Ste. Anne de Michilimackinac

A recent wedding at the church.

A recent wedding at the church.

After the question is popped, the real fun begins- planning the wedding. One of the most exciting and challenging tasks is finding the perfect location for the memorable day. Outdoor or indoor venue? Intimate or spacious? In a busy city or tucked away on a quiet beach? The options are endless. Mackinac State Historic Parks offers ten historic wedding venues on Mackinac Island and in Mackinaw City. One of our truly unique historic wedding venues is the Ste. Anne de Michilimackinac church. Located in Colonial Michilimakinac, this reconstruction was built on the original location of the 18th-century church.

This beautiful setting also has a rich and fascinating history. As nations came and left, and soldiers marched in and out, there has always

Detail of a map of the Straits of Mackinac by Captain Louis-Armand de Lom d'Arce de Lahontan, Troupes de la Marine, 1703. This is the mission of St. Ignace and Indian villages. A) French Village; B) Jesuits' House; C) Huron Village; D) Fields; E) Ottawa Village.

Detail of a map of the Straits of Mackinac by Captain Louis-Armand de Lom d’Arce de Lahontan, Troupes de la Marine, 1703. This is the mission of St. Ignace and Indian villages. A) French Village; B) Jesuits’ House; C) Huron Village; D) Fields; E) Ottawa Village.

been the existence of Roman Catholicism in the Straits of Mackinac. Located within the crossroads of the Great Lakes, Mackinac was a logical choice for missions. During the winter of 1670-71, Father Claude Dablon established the Mission of St. Ignace on Mackinac Island, named after St. Ignatius Loyola. That spring, Father Jacques Marquette replaced Dablon and the mission relocated from the island to present day St. Ignace. The Mission of St. Ignace flourished on the north side of the Straits until 1703 when the French established Fort Detroit and lured many of its followers away from the Straits area. The French Jesuits would finally close the St. Ignace missionary chapel in 1705 and try again on the south side of the Straits, in present day Mackinaw City. In 1716, Fort Michilimackinac was built right next to the new missionary chapel. This new parish was dedicated to Ste. Anne. With a growing parish, the French expanded Fort Michilimackinac in the 1730s to incorporate the church within the walls and construct a larger building.

Due to the defeat of the French in the French and Indian War, Fort Michilimackinac was controlled by the British. Roman Catholicism was allowed in British Canada and St. Anne’s remained within Michilimackinac. The British decided to move Fort Michilimackinac from its exposed location on the southern mainland to the hillside of Mackinac Island in 1779. With many residents of Michilimackinac hesitant to relocate, Commandant Patrick Sinclair wanted Ste. Anne’s Church to be one of the first

The second Ste. Anne's Church on the island, constructed in 1827, as depicted by Father Otto Skolla in 1844.

The second Ste. Anne’s Church on the island, constructed in 1827, as depicted by Father Otto Skolla in 1844.

structures to be moved to the island. The church was rebuilt on the island and would become a vital part of the new village located below Fort Mackinac. With the help of Magdelaine Laframboise, a prominent Mackinac Island resident, a new building was built at its present day location in the 1820s. That building was replaced in 1873 by the current building. Ste. Anne’s Church has always been an important part of Mackinac Island’s community and continues to add baptisms, weddings, and funerals to its long-recorded history.

Today, guests can visit Colonial Michilimackinac and learn more about the fascinating history of the original Ste. Anne’s Church. Historians have learned more about the historical significance of this site through the weddings, baptisms, and funerals recorded in the church’s register. It is one of the earliest records of life in the Great Lakes region. This church invites guest to travel back in time and experience the beauty of the Mackinac Straits. When couples choose any of Mackinac State Historic Parks’ wedding venues, they get to be a part of history.

St. Anne's Church on Mackinac Island, ca. 1945. This is the building constructed in 1873.

St. Anne’s Church on Mackinac Island, ca. 1945. This is the building constructed in 1873.

Source:

Brisson, Steven. “Witness to Five Centuries: The History of Ste. Anne’s Parish,” in Archibald. Northern Border, pp. 46-67.

One Response to “Ste. Anne de Michilimackinac”

  1. Anne McGulpin Mainwaring

    I was born and raised on Mackinac Island. I always thought of it as “my” island. I often thought who would be so lucky as to live in paradise. My final resting place is at St. Anne’s cemetery where I was baptised, made my first communion and was confirmed. Went to school at Thomas Ferry school

    Reply

Leave a Reply

  • (will not be published)

Comments (required)

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

 

Church of Ste. Anne de Michilimackinac Wedding

Reconstructed on its original site, the Church of Ste. Anne de Michilimackinac allows you to step back in time to the 1770s. Located within the palisaded of Colonial Michilimackinac, the church provides a charming, historic atmosphere like no other.

Schedule & Amenities

Weddings may be scheduled at the Church of Ste. Anne de Michilimackinac from early May through October. All wedding reservations include a 2-hour time block for decorating, ceremony, pictures, and clean-up. Rehearsals can also be scheduled the day before.

Wedding may be scheduled from early May through October. May, September, and October wedding ceremonies can be scheduled to begin between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. In June, July and August weddings must start between 7:00 and 9:00 p.m. Weddings are only allowed to start after Colonial Michilimackinac closes to the public, allowing exclusive use of the fort.

The church can accommodate up to 100 guests. The benches within Colonial Michilimackinac will be used for seating for outdoor ceremonies. Additional chairs (up to 100) are $2.00 each. A Mackinac State Historic Parks representative will be available throughout the ceremony.

Colonial Michilimackinac Reception

Colonial Michilimackinac is also available for your wedding reception. If you wish to learn more, please call the Group Travel and Special Event Coordinator at (231) 436-4100.

Guidelines

— Mackinac State Historic Parks has no resident or affiliated clergyman. Couples married at any Mackinac State Historic Parks wedding venue must select a clergyman or public official to perform the ceremony.

— If floral arrangements or musicians are part of your wedding ceremony, they may arrive no earlier than 45 minutes prior to ceremony time.

— All decorations must not in any way be affixed to, or otherwise endanger, museum buildings or collections. No tape and tacks of any type may be used to install decorations. Candles are prohibited within any building, except for a (1) unity candle.

— No fake, fabric or paper flower petals may be tossed outside. Only real flower petals will be permitted. No rice, birdseed or similar material may be scattered inside buildings or outside.

— It is the responsibility of the wedding party to designate an individual to remove any decorations or other items immediately following the ceremony. Otherwise, the items will be removed and discarded by park staff one hour after. We are unable to store any items before or after the scheduled date.

— Electricity is available in the church, but accessibility to the outlet is limited. There are no electrical lights within the church.

— Parking for your guests must be at the Colonial Michilimackinac Visitor’s Center located underneath the south end of the Mackinac Bridge. The walk from the Visitor’s Center to the church is 520 yards. A layer of sand sometimes covers the hard-packed trail to and within the fort.

— There is no dressing room or restroom within the church. However, the restrooms in the South Southwest Rowhouse will be available for your guests.

Fee

$1,500 (Friday-Saturday) $1,000 (Sunday-Thursday)

Refund Policy

— $500 is non-refundable under any circumstances.

— Cancellation received in writing 61 days or more prior to reserved date – $1,000 refund for Friday-Saturday weddings, $500 for Sunday-Thursday weddings.

— Cancellation received in writing 60-31 days prior to reserved dates – $500 refund for Friday-Saturday weddings, $250 for Sunday-Thursday weddings.

— Cancellations 30 days or less prior to reserved date are non-refundable.

Application

Ste. Anne de Michilimackinac Church Wedding Application PDF

Contact

If you wish to view the Church of Ste. Anne de Michilimackinac, please call to schedule a visit. The fort is open to the public, and you may also view it without an appointment. Dates and times fill up fast and are reserved on a first come, first served basis.

Madisen Hansen
(231) 436-4100
207 W Sinclair, Mackinaw City, MI 49701

Leave a Reply

  • (will not be published)

Comments (required)

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>