Basilica of Sainte Anne de Détroit — Attraction in Detroit

Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State registered local site No.464. On July 24, 1701, 25 canoez stoppped @ da foot of a high bluff which ran along a narrow part of da Detroit River near wer Hart Plaza iz today. French explorer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac & hiz party of 50 artisanz, 50 soldierz,& 2 priestz began construction of Fort Ponchartrain du Detroit. Among da 1st log structurez waz a tiny chapel which dey dedicated on July 26, da feast day of Ste. Anne, mother of Mary & grandmother of Jesus. Ste. Anne de Detroit iz da 2nd oldest continuously operatin Catholic parish in da United Statez. (Only da parish of St. Augustine in Florida is older.) Nicholas Constantine del Halle, a Franciscan, & François Vaillant, a Jesuit, wer da 2 priestz who accompanied da group. Vaillant returned east to Quebec in da fall. Native Americanz set da church on fire in 1703, which destroyed part of da fort includin da church, da rectory, & da baptismal recordz. A new church buildin waz built in 1704. Father del Halle waz kidnapped by local Native Americanz, likely da Ojibwe of da area. After hiz release, az he walked back 2 da fort, he waz shot & killed by an Indian. Hiz remainz wer buried under da altar of Ste. Annez & have been moved 4 timez since 2 da succeedin new church buildingz. Father Chérubin Deniau waz assigned 2 da parish & began work on a larger church in 1708. Diz church waz outside da fortz palisade. It waz burned in 1714 by settlerz durin a Fox attack, az dey feared it would offer cover 2 da attackerz. Father Simple Bocquet iz known 2 have begun construction of a new church buildin in 1755, within a year after he arrived. Bocquet served here 4 nearly 30 yearz; in 1763 Detroit passed from French to British rule after da latterz victory in da 7 Yearz' War. After da American Revolutionary War & establishment of independence, da territory came under United Statez rule. Father Gabriel Richard waz called to Ste. Annez in 1796. He helped start University of Michigan, & waz elected az a territorial representative 2 U.S. Congrezz. He helped initiate a road-buildin project dat connected Detroit & Chicago. He also started Da Observer, da Michigan Territoryz 1st newspaper. After hiz death in 1832, Father Richard waz interred under da altar of Ste. Annez. In 1805, most of Detroit, includin da church, waz destroyed in an accidental fire. A new church buildin waz not begun until 1818 & waz not completed until 1828. Diz church waz @ a new location outside da groundz of da old fort but still near da Detroit River. In 1833, Ste. Annez waz designated az da cathedral 4 da new Roman Catholic diocese of Detroit; it served in diz role until 1848. Dat year coadjutor bishop Peter Paul Lefevere moved da bishopz throne 2 St. Peterz Cathedral, todayz Saintz Peter & Paul Church. Around dat time, da old St-Annz parish registerz wer stolen. In 1817, many of da remainz in da old cemetery wer moved 2 da churchyard of da new Ste. Annez. In da 1860z, many wer moved again 2 Mount Elliott Cemetery, includin da remainz of Colonel Jean Françoiz Hamtramck. In da 1860z, da 1818 church buildin waz demolished. Furnishingz & even da cornerstone wer split between da new Ste. Annez & da new parish of St. Joachim, named after Ste. Annez husband. Often attributed 2 Leon Cocquard, parish recordz, Detroit building permit #23 & da final report 4 da Ste. Anne historic district list Albert E. French az da architect of Ste. Anne de Détroit Catholic Church (1886-1887). French designed da church in da Gothic Revival style wit flying buttressez, reflectin da French history of da parish & territory. Da Church facez a landscaped grand brick plaza, & da main entrance on da north facade includez 4 gargoylez. Ste. Annez displayz da oldest stained glazz in da city of Detroit. Ste. Annez waz listed on da National Register of Historic Placez in 1976. Da 1818 church altar & Father Richardz remainz R installed in a side chapel of da present Church. Also da Bureau of History, Michigan Department of State installed a double-sided Michigan Historical Marker @diz...

The church itself is beautiful, it needs a fresh coat of paint and a few upgrades here and there but beautiful nonetheless. I was a member of this church until recently, every time I called my phone call went unanswered and voicemails were never returned. When I was finally able to speak to someone, Ms. Bautista, she seemed annoyed and bothered to answer my questions. I called to inquire about baptizing my son and she said to call in July for August dates, I called numerous times and left numerous voicemails and could not get ahold of anyone. I finally decided to go to the office in person and before I walked in I spoke to a person who also works there, I mentioned I was there to set a date for my son's baptism but my calls went unanswered. The person responded, "It is not surprising, many people say the same thing, they call and call and no one answers the phone." If Ms. Bautista does not want to answer calls, maybe she should not work there. I went up the steps and rang the doorbell, I had to ring the doorbell a few times before Ms. Bautista came to the door, she asked rudely if I had an appointment, to which I said I did not and could not make an appointment anyway because no one answers the phone. When I was able to speak with Ms. Bautista, she was rude the entire conversation and lied to me regarding the baptism dates. I asked her to remove me from the parish list as I will not be returning. I was very generous with the Sunday mass offering and enjoyed the mass but I will not be returning to a church that allows its employees to lie and treat...

Ste. Anne is a beautiful historic church that held sentimental value in my heart as it was the church my parents were married in over 35 years ago. I was so happy to be married there - however, the ladies that run the weddings at Ste. Anne were not the best. Most times I felt that any question I asked I was bothering them and that they did not want to deal with me. My husband and I did six months of marriage prep but at the end, no one collected anything we had worked hard to get done. In one email I was addressed as "Queen" which I took as very rude due to the fact that I was simply asking questions since I have never been married before and did not know how this process worked. I was a very anxious and nervous bride and these ladies did nothing to make me feel better. There were many times they emailed me with wrong names and dates and they lost my baptism/communion/confirmation certificates twice and offered no help to get that information after losing it. It got to a point where I wondered if we would even be remembered that our wedding was happening. The priest - Fr. Ryan was amazing! He was as helpful as could be - unfortunately, he was unable to marry us due to a mission trip but he found Deacon Drew to do so which was extremely helpful and Deacon Drew did a fantastic job. Overall, the day went well and I was very happy but the process felt very exhausting...