Idaho, with mountains of precious metals and minerals, is filled with old mining towns. Among these are the ghost towns. The Queen of them all, without question, is Silver City. Sitting high in the Owyhee Mountains, Silver City is in the southwest corner of Idaho, not far from the Oregon boarder.

The history of the church in Silver City goes back to the days of the Idaho Territory. The church, originally named St. Andrew's, was dedicated on December 18, 1868. That building was sold in 1873 and no Catholic church existed in Silver City until 1882. On November 5, 1882, St. Andrew's was rededicated under the title of Our Lady of Sorrows with a new church building on Jordan Street. During the years between 1900 and 1925, mining in the area dwindled and Silver City gradually declined. St. Andrew's fell into disrepair and was abandoned.

The beautiful church that stands today and overlooks the picturesque Silver City serves as a reminder of the faith of the pioneers and is an inspiration to residents and visitors alike.

Our Lady of Tears is a landmark building in Silver City and is undergoing a ten year preservation effort. The latest and most impressive is the installation of three new stained glass windows behind the alter, made in the style and colors of the original windows. This year (2000), the  principle project is the construction of two new front doors.