St. Ignatius Mission, Catholic mission church in St. Ignatius, Montana, United States.
St. Ignatius Mission is a Catholic church building in western Montana that stands out with its 100-foot belfry rising against the Mission Mountains backdrop. The structure is built of reddish brick and features tall windows inside that allow natural light to illuminate the painted interior surfaces.
The mission was founded in 1854 by Jesuit priests Pierre-Jean De Smet and Adrian Hoecken to serve the Salish people. The current brick building that stands today was constructed between 1891 and 1893, replacing earlier structures at the site.
The interior walls and ceiling display 58 murals painted by Brother Joseph Carignano, merging Catholic religious imagery with elements from Salish tribal traditions. These painted scenes tell the story of how two spiritual worlds came together in this sacred space.
The site is easily reached from the main road and sits near the heart of St. Ignatius village. Plan for a leisurely visit to properly observe the interior details and painted scenes without rushing.
The bricks of the building were made from clay sourced locally from the Montana landscape surrounding the site. This use of local material ties the structure directly to the land where it stands.
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