A view to the church from the west. In the foreground are the Plaza Square apartments, built in 1960; and in the background are the AT&T buildings, the Civil Courts building, and the Gateway Arch.
The parish dates from 1847, while this church dates from 1860.
The church from the parking lot. The rectory is of modern design, and on the other side of the church is a public park.
As the riverfront district became crime-ridden and dangerous, and also as the population in the city moved further west, Saint John's served as the pro-Cathedral of the Archdiocese, called the Basilica of St. John the Apostle, starting in 1876. By 1930, the church no longer had resident parishioners, and mainly served transients and travelers from nearby Union Station.
In front of the church is the Celtic Cross Monument, dating from 2002. It was placed here because this church is the oldest remaining Irish parish in the city.
"The Irish character...
sets across the face of this
land a rainbow of light and hope...."
Abp. John J. Glennon
March 17, 1909
The entrance narthex. To the left are the modern doors dating from 1960.
Historical plaque.
A view in the nave towards the sanctuary. This is the parish church for the downtown area, and has a good daily noontime Mass attendance.
Confessions are heard in this church Monday through Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to noon. This is a popular church for the sacrament, so be prepared to wait in line. Many priests of the area go here for confession. Capuchin friars are on the staff of the church.
The high altar of this church is intact, and is here decorated for the season of Christmas. A small detached altar table is in front.
The apse contains a painting of the Transfiguration, copied from a Raphael in Rome. The upper part shows the Transfiguration proper, while the lower shows a possessed boy awaiting cure.
The tabernacle.
Detail view of front of the high altar. This shows Christ in the tomb.
Mary's altar.
Baptismal font.
Crèche, or manger scene.
Pipe organ.
Ceiling detail, with medallions of Saints Patrick, Luke, and Paul.
A closer view of the bell towers, which were reconstructed within the past few years.
A view of the church looking from the east.
Address:
15 Plaza Square
St. Louis, MO 63103
Mass times:
Monday-Friday: 7:10 a.m., 12:10 p.m.
Saturday: 12:10 p.m.
Saturday (Vigil): 5:00 p.m.
Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.
Fantastic interior, but I just can't quite get used to those towers.
ReplyDeleteIs it still a basilica?
ReplyDeleteWhat is that flower doing in the place of the crucifix???
ReplyDeleteI've never heard it being currently called a basilica.
ReplyDeleteGreat church, obviously. What is that coffee table doing in the sanctuary, though? ;-)
ReplyDeleteRe flower in place of Crucifix: If memory serves, a Crucifix isn't strictly required to be in view (by the congregation) at the altar of a Roman Catholic Church. There is, however, a Crucifix, sometimes at the back of the church, or a location in the Sanctuary, that the priest faces when celebrating Mass. Re basilica: Again, if memory serves, there are two basilicas in St. Louis: 1) the Cathedral Basilica (New Cathedral on Lindell Blvd.); 2) The Basilica of St. Louis, King of France (the Old Cathedral, downtown St. Louis). Please correct if I'm mistaken.
ReplyDelete