House of worship, Riverbend, since 1927
St. Columba Episcopal Church
Standing, closed
- Opened
- 1927
- Style
- English Gothic Revival
- Standing
- 99 years
Designed by Lancelot Sukert
St. Columba Episcopal Church has stood on Manistique St. in Riverbend since 1927, 99 years and counting. Who built it, what makes it special and how to see it for yourself.
St. Columba Episcopal Church today, from the street
What is there now
Standing, closed
- Closed Source: Historic Detroit
We checked building permits, sales, listings and the city's blight and demolition files on October 25, 2026. Nothing new at this address in the last two years.
The story
In 1927, in the years Detroit became the Motor City and built like it meant to stay on top, St. Columba Episcopal Church opened in Riverbend.
Credit the design to Lancelot Sukert, in the English Gothic Revival style.
Its doors are closed for now, but the building still stands.
Go see it at 1021 Manistique St. Photos never get the scale right.
Timeline
- 1927 Built Designed by Lancelot Sukert
- 2003 Closed
- 2026 Today Standing, closed
Where it is
1021 Manistique St.
On this map
- 1 St. Columba Episcopal Church This place
- 2 Jefferson-Chalmers Historic Business District 480 ft
- 3 Vanity Ballroom 0.3 mi
- 4 Vanity Ballroom Building 0.5 mi
- 5 Savarine Hotel 0.6 mi
- 6 Defer Elementary School 0.7 mi
- 7 Carstens Elementary School 0.7 mi
- 8 Guyton Elementary School 0.8 mi
- 9 Continental Motors 0.8 mi
Street map from OpenStreetMap contributors
Who made it
The Scarab Club, by Lancelot Sukert. Photo: The original uploader was Stanthejeep at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons
Architect
Lancelot SukertArchitect. Designed The Scarab Club (1928) and St. Columba Episcopal Church
Also by Lancelot Sukert
- The Scarab Club 1928
More from Detroit in the 1920s
-
Broderick Tower
Structure, built 1927, Beaux Arts, by Louis Kamper
Photo: St8fan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Cadillac Tower
Structure, built 1927, Late Gothic Revival, by Bonnah & Chaffee
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Belcrest Apartments
Building, built 1926, Neo-Romanesque, by Charles N. Agree
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Ambassador Bridge
Structure, built 1929, by Jonathan Jones
Photo: Antony-22, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Buhl Building
Skyscraper, built 1925, Neo-Romanesque, by Wirt C. Rowland
Photo: I, Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
-
Chateau Frontenac
Building, built 1925, Mediterranean, by J. Will Wilson, demolished 1999
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Around the block
It is in Riverbend. See the neighborhood's homes, pros and story.
-
Jefferson-Chalmers Historic Business District
Building, Early Commercial
Photo: Andrew Jameson, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
480 ft
-
Vanity Ballroom
Building, built 1929, Art Deco, by Charles N. Agree
Photo: Albert duce, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.3 mi
-
Vanity Ballroom Building
Building, built 1929, Art Deco, by Charles N. Agree
Photo: Albert duce, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.5 mi
- Savarine Hotel Hotel, built 1926, by Louis J. Chesnow 0.6 mi
-
Defer Elementary School
School, built 1924, Tudor Revival
Photo: Appraiser, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
0.7 mi
- Carstens Elementary School School, built 1915, Arts & Crafts, by William E. Higginbotham, demolished 0.7 mi
- Guyton Elementary School School, built 1922, English Tudor, by Malcomson & Higginbotham 0.8 mi
- Continental Motors Building, built 1912, by Albert Kahn 0.8 mi
Photo credits
Every photo on this page is used under its license, named here with its author and a link to the original.
- St. Columba Episcopal Church from the street today Photo: Street View, 2026
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.