Photos of Saint Raphael Church, in Saint Louis, Missouri

Here are photos of Saint Raphael the Archangel church, in Saint Louis, Missouri, located in the southwesternmost corner of the City, in the Saint Louis Hills Estates subdivision.




Saint Raphael's is in the Colonial Revival style, which is most unusual for a Catholic church. Typically, one would expect this style more in a Presbyterian or Episcopalian church, reflecting a strong New England heritage. The parish dates from 1950.

According to the 2006 Status Animarum, this parish has approximately 1,936 Catholics.



The interior continues the Colonial Revival style, with much painted white wood, clear glass windows, and some flattened classical ornament. Note also the red carpeting: carpets are extremely rare in Catholic churches but is common in English-influenced churches.

This was a popular style in the United States starting from 1876, when it was introduced at the U.S. Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia. It was relatively simpler than other Victorian styles, but still provided much beauty. Victorian art, beginning with the Gothic Revival, is known for its beauty and countered the efficient ugliness of the Industrial Revolution. Colonial Revival was also a patriotic style. For institutional buildings, it was largely abandoned in favor of Modernism in the mid 1950s.

The interior of the Basilica of Saint Louis, King of France is also in that style.



This church has one of the largest sanctuaries I've seen, located at the center of the transept, and retains its altar rail.



The tabernacle.



A separate baptistery is located off of the left side of the nave.



XIII^th Station of the Cross, Jesus is taken down from the Cross.



XIV^th Station, Jesus is placed in the tomb.



The transepts features extensive seating facing the sanctuary. For a Gothicist's commentary on this style of church, you may want to read the article, Quotes from The Symbolism of Churches.



An organ loft.


The archangel Raphael figures in the Book of Tobias (or Tobit), originally found only in the Greek version of the Old Testament, and hence excluded from Protestant bibles. Recently, fragments of this book have been found in the Hebrew language.

Two other Archangel churches are located within a few miles of here, and all were built within a ten-year period: Saint Gabriel and Saint Michael.

For a couple more photos of this church click here.

Address:
6047 Bishops Place
Saint Louis, Missouri 63109

Mass Times:
Weekdays: 7:00 a.m., 8:00 a.m.
Saturday: 7:00 a.m.
Saturday (Vigil): 4:30 p.m.
Sunday: 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m.

Perpetual Help Devotion:
Tuesday: after 7:00 a.m. Mass

Confession:
Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday: 15 minutes before Mass
Saturday: 4:00 p.m. - 4:25 p.m.

Exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament:
First Fridays: 7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Eucharistic Adoration:
Second, Third, and Fourth Tuesdays: 7:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.