St. Francis de Sales Oratory (St. Louis) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saint Francis de Sales Oratory |
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Saint Francis de Sales Oratory
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| Location | St. Louis, Missouri |
| Country | United States |
| Denomination | Roman Catholic |
| Website | https://www.institute-christ-king.org/stlouis-home |
| History | |
| Status | Oratory |
| Founded | 1867 |
| Dedicated | May 24, 1868 (first church) November 26, 1908 (current church) |
| Architecture | |
| Functional status | Active |
| Heritage designation | National Register of Historic Places |
| Designated | November 2, 1978 |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Years built | 1907-1908 |
| Demolished | 1896 (first church, by tornado) |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Archdiocese of St. Louis |
| Division | Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest |
The Saint Francis de Sales Oratory is a beautiful Roman Catholic church in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It is the second biggest church in the entire St. Louis area! Many people call it the "Cathedral of South St. Louis."
This amazing church was built in a style called Gothic Revival, which looks like old European cathedrals. It has stunning stained glass windows made by a famous artist named Emil Frei, Sr. Because it is so special, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. Since 2005, the church has been cared for by the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. This group uses traditional Latin church services and loves beautiful art and music.
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How It Started
The St. Francis de Sales church community began in 1867. It was created for the many German Catholic families living in St. Louis. These families used to go to another church nearby.
Building the First Church
The first stone for the church was laid on September 15, 1867. During this special event, a stand collapsed because some people had secretly cut its wooden supports the night before. Luckily, no one was badly hurt. Even though the church was still being built, the first church service happened that Christmas. The building was officially opened the next May. By then, the church had 800 members. It was named after Saint Francis de Sales, a bishop who lived a long time ago.
The church also built schools for Catholic children. Since most people in the church community were German, sermons were often given in German. Classes at the school were also taught in German for many years.
A New Beginning After a Storm
In 1903, a scholar named Frederick George Holweck became the pastor at St. Francis de Sales. He had worked there before. The first church building and a new one that was still being built were both destroyed by a huge St. Louis Tornado in 1896. Pastor Holweck was in charge of building a brand new church for the growing community. This new church was finished in 1908.
Church Design
Outside the Church
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The Saint Francis de Sales Church was rebuilt in a Gothic Revival style. This design was created by a German architect named Viktor Klutho. The front entrance looks like the Gothic entrance of the Cathedral of Munich. The tall tower was inspired by the Cathedral at Ulm. At 300 feet tall, the church's main spire is one of the tallest church spires in the United States.
In 1968, a local group of architects called the American Institute of Architects said St. Francis de Sales was a very important historic building. In 1978, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Inside the Church
Inside the church, the main altar is very tall, about 52 feet high! It has a colorful sculpture of the Crucifixion at the top. There are also smaller altars on the sides. These are dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph. Other altars honor Our Mother of Perpetual Help and the Infant of Prague.
The church is a "hall church," which means its side areas are almost as tall as the main middle part, which is 70 feet high. This design allows for very tall windows. The beautiful stained glass in these windows was made by Emil Frei, Sr., who had recently moved from Munich, Germany. Some of the windows show German saints like St. Henry and St. Boniface. The company Winkle Terra Cotta of St. Louis made many of the window decorations. German artist Fridolin Fuchs painted the frescoes inside in 1916. The rose color of the ceiling decorations is a common feature in German churches.
The Oratory Today
The Saint Francis de Sales Oratory was started in the 1860s for German immigrant families. Today, it is home to a growing group of people from many different backgrounds. The old high school building next door is now used by a KIPP charter school. The original grade school building is used by the Oratory's community of about 100 children who are taught at home. This group meets every Wednesday for classes in subjects like reading, religion, and science.
In 2005, the church was changed from a parish to an "oratory." This happened because Archbishop Raymond Burke invited the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest to take care of it. This group of priests focuses on traditional Latin church services. The current leader of the Oratory is Rev. Canon Benjamin Coggeshall.
Unlike a parish, which serves people in a specific area, an Oratory welcomes people from anywhere. The Oratory can perform baptisms, weddings, and funerals, along with regular church services and confessions. The Institute of Christ the King loves beautiful church services and art. Because of this, the Oratory has a wonderful music program with several choirs. These choirs specialize in Gregorian chant and polyphony, which are old styles of church music. In 2009, the Oratory even held a class for people who wanted to learn Gregorian chant.
In November 2008, the church celebrated 100 years since the new building was dedicated. They had a special church service led by Bishop Robert J. Hermann. Afterward, there was a party with traditional German food. The Oratory also announced that they would start raising money for important repair work.
In 2010, a former leader of the Oratory, Canon Michael Wiener, said that St. Francis de Sales is like an "anchor" for its neighborhood. He believed that when the church gets stronger, the whole neighborhood gets stronger too.
Church Music and Organs
In September 2015, the Choir of Saint Francis de Sales Oratory released a music album called O Lux Beatissima. This album included some songs that had never been recorded before.
In 2019, the Oratory announced they bought a new organ. This organ, called a Karl Wilhelm Opus 123, has three keyboards and 58 different sounds. It has 2,670 pipes and is much bigger than the old organ. The old organ was from 1924 and had 22 sounds. The very first organ in the church was from 1897. That old organ is still used today in a church in Altus, Arkansas. The new Wilhelm organ is built in a traditional way, so it can last for hundreds of years.
Awards and Recognition
In 2017, the St. Francis de Sales Oratory won a contest called 'Church Madness 2017'. It was voted the most beautiful Roman Catholic Church in the United States! This was the first time the church had entered this online contest.
The Oratory is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
