

St. Ladislaus
Church
St. Ladislaus; Church
Style	Romanesque Revival
Groundbreaking	November 17, 1952
Completed	June 12, 1955
Specifications
Materials	Brick

St. Ladislaus (

Chicago, Illinois

.

One of the many

Northwest Side, it is considered to be one of the more architecturally significant religious edifices in the Portage Park

area, as well as one of the key agents in the neighborhood's historical growth and development.

History

Founded in 1914 as a

Chicago area

, as first the school was enlarged and a convent as well as a rectory were bought. The cost of all these improvements totalled nearly $76,000.

Rapid growth of the Portage Park area had led to rapid growth of St. Ladislaus in the same way the parish served as a magnet for this development. By the time St. Ladislaus celebrated its silver jubilee, the parish had paid off all its debt, and a building fund for the new church had already been started. However construction was delayed by the outbreak of World War II. Finally, on November 17, 1952, ground was broken for the church at the northwest corner of Long and Henderson. The cornerstone was laid on April 12, 1953, and the imposing brick edifice was opened on June 12, 1955, for its first Mass. Today the parish numbers about 1500 families and still retains its original Polish character.

Architecture

The church was designed by the firm of Leo Strelka who designed Providence of God in

bas-relief representation of the Lamb of God

rests above the main doorway.

The new millennium was an occasion for the church to initiate a campaign to conduct needed renovation to the church, including repairing the

campanile

, repaving the parking lot and make other improvements.

Church in architecture books

Sinkevitch, Alice (2004). The AIA Guide to Chicago. Harvest Books.
Schulze, Franz; Harrington, Kevin (2003). Chicago's Famous Buildings. University Of Chicago Press.
McNamara, Denis R. (2005). Heavenly City: The Architectural Tradition of Catholic Chicago. Liturgy Training Publications.
Chiat, Marylin (2004). The Spiritual Traveler: Chicago and Illinois: A Guide to Sacred Sites and Peaceful Places. HiddenSpring.
Lane, George A. (1982). Chicago Churches and Synagogues: An Architectural Pilgrimage. Loyola Press.
Kantowicz, Edward R. (2007). The Archdiocese of Chicago: A Journey of Faith. Booklink.
Kociolek, Jacek (2002). Kościoły Polskie w Chicago {Polish Churches of Chicago} (in Polish). Ex Libris.

St. Ladislaus Roman Catholic Church (Chicago)

History

Architecture

Church in architecture books

External links

See also