HERE ARE PHOTOS of Immaculate Conception (Saint Mary's) Church in the village of Brussels, Calhoun County, Illinois. It is about 39 miles by car and ferryboat northwest of downtown Saint Louis, Missouri.
The town of Brussels is named after the hometown in Belgium of the church's first parish priest. Click here for more photos of Brussels.
UPDATE: This church was destroyed by fire, on Christmas Eve of 2011. More details can be found here.
Saint Mary's is one church among three that comprise Blessed Trinity parish in the south part of Calhoun County. According the diocesan directory, this combined parish has about 1097 parishioners in 433 families.
Brilliant gold mosaic is above the altar, along with the Lamb of God on the Book of Seven Seals from the Apocalypse.
On the front of the old high altar is the Last Supper: along with Jesus, the apostles John, Peter, and the betrayer Judas are clearly identifiable.
Statue of Saint Joseph. Stained glass window has the Christological symbols of an eagle and fish.
Stained glass window of the Holy Family.
On the molding around the ceiling are medallions of titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary as found in the Litany of Loreto. Shown here in composite are Tower of David (Canticle of Canticles 4:4); Seat of Wisdom; and Ark of the Covenant (compare 2 Samuel 6:9 and Luke 1:43).
Brussels, Illinois 62013
Stained glass window of the Nativity and adoration of the shepherds.
On the molding around the ceiling are medallions of titles of the Blessed Virgin Mary as found in the Litany of Loreto. Shown here in composite are Tower of David (Canticle of Canticles 4:4); Seat of Wisdom; and Ark of the Covenant (compare 2 Samuel 6:9 and Luke 1:43).
Graves of parish pastors in the Catholic cemetery.
Address:
111 Main StreetBrussels, Illinois 62013
UPDATE: This church was destroyed by fire, on Christmas Eve of 2011. More details can be found here.
Mark any thoughts about what the ropes are for on the cross in the cemetery picture? Also is the cemetery so large that it is on the hill behind or is that a different one?
ReplyDeleteFrom a Brussels resident:
ReplyDeleteThe ropes are actually wires which keep the cross from blowing over in a wind or storm, which has happened before. The cemetery does in fact extend to the hill behind. It is quite large for a small town.
So very sad about the fire.
ReplyDeleteIt's so nice you have these pictures of a church that is sadly no more.
ReplyDeleteI was just there a while back for Mrs. Ralph Moses' service. So sorry to learn of the fire.
ReplyDeleteSuch a terrible loss.
ReplyDeleteThis is the parish my Grandparents grew up in, they are still alive, and they have many stories.
An interesting piece of news is that this was not the only "look" of St. Mary's.
My Grandparents' wedding pictures indicate that there were different High and Side Altars; these were in place circa post WWII and were at some point replaced by what was recently lost.
Tom
What a terrible tragedy to lose such a beautiful place as St. Marys. It was a landmark for so long in Brussels. I believe the fire started in the electrical system ( I could be wrong ). It sort of underscores the fact that many of these wonderful old places have outdated and potentially dangerous utilities and the cost to update and repair can be challenging. Thankfully the parishioners have nearby St. Joseph in Meppen and St. Patricks in Grafton.
ReplyDeleteThere is another small Catholic church and it is in northern Calhoun county in the little community of Bellevue which is north of Hamburg. I believe it was called St. Agnes but I could be wrong. When i visited in the early 90s it was still open and it was a beautiful little church. It had a wonderfully ornate steeple and great windows. When I last saw it around 2012 the sign was removed and the doors were locked and it looked to be closed up. Maybe it could be consolidation or the lack of parishioners for the little community of Bellevue seems to be dissappearing. Sadly the ornate steeple had been covered in vinyl and its beauty hidden. Does anyone know the history or have some info. regarding this lttle church ?
ReplyDelete