St. Alphonsus Liguori Catholic Church (St. Louis) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St. Alphonsus Liguori "Rock"Catholic Church |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic Church |
| Leadership | Rev. Stephen J. Benden, C.Ss.R (pastor) and Rev. Rodney Olive, C.Ss.R (associate pastor) Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer |
| Location | |
| Location | 1118 N. Grand Ave. St. Louis, Missouri United States |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Rev. Louis Dold, C.Ss.R. Thomas Waryng Walsh (associate) James Smith (associate) |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| Completed | 1872, 1893 (spire) |
| Specifications | |
| Direction of façade | West |
| Spire height | 237 feet (72 m) |
| Materials | Stone |
| Website | |
| www.stalphonsusrock.org | |
St. Alphonsus Liguori "Rock" Catholic Church is a very old and important church in St. Louis, Missouri. It was started in 1867. This church is special because it is a Black Catholic church. It is also connected to a group of priests called the Redemptorist Order.
Contents
About the Church Building
This church building is designed in a style called Gothic Revival. This means it looks like old European churches with tall, pointed arches and fancy decorations. It has a very tall steeple, which is like a pointed tower, and other smaller spires. Inside, you can see many beautiful stained glass windows.
The main design for the church was created by a priest named Rev. Louis Dold. He worked with two architects from St. Louis, Thomas Waryng Walsh and James Smith, to bring his ideas to life.
A Look at History
How the Church Started
In 1861, the Archbishop of St. Louis, Peter Richard Kenrick, invited the Redemptorists to come to the city. The Redemptorists are a group of missionaries. They were founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori way back in 1732.
The Redemptorists accepted the invitation. They lived in temporary homes for a few years. Then, in 1866, they bought a large piece of land. This land was about 3.5 acres (1.4 hectares) at Grand and Cook Avenues.
Building the Church
Work on the church building began on May 1, 1867. The first stone, called the cornerstone, was placed on November 3 of the same year. A priest named Rev. Joseph Melchers led this special ceremony.
Construction continued for several years. The church was finally finished in 1872. Archbishop Patrick John Ryan officially dedicated the church that year. The church's very tall spire, which reaches 237 feet (72 meters) into the sky, was completed later in 1893.
Important Moments
On December 7, 1873, the first shrine to "Our Lady of Perpetual Help" was blessed inside the church. This was a special event for the community.
In 1881, St. Alphonsus Liguori Church became a regular parish. This meant it served a specific local community. Even though it became a parish, the Redemptorists continued to be in charge of its spiritual care. For many years, the Redemptorists' main office in St. Louis was located at this church.
Special Visitors
Two very important people visited the church in the 1800s. In 1866, a blessed man named Francis Xavier Seelos visited. He was on a missionary trip.
Later, in 1887, Augustus Tolton said Mass in the convent's chapel. He was the first African-American Catholic priest. Over the years, the church community has grown to be mostly African-American.
Challenges and Repairs
On August 16, 2007, the church was hit by lightning. This caused a fire that damaged the roof. Water used to put out the fire also caused damage inside.
Repairs started in the fall of 2007. The church was closed for a while but reopened in the spring of 2009. More recently, in February 2025, the church received a special grant. This money helped them restore their beautiful stained glass windows.
