The city’s oldest Roman Catholic parish, gathering together a Romanesque Revival church and a Second Empire rectory.
At a glance
St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church Complex stands at 133 School Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. The property unites several buildings from the nineteenth century, with the 1858 church and the 1872 rectory as its architectural anchors. Both were judged fine examples of their respective styles when the complex joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.
History
The parish was established in 1835. That makes it the oldest Roman Catholic establishment in Waltham. The present church followed in 1858, designed in the Romanesque Revival manner. Fourteen years later, in 1872, the rectory added a Second Empire presence to School Street. The entire complex received National Register listing in 1989, a formal recognition of its local significance.
What you see
The church carries the round arches and solid massing associated with Romanesque Revival design. Its dating to 1858 places it among the earlier American adoptions of the style. The rectory presents the mansard roof and ornate detailing characteristic of Second Empire architecture. Together the two buildings offer a compact study in nineteenth-century architectural taste.
Cultural significance
As the oldest Catholic institution in the city, the complex records the early growth of that community in Waltham. Its buildings also document changing architectural fashions across the mid-nineteenth century.
Key facts
- Country: United States
- City: Waltham, Massachusetts
- Coordinates: 42.3789, -71.2372
- Parish founded: 1835
- Church built: 1858
- Rectory built: 1872
- National Register listed: 1989
Practical information & getting there
The complex is located at 133 School Street in Waltham, Massachusetts. Because it remains an active parish, visitors should be respectful of services and parish activities.
Sources & resources
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