St. Mary of Victories R. C. Church
St. Louis, MO
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Location since 1844: 3rd St. and Gratiot Ave.
Church building: Ann Lucas Hunt, daughter of Judge J. B. Lucas, donated half a block at 3rd and Gratiot. The diocese purchased the remainder of the block from Ann's brother, James Lucas for $2,500. Architects were George I. Barnett (1815-98) and Franz Saler and they designed a building in the 16th-century style. Cornerstone was blessed on 25 June 1843. Initially only the first 74 feet of the nave was completed. The trancepts and present east end of the building were added to the original designs in 1959 and 1860. The functioning part of the door was lowered after a second balcony was inserted below the organ loft for the Sisters of Mary. By August of 1868 there were no additions to the building. The building address is now 744 S. 3rd St. Since 1980 it has been on the National Historic Register. It stands next to I-55, near the intersection with I-64 and I-70. Its ornate wooden carved organ case and stenciled display pipes are among the oldest in St. Louis. Inside are several relics. The facade was originally a flattened temple front in brick. The white frame of the front door was once marbelized. The St. Louis Chamber Chorus has given concerts there.
Established in 1843 as the second oldest catholic church in St. Louis. Originally the church served as the parish and school for about 500 families from St. Louis' large German population. The first mass was said on 15 Sep. 1844. In 1845 Bishop Kendrick made the church a subsidiary or chapel of the Cathedral. In the early 19th century, the St. Mary parish spawned St. Raymond Maronite (Eastern) rite parish for Syrians and Lebanese. They built on Choteau Ave. and 11th St. and claimed that builing until 1957. The School Sisters of Notre Dame opened a convent near the church sometime after 1858. The church was designated a chapel in 2005.
Hungarian families in the neighborhood formed St. Stephen Hungarian R. C. Church in 1936 and also used the building at 11th St. and Choteau Ave. along with St. Raymond. WW2 and the 1956 Hungarian revolution brought many Hungarian families to St. Louis. Eventually there were enough of them and few of the Syrians and Lebanese so that the St. Raymond's building became St. Stephen. Since 1957 the 3rd and Gratiot building has also been home to St. Stephen's.
Name of Church, 1843 - 1936: St. Mary of Victories R. C. Church
1957 - present: St. Stephen Hungarian R. C. Church
Pastor from the beginning (1843) was John P. Fischer
Second pastor was vicar-general Joseph Melcher
Priest to 1846 was Rev. Heim
Third pastor (1857?-68) was H. Muehlsiepen
Fourth pastor (from 1868?) 1870-1900 was Wm. Faerber
Priests: 1870 P. Philip; 1872 - M.Busch; 1872 - W. Johns
1874 - C. Wapelhorst; 1874-76 - H. Pigge
1875-86 - H. Vander Sanden
1877-79 - J. A. Stroombergen; 1879 - Wm. A. Schmidt
1877-79 - H. Hukestein
Records from this church are in the St. Louis County Library and in the Archdiocesan Archives.
Relatives who were members or were involved in a ceremony performed at this church
Carlo Jenne - baptism ca 1860 Margaretha Uhrig - mother of Carlo Charles Jenne - father of Carlo
Go to the Home Page Localities Index Main Ancestor Chart Created on 01 June 2006. Updated on 20 June 2006 by Erven Thoma