The Shepherd / Church of the Annunciation
In July of 1924, Pewabic tiles were ordered and produced for use at the Church of the Annunciation as well as its Rectory, located just a few short blocks from the pottery. The flooring and walls of the church are covered in tiles of various matte and iridescent glazes. Iridescent glazes are often spotted in religious Pewabic tile installations as founder Mary Chase Perry Stratton believed the deep and rich metallic surfaces blended well with the transcendent themes of ecclesiastical spaces. Symbols utilized in this installation include a pelican feeding her babies, the four evangelists, a variety of crosses, doves, and the holy lamb.
In 2006, the Church of the Annunciation merged with another Detroit parish to become Good Shepherd Catholic Church before finally closing its doors in 2016. For years, the building stood empty until the Library Street Collective purchased it to create an art district on Detroit's east side. In 2024, The Shepherd opened to the public as part commercial gallery, part cultural arts center.