Basilica of St. Louis, King of France
Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France | |
---|---|
St. Louis, Missouri, United States | |
Geographic coordinates | 38°37′27″N 90°11′14″W / 38.624121°N 90.187229°W |
Architecture | |
Architect(s) | Joseph Laveille and George Morton |
Style | Greek Revival |
Groundbreaking | 1770 (first church) 1831 (current church) |
Completed | 1834 |
Specifications | |
Direction of façade | South by west |
Length | 134 feet (41 m) |
Width | 84 feet (26 m) |
Height (max) | 95 feet (29 m) |
Materials | Limestone |
St. Louis Landmark | |
Website | |
Basilica of St. Louis, King of France |
The Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France (French: Cathédrale Saint-Louis-Roi-de-France de Saint-Louis), formerly the Cathedral of Saint Louis, and colloquially the Old Cathedral, is a Catholic church in St. Louis, Missouri.[1] It was the first cathedral west of the Mississippi River and until 1844 the only parish church in St. Louis.[2] It is one of two Catholic basilicas in St. Louis (with the current cathedral) and both are named for King Louis IX of France (the namesake of the city).[3]
The current structure (built 1831–1834) is located near the historic riverfront of St. Louis. It is surrounded by Gateway Arch National Park. However, the church is not part of the park. Because of the historical significance of the church, it was left intact while all neighboring buildings were demolished to make way for the Gateway Arch and related park. Rev. Nicholas Smith serves as Rector.
The basilica serves as a personal parish church rather than a territorial parish church. It ranks 177th of 196 churches in number of Catholics per church in the
History
Previous structures
When
These buildings began to be replaced in 1818 with a brick structure, on the orders of the Bishop
Additionally, Dubourg was influential in the establishment of St. Louis Academy (which later developed as Saint Louis University) in a two-story brick building adjacent to the new church in 1818.[10] Construction of the brick church was not complete until 1821.[11]
Construction
In 1826, population growth prompted the establishment of the
The church was designed and built by the architectural firm of Laveille and Morton, among the first architectural firms west of the Mississippi River north of New Orleans.[13] Construction was complete by late 1834. On Sunday, October 26, 1834, the cathedral was consecrated at a ceremony featuring the local militia and parishioners.[11]
After the elevation of the Diocese of St. Louis to archdiocese status in 1847, the cathedral became home to an early chapter of the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, a Catholic charity for the indigent. Both Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick and St. Louis Mayor Bryan Mullanphy were counted among the founders of the chapter, initially dedicated to assisting immigrants at a time of waves of immigration from Ireland and Germany, but later expanding to all St. Louis residents.[14]
The tradition of care for the poor and needy was carried on in the early 20th century after the appointment of the Reverend John Tannrath to head the church on September 5, 1915.[15] Tannrath not only refurbished the rectory and church, but also reestablished a parish school for local immigrant children. He arranged care for disabled children and adults.[16]
Recent history
Again due to the growth of the city, a larger church was consecrated in 1914 farther west of the current church, in the city's
In 2015, the Basilica underwent a restoration, including:
- Repaired exterior limestone and sandstone
- Replaced the mullioned windows with energy efficient yet historically accurate glass in the original Gothic design
- Repaired the steeple, roofs, and gutters
- Restored the front doors
- Upgraded the parking lot, entrance pavers, and landscaping
- Renovated the interior vestibule
- Removed all carpet, leaving and repairing the wood floors
- Restored decorative millworkand statuary.
The current parish serves the needs of local parishioners, described as "few in number but strong in loyalty", along with working people and tourists.[19] However, because of its location along the Mississippi River and near the Gateway Arch (which provide backdrops for wedding photos) the church is often used for weddings, only ranking behind St. Francis Xavier College Church at Saint Louis University in the number of Catholic marriages in the archdiocese.[4][19]
Design and artifacts
Built in
Engraved in gold over the entrance to the church are the words In honorem s. Ludovici. Deo uni et trino dicatum. A. MDCCCXXXIV, which translates as "In honor of St. Louis. Dedicated to the one and triune God. A.D. 1834".
The church basement has a number of artifacts associated with the history of the
Footnotes
- ^ "Basilica of St. Louis, King of France (Old Cathedral), St. Louis, Missouri, USA". www.gcatholic.org. Retrieved 2017-02-13.
- ^ Eversgerd, Shania; Levato, Gianna; Mancuso, Emma. "St. Mary of Victories Catholic Church". Arch City Religion. Retrieved 15 July 2023.
- ^ Conard, p. 528
- ^ a b c "Statistics of the Archdiocese of St. Louis" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
- ^ a b Conard, p. 529
- ^ Violette, p. 92
- ^ Conard, p. 530
- ^ Violette, p. 91-2
- ^ a b Reavis, p. 150
- ^ Conard, p. 532
- ^ a b Conard, p. 533
- ^ Reavis, p. 157
- ^ Stevens, p. 530
- ^ Conard, p. 535
- ^ Stevens, p. 312-3
- ^ Stevens, p. 313
- ^ "Basilicas in USA". www.gcatholic.org. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
- ^ McCue, p. 34
- ^ a b "Basilica of St. Louis, King of France Web Site". Archived from the original on 26 January 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-20.
- ^ "The Old Cathedral - Field Trip: St. Louis". homepages.rootsweb.com. Retrieved 2017-06-23.
- ^ Massey, p. 105
See also
- List of churches in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis
- List of Catholic cathedrals in the United States
- List of cathedrals in the United States
References
- Conard, Howard Louis (1901). Encyclopedia of the History of Missouri. New York: Southern History Co.
- Massey, Dawne (2007). Insiders' Guide to St. Louis (3rd ed.). Guilford, Connecticut: Globe Pequot Press.
- McCue, George (1989). A Guide to the Architecture of St. Louis. Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press.
- Reavis, L.U. (1871). Saint Louis: The Future Great City of the World. St. Louis: Missouri Democrat Print.
- Shea, John Gilmary (1890). History of the Catholic Church in the United States. Vol. III. New York: J.G. Shea.
- Stevens, Walter Barlow (1921). Centennial History of Missouri. Vol. IV. St. Louis: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co.
- Violette, Eugene Morrow (1918). A History of Missouri. Boston: D.C. Heath and Co.
- Faherty, William Barnaby; Abeln, Mark Scott (2009). Catholic St. Louis: A Pictorial History. St. Louis, Mo: Reedy Press. p. 176. ISBN 978-1-933370-83-5.
External links
- Built St. Louis: City Churches: The Old Cathedral
- Basilica of St. Louis, King of France official website
- Old St. Ferdinand Shrine (earlier church in St. Louis area)