Church of the Holy Family, Gothic Revival church in Columbus, United States
The Church of the Holy Family is a Gothic Revival church in Downtown Columbus, Georgia, built in 1880 to the design of architect Daniel Matthew Foley. It is the only Gothic Revival church in the city, and its pointed arches and vertical lines make it an architectural anchor point in the community.
The Church of the Holy Family was built in 1880 to replace Columbus's original Catholic church of 1829, which the growing congregation had outgrown. Its architect and builder, Daniel Matthew Foley, had designed 16 other churches before coming to Columbus. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, listed along with other historic properties identified in a large survey.
The parish traces its roots to a Catholic congregation whose first church, built in 1829, became too small for the growing community, prompting the move to the present site downtown. The 1880 building has served that congregation ever since and was listed on the National Register in 1980.
The church stands in Downtown Columbus, Georgia, and is the only Gothic Revival church in the city, so it is easy to pick out on a walk through the centre. It is an active Catholic parish, so visits are best arranged around Mass times rather than treated as a museum stop.
The building displays 19th-century construction techniques and design choices that are uncommon in other religious structures in this part of the country. Examining its craftsmanship reveals how builders approached religious buildings during that period.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,678 contributors worldwide.