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 | Roman 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 and is known as a Black Catholic church, meaning it has a special history and connection with African American Catholics. The church is also linked to the Redemptorist Order, a group of priests and brothers.
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About the Church Building
The church building is designed in a style called Gothic Revival. This means it looks like the grand churches built a long time ago in Europe. It has a very tall steeple, which is the pointed tower you see on top. There are also smaller spires on the sides. Inside, you can find many beautiful stained glass windows.
The main design for the church came from Rev. Louis Dold. He worked with two architects from St. Louis, Thomas Waryng Walsh and James Smith, to bring the vision to life.
A Look at History
How the Church Started
In 1861, the Archbishop of St. Louis, Peter Richard Kenrick, invited a group called the Redemptorists to come to the city. This group was founded by Saint Alphonsus Ligouri in 1732. The Redemptorists accepted the invitation and lived in temporary homes for a few years.
In 1866, they bought a piece of land at Grand and Cook Avenues. Building the church began on May 1, 1867. The first stone, called the cornerstone, was placed on November 3 of the same year. Construction continued until 1872, and Archbishop Patrick J. Ryan officially opened the church that year. The church's very tall spire, which is about 237 feet (72 m) high, was finished later in 1893.
Becoming a Parish
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.
At first, St. Alphonsus Liguori was a "mission church." This means it was a church where missionaries worked to spread their faith. But in 1881, it became a regular parish of the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Even though it became a parish, the Redemptorists continued to take care of it. Their main office in St. Louis was even located there for many years.
Important Visitors
Two important people visited the church community in the 1800s. In 1866, a blessed man named Francis Xavier Seelos came while on a preaching trip. He visited just a year before he passed away.
Later, in 1887, a very special person named Venerable Augustus Tolton visited. He was the first African-American Catholic priest. He held a Mass in the convent's chapel for the School Sisters of Notre Dame. Over the years, the church has grown and is now mostly made up of African-American members.
Recent Events
The church has faced some challenges over time. On August 16, 2007, lightning struck the church. 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, and the church was able to reopen in the spring of 2009.
In April 2022, the church experienced a theft when its air conditioning units were stolen.
