These photographs depict Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Lander Wyoming. The same grounds are the temporary grounds for the Wyoming Catholic College.
I am unsure when this church was built. A preserved 1928 corner stone for the original Holy Rosary church is preserved as a memorial, but obviously, this church was not built in 1928.
This church is a bit unique in that, while it is a Roman Catholic Church, it does feature an Eastern Rite Mass (Byzantine Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom) such as is used in Ukrainian Catholic Churches. This is done in order to accommodate Eastern Rite Catholics attending the College.
http://www.holyrosarylander.com/AboutContact.html
ReplyDeleteThe above link gives a little "about" the church. I ran across your blog while researching the church.
The original church still stands in the main town of Lander, WY. It was erected by my great great uncle, Daniel Moriarty.
Any chance you can let me know where that original location is? I'll add the church in here next time I go through Lander.
ReplyDeleteI think 3rd & Garfield? It is now an insurance company. Here is the pic on my fb account
ReplyDeletehttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=2448097170530&set=a.2448096490513.2140971.1494965498&type=3&theater
Here is how it was founded
http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/NEBRHeritage/2000-01/0948754770
Another article (bottom of page)
ReplyDeletehttp://www.usgennet.org/usa/ne/topic/religion/catholic/Franciscans/pages/pt2/fine0015.htm
Thank you. Next time I'm up there, I'll swing by there and take photos of that one. I had no idea it was there.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea either. I knew we had family in WY but didn't know (just me...the un-ancestory person that is trying to embrace her history) about Lander. It was a pleasant surprise. I am so proud. We just happened to be passing through on a trip to Yellowstone...my dad (the ancestory guru) had me search it out. We are pretty sure that is the original church.
ReplyDeleteIn looking into the history of this church, it appears that the original Holy Rosary in Lander was built in 1883, although it was at first called the Church of the Immaculate Conception. The church's name was changed to Holy Rosary in 1911. Father Moriarty was indeed instrumental in causing it to come about (and you should indeed be proud). He returned to Nebraska in 1884. During his time in Wyoming, he was actually covering a fairly vast expanse of country, not just Lander. I'd be curious to know how he traveled about, as his parish expanse covered 22,000 square miles.
ReplyDeleteThe original 1883 church ad to be abandoned in 1920 however as it became an unsafe structure, and a new church was built in 1928. That's where the 1928 cornerstone came from. The current church dates from 1965, which makes it a bit older than I would have guessed.