St. Patrick Church (Diocese of Helena)
St. Patrick’s Church is in Montana (United States) and is part of the Diocese of Helena.
It is dedicated to Saint Patrick.
| St. Patrick’s Church | |
| [[File:|150px|center]] | |
| Dedication: | Saint Patrick |
| Venerated Saints: | None specified |
| Diocese: | Diocese of Helena |
| Deanery: | Butte Deanery |
| Address: | 102 S. Washington St., Butte, MT 59701 |
| Coordinates: | 46.0133, -112.5367 |
| City: | Butte, MT |
| Subdivision: | Montana |
| Country: | United States |
| County: | Silver Bow County |
| Website: | https://diocesehelena.org/parish/st-patrick-butte/ |
| Founded: | 1881 |
| School: | Yes |
| Email: | |
History
St. Patrick’s Church in Butte, Montana, was founded in 1881, making it the first Catholic church established in the city. It was created to serve the burgeoning Catholic population, particularly Irish immigrants drawn to Butte by the copper mining boom of the late 19th century. The original church building was constructed shortly after its founding, reflecting the rapid growth of the Catholic community in this mining town. By the early 20th century, the parish had become a central hub for Butte’s Irish Catholics, who comprised a significant portion of the workforce in the "Richest Hill on Earth." The current church structure, built in a Gothic Revival style, was completed later, though exact dates vary in records, with some suggesting renovations or rebuilding occurred around the turn of the century. Over time, St. Patrick’s has remained a vital part of the Butte Catholic Community North, sharing pastoral care with nearby parishes like St. Joseph and Immaculate Conception. Its history reflects Butte’s economic and demographic shifts, from a peak population of over 100,000 in the early 1900s to a smaller, yet resilient, community today.
Special features
- Gothic Revival architecture, featuring pointed arches and ribbed vaults, typical of early 20th-century Catholic churches in mining towns.
- Historical significance as Butte’s first Catholic parish, tied to the city’s Irish immigrant heritage and the copper mining era.
- Devotion to Our Mother of Perpetual Help, observed with a weekly Tuesday service following the 7:00 a.m. Mass.
- Community resilience, maintaining active worship and outreach despite Butte’s population decline from its mining heyday.
Related parishes
- St. Joseph Church – Part of the Butte Catholic Community North, located nearby and sharing pastoral leadership.
- Immaculate Conception Church – Another Butte parish within the same community, historically linked through shared diocesan initiatives.