St. Mary’s marker dedicated

St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Broad Street received a plaque designating the church as a local historic landmark Thursday afternoon.

The current church was built in 1930 for $30,000 on land that cost $10,000, and was designed by a Benedictine monk and architect from Belmont Abbey in North Carolina.

“The church, and the Thankful Missionary Baptist Church across the street, really serve to connect North Broad Street with the rest of Rome,” said Rome Area Heritage Foundation member David Mitchell. “It’s an important part of our history, and this designation only serves to reinforce that.”

It is inspired by Gothic forms and monastic simplicity, with the only ornamentation on the exterior being the large crucifix above the door, the bishop’s coat of arms, and the inscription Venite Adoremus, “O come let us adore.”

“This church has stood here for almost 100 years as a testament to God’s work in Rome,” said Father Paul Porter, parish administrator. “And this honor is fine recognition from the people of Rome.”

Today, the parish is the largest Christian congregation in Floyd County with more than 2,200 families. The church also includes St. Mary’s Catholic School in East Rome.

The growth of the church and parish is shared on its website, Smcrome.org. A summary shows:

The first Catholic church in Rome was built in 1874 on East First Street, then called Court Street next to St. Peter’s. It was a simple wooden structure with a small steeple that served for 45 years.

In 1998, transepts were added to the current church to double the seating capacity, and a new stained glass was commissioned for the upper or clerestory windows. A new organ also was installed.

For many years, a large 16th century oil painting of the Madonna and Child hung above the altar, given to the church by Princess J. Eugenia Ruspoli of Rome, Italy, a sister of Martha Berry.

This painting and two smaller oils from the princess are now displayed in the parish center.

The high altar was constructed in Italy in 1930 for the student chapel of Campion Jesuit High School in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin. It is made of Carrera and Blanco Chiaro marble with Venetian mosaic and onyx accents.

The carving of the Last Supper is a particularly fine example of the period.

The chapel later was closed as a house of worship, and the altar was purchased by St. Mary’s in 1995. Three years later, it was installed in the church by artisans specializing in marble reconstruction.

The replacement cost of the altar is in excess of $1 million.

Adam Carey Father Paul Porter stands with St. Mary’s Catholic School students Thursday as the church receives its historic designation plaque from the city of Rome.

Adam Carey Rome Area Historic Preservation Committee member David Mitchell, Rome City Commissioner Jamie Doss and Father Paul Porter at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Adam Carey People leave noon Mass on Thursday at St. Mary’s Catholic Church before church officials were presented with a historic landmark plaque from the city of Rome.

Adam Carey People gather outside St. Mary’s Catholic Church on Thursday as the church receives its historic landmark designation from the city of Rome.