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House of worship, Forest Park, since 1885

St. Albertus Catholic Church

Photographed standing in 2010

St. Albertus Roman Catholic Church in Detroit MI Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Opened
1885
Style
Gothic Revival
Standing
141 years

Designed by Henry Engelbert

St. Albertus Catholic Church has stood on St. Aubin St. in Forest Park since 1885, 141 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.

On the map

More photos of St. Albertus Catholic Church

The landmark St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, on Lakeshore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, 2008 Photo: Umdet, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Interior of St Albertus Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan, 2010 Photo: Scott Calleja, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Città del Vaticano, Cupola della Basilica di S. Pietro, 2006 Photo: MarkusMark, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What is there now

Standing and open

We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 24, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.

The story

By Victoria Jackson, Editor in Chief Updated

In 1885, as Detroit's lumber, stove and shipbuilding money went into brick and stone, St. Albertus Catholic Church opened in Forest Park.

Henry Engelbert drew the plans, in the Gothic Revival style.

The National Register of Historic Places listed it in 1978.

It still stands and still opens its doors.

Next time you are nearby, stop at 4231 St. Aubin St and look up.

St. Albertus Roman Catholic Church is in the Forest Park neighborhood of Detroit, Michigan. It was designated a Michigan State Historic Site in 1974 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0

Timeline

  1. 1885 Built Designed by Henry Engelbert
  2. 1978 Listed on the National Register January 18, 1978
  3. 2026 Today 141 years and still standing

Where it is

4231 St. Aubin St.

On this map

  1. St. Albertus Catholic Church This place
  2. St. Albertus Parish School 250 ft
  3. Sweetest Heart of Mary Church 0.3 mi
  4. Raven Lounge & Restaurant 0.5 mi
  5. St. Elizabeth Parish 0.5 mi
  6. St. Josaphat Catholic Church 0.6 mi
  7. Hook and Ladder House No. 5-Detroit Fire Department Repair Shop 0.6 mi
  8. Saint Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church Complex 0.6 mi
  9. Sacred Heart Catholic Church 0.6 mi

Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors

Who made it

Architect

Henry Engelbert

American architect, 1826 to 1901. Designed St. Albertus Catholic Church (1885) and St. Casimir's Catholic Church (old)

Also by Henry Engelbert

More from Detroit in the 1880s

Around the block

It is in Forest Park. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.

Photo credits

Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.

  1. St. Albertus Roman Catholic Church in Detroit MI Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  2. The landmark St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church, on Lakeshore Drive in Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan, 2008 Photo: Umdet, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  3. Interior of St Albertus Catholic Church in Detroit, Michigan, 2010 Photo: Scott Calleja, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
  4. Città del Vaticano, Cupola della Basilica di S. Pietro, 2006 Photo: MarkusMark, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sources

Facts only, gathered from these sources. The story above is written by Rebuild Detroit. Every photo names its author and license where it appears.